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Initial Teacher Education
‘Outstanding’ Teacher Education
Bath Spa University has a long tradition of Initial Teacher Education
(ITE) dating back over 60 years. In May 2011 we received a resounding
endorsement for our teacher education programmes from the quality regulator
Ofsted, achieving Grade 1 ‘Outstanding’ in all three of our programmes
leading to qualified teacher status in primary, secondary and further
education. The rarely achieved ‘straight Grade 1’ accolade for overall
effectiveness in all three programmes has only been afforded to one other
teacher education provider, and on these measures Bath Spa is not only the
best teacher education university in the South West, but among the very best
in the country. Read the full
Ofsted report.
Postgraduate or Professional Graduate Certificate in Education
PGCE Events
The University regularly hold PGCE events including open evenings, drop-in sessions and taster courses, for those wanting to find out more about becoming a teacher and the full range of PGCE courses on offer. Our events give you an opportunity to discover what's involved, the qualifications you need, the prospects you have and the financial support you will get. A full calendar of events can be found on our events and open days page.
Primary and Early Years
These are one-year full-time or 20 months part-time courses that will qualify you to teach either the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. The programmes have been planned and developed in partnership with schools and other early years settings to meet the requirements of teachers entering this demanding, but rewarding, profession. The programmes available are:
- PGCE Primary and Early Years (3-7 Years) - Part-Time Closed for entry in 2012
- PGCE Primary and Early Years (7-11 Years) - Full-Time Closed for entry in 2012
- PGCE Primary and Early Years (3-7 Years) - Full-Time Closed for entry in 2012
- PGCE Primary and Early Years (5-11 Years) - Full-Time Closed for entry in 2012
Secondary
These are one year full-time programmes that will qualify you to teach your specialist subject in Key Stage 3 (11 -14 years) and Key Stage 4 (14 -16 years), with opportunities to undertake post-16 enhancement work, enabling you to teach up to A-level. Applicants for these programmes will need a degree in the same subject or a closely related one. The programmes available are:
- PGCE Secondary - Art and Design Closed for entry in 2012
- PGCE Secondary - Design and Technology
- PGCE Secondary - English Closed for entry in 2012
- PGCE Secondary - Information and Communications Technology
- PGCE Secondary - Mathematics
- PGCE Secondary - Modern Languages
- PGCE Secondary - Music
- PGCE Secondary - Physical Education Closed for entry in 2012
- PGCE Secondary - Physics with Mathematics
- PGCE Secondary - Religious Education Closed for entry in 2012
- PGCE Secondary - Science
Subject Knowledge Enhancement Courses
Pre-Initial Teacher Education subject knowledge enhancement courses are designed for graduates who are interested in teaching a secondary priority subject but who may not necessarily have a degree in that subject. They vary in length depending on the subject and run prior to the Initial Teacher Education programme. The subjects available are:
Undergraduate Subjects
- Early Years (Foundation Degree)
- Early Years Education (Work-Based)
- Education, Leading to PGCE Primary
- Education Studies (Education, Early Years Education, International Education, Combined Awards)
- Education Studies for Teaching Assistants (Foundation Degree)



