PGCE
Initial Teacher Education
You’ll need to be well suited to the teaching profession both personally and academically.
See 'What we look for in potential students' for more information.
Developed in partnership with schools and early years settings, our Primary teacher training programmes will support you to become an innovative and inspiring teacher.
There are a number of age phases and specialist pathways to consider, through which you’ll achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS):
Our full time programmes last for approximately 40 weeks. You’ll spend about two thirds of this time in a school or educational setting. Throughout the teacher training programme there is a dynamic relationship between your training in the University and your training in schools.
We also offer you the opportunity to study and train part-time three days per week over 16 months for the 5-11 and 7-11 age-phases. Our part-time PGCE Primary course runs on a unique timetable starting in February through to June of the following academic year.
Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT) is a specialist course designed for those already working with babies and children from birth to five years old.
Successful completion of an EYITT course leads to the academic award of a PGCE and the recommendation of Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS). The EYTS is designed for those who wish to specialise in work with young children.
Early Years Initial Teacher Training
"The PGCE course provides the ultimate teaching package – subject experts to impart their wisdom, placements in a variety of schools across the region, and even the opportunity to perform Shakespeare and sing in a gospel choir!"
Edward Powe, PGCE Primary and Early Years graduate
While you’re a Bath Spa Teacher, you’ll explore models of teaching and the many ways in which children learn. Emphasis is placed on how parents and carers, families, schools and communities can impact children’s learning and well-being.
When you complete your Initial Teacher Training, you’ll be fully qualified to teach, with the essential knowledge, skills and confidence that you’ll need to be successful in the classroom.
University-based training
We’ll encourage you to think critically about research, national initiatives and classroom practice, as well as supporting you in the process of reflective evaluation.
You’ll be taught in lectures, seminars and workshops covering all subjects across the primary national curriculum.
School-based training
You’ll receive training in at least two schools or settings allowing you to become familiar with their ethos and practice. You will work closely with a training mentor in school to develop your teaching skills through practice and reflection.
This is your opportunity to practise your developing teaching skills. During school training you’ll be able to reflect on your university training in the context of children’s learning environments.
You'll be required to have met the Teachers’ Standards by the end of the course which you will work towards throughout your school training.
You'll also undertake a range of assignments at Master's level which assess your understanding of theories, concepts and practice relating to teaching in both core and foundation subjects.
We’ll help you monitor and track your progress; offering you advice on how to improve your performance as a teacher. You will be assigned an Academic Tutor who will regularly meet with you to review your progress, as well as visiting you during your assessed school training. During school training you will also be supported by a Training Mentor, who is usually the class teacher.
This course offers or includes the following modules. The modules you take will depend on your pathway or course combination (if applicable) as well as any optional or open modules chosen. Please check the programme document (below the main image on this page) for more information.
This PGCE programme produces high calibre teachers with the relevant skills, knowledge, understanding and experiences necessary to enter a career in teaching.
As a Bath Spa Teacher, you'll learn in a variety of locations within our wide partnership, both at the University and in schools.
Your main campus will be Sion Hill. Teaching will take place in rooms equipped with relevant texts, equipment, training materials, and electronic resources.
Please note: Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland are not generally eligible for the UK (Home) fee status. Please refer to the international student rate. Irish citizens and those granted Settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme are eligible for UK (Home) fee status. There are also other circumstances where this may apply: See UKCISA for more information.
| 2022/23 entry | £9,250 |
| 2023/24 entry | Published Jan 2023 |
| 2024/25 entry | Published Jan 2024 |
| 2022/23 entry | £14,400 |
| 2023/24 entry | Published Jan 2023 |
| 2024/25 entry | Published Jan 2024 |
“Head teachers are confident that they gain a professional who is of high quality when they employ NQTs from Bath Spa University. Consequently, employment rates are high.”
Ofsted Report, rated Outstanding, September 2015
You’ll need to be well suited to the teaching profession both personally and academically. We look for people with a committed professional approach and an exceptional work ethic. You’ll need to be organised, flexible and unflappable, as well as being able to communicate, interact and relate well to everyone. When entering the teaching profession, you'll benefit from having strong emotional resilience and a sense of humour.
In addition to the general entry requirements, you’ll need a good honours degree; your degree can be in any subject. We only accept candidates with GCSE passes at grade 4/C or above (or recognised equivalents) in English, Mathematics and a Science subject.
Ready to apply? Click the 'apply now' button in the centre of this page.
If you need more guidance, please head to our how to apply webpages.
To help you in choosing the age-phase you want to be the focus of your training, you may wish to spend some time within a school or appropriate setting.
Website feedback to web@bathspa.ac.uk