Education: Primary and Early Years

We offer a wide range of modules for you to choose from. You’ll be able to explore education from many theoretical and ideological perspectives, which could give you that all-important edge when you begin your education career.

Year one
The first year introduces key concepts and skills that underpin the subject of Education Studies. In addition there are a range of modules that enable you to explore your interests in education as an agent for change. The core module offers an introduction to primary schools and a school placement.

Year two
You’ll consider more deeply the current issues in education, such as pedagogy, pupil voice, special needs, assessment and classroom organisation. You’ll undertake a second primary school placement, this time with a focus on developing your professionalism. 

Year three
This year, the Teaching and Professionalism module prepares you for the PGCE. For your dissertation, you'll explore an issue of your choice and use your creativity and the skills you've gained so far to develop a classroom resource to address it. You'll also have opportunities to engage with PGCE staff and students; this eases your transition to initial teacher training.

Coursework includes essays, group presentations, research-based reports and portfolio-based work. There are no exams. We’ll provide you with prompt feedback and give you regular guidance on how to improve your skills, knowledge and understanding.

All modules are led by experienced and respected university staff. Many staff are active researchers and authors in the field of education studies; from the outset they’ll introduce you to their particular specialisms and research interests, through a range of optional modules. You’ll also benefit from regular visiting speakers – these include headteachers, practitioners, educational advisers, specialist researchers and international visitors.

To find out more about how we teach and how you'll learn, please read our Learning and Teaching Delivery Statement.

During this primary education degree, you'll do more than develop an understanding of teaching - you'll gain firsthand experience in the classroom that could give you that all-important edge at the start of your career.

You'll attend a short placement during each year of the programme to give you the opportunity to work with children and young people in diverse settings. Through this you'll gain a critical understanding of the context of teaching and what it means for children and teachers in schools. By the time you graduate you'll have a working knowledge of schools and classrooms and will have begun to develop your identity as a teaching professional.

Alongside your experience, you'll also gain a critical understanding of and reflect on the context of teaching, and what it means for children and teachers in school.

As part of your degree, you could study abroad on a placement at one of Bath Spa’s partner universities.

Successful completion of the undergraduate degree leads to a guaranteed interview for our Oftsted Outstanding rated Primary and Early Years PGCE course. 

Our students often enter the teaching profession in local schools and a range of other settings and benefit from continued participation in the School of Education community of research and practice.

Flexibility is key; this course is designed to inform a range of education careers - from classroom teaching to advisory roles that inform policy and practice, both nationally and internationally.

If you’re a full-time undergraduate student starting your first year at Bath Spa University, you can apply for the Certificate in Global Citizenship, which you’ll study alongside your degree.

You’ll gain global awareness and add an international dimension to your student experience, and funding is available. On successful completion of the programme, you’ll be awarded a Certificate in Global Citizenship. This is in addition to your degree; it doesn’t change your degree title or results.

The Professional Placement Year (PPY) provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for, and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months. Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.

By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of 'with Professional Placement Year' to your degree title.

Before your PPY, you'll work to identify roles of interest and secure a placement. The Placements Team will support through timetabled sessions and 1:1 appointments.

As well as completing a minimum of 900 placement hours, you will complete two assessments demonstrating your skill development, growth in professional behaviours and how the PPY has impacted your future career aspirations.

Aiming to make work experience more accessible, we have introduced the PPY Bursary. Students undertaking a PPY can receive between £500 and £1,500 to be used towards placement costs such as travel, food, workwear or accommodation.

For more information and details of eligibility criteria, please visit the PPY Bursary webpage.

The primary education degree is based on Newton Park campus. You'll also undertake placements in schools in each year of your studies.

You'll benefit from access to a wide range of excellent facilities, including:

• Our Commons building
• Newton Park library
• Writing and Learning Centre
• Specialist Education resources and dedicated subject Librarian
• Our Virtual Learning Environment, Ultra.

You'll have access to the PGCE team, particularly in your final year as you transition to initial teacher training, and you'll also benefit from talks by guest speakers and incoming experts. Access to our research centres will give you the opportunity to stay up-to-date with the latest in teaching research and excellence.