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Primary Education Studies [with Foundation Year] at Anglia Ruskin University - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Anglia Ruskin University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Open days

23Nov
Anglia Ruskin University - Undergraduate Open Day - Cambridge
Undergraduate
23Nov
Anglia Ruskin University - Undergraduate Open Day - Chelmsford
Undergraduate
23Nov
ARU Peterborough - Undergraduate Open Day
Undergraduate

Course summary

If you’re passionate about educating the next generation and helping children reach their potential, this course will develop your understanding of primary education, and give you the knowledge and skills to work collaboratively in a range of settings.

  • Study at a university ranked seventh in the country for Education in the Guardian League Table 2024 and in the top 10% in the country for graduate employment (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024).
  • Join the only new accredited university provider of teacher training in the UK, with over 20 years’ experience of training education professionals.
  • Develop your understanding of primary education and gain the knowledge and skills to work collaboratively in a range of educational settings, the wider education sector, cultural institutions and NGOs, or related fields such as health and social work.
  • Gain a thorough understanding of classroom management, lesson planning, National Curriculum subjects, and the three Key Stages in primary education, as well as an insight into special educational needs provision.
  • Become familiar with teaching approaches and how to make adjustments to suit learners of all abilities.
  • Take part in live briefs to gain work experience and extend your professional network.
  • Tailor your course to your circumstances by taking it as an accelerated degree over two years (on-campus or blended learning), or a four-year degree with foundation year.
If you’re looking for a career working with children aged 3-12 and their families, or you already work in education but want to learn more and progress your career, our BA (Hons) Primary Education Studies will give you a thorough understanding of classroom management, lesson planning, National Curriculum subjects, and the three Key Stages in primary education, as well as an insight into special educational needs provision. You needn’t be limited to primary school teaching, though. You might have your sights set on a career in the wider education sector, cultural institutions and NGOs, or related fields such as health and social work. On this degree course you’ll gain the knowledge and skills you need to work collaboratively in a range of settings. Your studies will focus on education history, policy and the way children are taught today, as well as the core subjects that all primary-aged pupils study: reading, writing, maths and science. You’ll become familiar with teaching approaches and how to make adjustments to suit learners of all abilities. Of course, anyone working with children and families knows that it’s important to support the ‘whole child’ and so, as well as looking at education and teaching, you'll explore related areas such as health, welfare, child psychology and children’s rights. You’ll also have opportunities to observe teaching in local schools. You'll also take part in live briefs to gain work experience and extend your professional network, like our recent partnership with Chelmsford Museum, Fitzwilliam Museum, and Scott Polar Museum. When you graduate, you’ll be ideally placed to join a postgraduate teacher training course with one of our partners and return to us to complete your PGCE, or to take postgraduate Initial Teacher Training. We know that learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom. As a Primary Education Studies student at ARU you:
  • benefit from our network of primary schools
  • have a chance to observe teaching in primary schools
  • make connections between theory and practice by being actively encouraged to spend time in schools within our networks
  • create lesson plans and activities for children
If you’re interested in teaching, our degree will prepare you for postgraduate initial teacher training programmes. We work with local ITT providers who actively recruit our students to School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITTs), so you’ll be well prepared for interviews throughout your degree.

Modules

Chelmsford and Cambridge Year 1: Foundation in Humanities, English, Media, Social Sciences and Education; Year 2 Core Modules: Key Paradigms 1: History and Philosophy of Primary Education; Perspectives on the Child 1: Childhood as a Construct - Physical and Social Development of Children; Primary Pedagogy 1: The Curriculum and Primary Teaching, Research Foundations; Subject Knowledge for Teaching 1: Early Language, Reading and Writing and Early Mathematical Concepts; Subject Knowledge for Teaching 1: Science and Technology 1. Year 3 core modules: Key Paradigms 2: Sociology and Politics; Primary Pedagogy 2: Creativity, Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods; Subject Knowledge for Teaching 2: English and Mathematics 2; Perspectives on the Child 2: Childhood Cognitive and Language Development; Ruskin Module. Year 4 Core modules: Key Paradigms 3: International and Global Perspectives in Education; Perspectives on the Child 3: Inclusion, SEND and Developmental Difficulties; Primary Pedagogy 3: Contemporary Issues in Education, Specialist Focus Project; Key Skills for Effective Primary Teaching; Subject Knowledge for Teaching 3: The Wider Curriculum. ARU Peterborough: Year 1 Core modules: Literacies in Higher Education; Introduction to Health, Education and Social Care; Extended Project; Into ARU; Year 2 Core Modules: Key Paradigms 1: History and Philosophy of Primary Education; Perspectives on the Child 1: Childhood as a Construct - Physical and Social Development of Children; Primary Pedagogy 1: The Curriculum and Primary Teaching, Research Foundations; Subject Knowledge for Teaching 1: Early Language, Reading and Writing and Early Mathematical Concepts; Subject Knowledge for Teaching 1: Science and Technology 1; Year 3 Core modules: Key Paradigms 2: Sociology and Politics; Primary Pedagogy 2: Creativity, Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods; Subject Knowledge for Teaching 2: English and Mathematics 2; Perspectives on the Child 2: Childhood Cognitive and Language Development; Ruskin Module. Year 4 Core modules: Key Paradigms 3: International and Global Perspectives in Education; Perspectives on the Child 3: Inclusion, SEND and Developmental Difficulties; Primary Pedagogy 3: Contemporary Issues in Education, Specialist Focus Project; Key Skills for Effective Primary Teaching; Subject Knowledge for Teaching 3: The Wider Curriculum. Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location.

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

  • Course does not award QTS

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

5 GCSEs at grade D, or grade 3, or above and evidence of two years post-GCSE study at Level 3. If you have achieved at least grade E in one A level, or equivalent, you are exempt from the two years post-GCSE study requirement, but you still must meet the GCSE requirements. Applicants who do not meet the two years post GCSE study at level 3 may be considered based on their satisfactory employment history, which must be a minimum of two years full time employment supported by employer evidence and deemed appropriate by the University for meeting the course of study applied for.

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)5.5With minimum 5.5 in each component

Equivalent English Language qualifications, as recognised by Anglia Ruskin University, are also accepted.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
75%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
93%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £9250 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 Year 1
Scotland £9250 Year 1
Wales £9250 Year 1
Channel Islands £9250 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9250 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

https://www.aru.ac.uk/student-life/preparing-for-university/help-with-finances
Primary Education Studies [with Foundation Year] at Anglia Ruskin University - UCAS