Course summary

Do you dream of educating the next generation? If you’re passionate about helping children to reach their potential, our Primary Education Studies degree is for you. 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 develop your understanding of primary education, and gain the knowledge and skills to work collaboratively in a range of settings. Our Education courses ranked 7th in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2024. 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 Primary Education Studies is a great option. We focus on education history, policy and the way children are taught today. You’ll graduate with a thorough understanding of classroom management, lesson planning, National Curriculum subjects, and the three Key Stages in primary education. We’ll also touch on special educational needs provision. Throughout the course there’s a strong focus on 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, we’ll explore related areas such as health, welfare, child psychology and children’s rights. While studying at ARU, you’ll have opportunities to observe teaching in local schools. We offer our Primary Education Studies course as a three-year degree or an accelerated degree, which you’ll complete in two years. 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. Our course will prepare you to join postgraduate Initial Teacher Training. You'll also take part in live briefs to gain work experience and important contacts, like our recent partnership with Chelmsford Museum, Fitzwilliam Museum, and Scott Polar Museum. Careers Our BA (Hons) Primary Education Studies is the first step on your career path to working with primary-aged children and their families. If you’re interested in teaching, our degree will also 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) and you’ll be prepared for interviews throughout your degree. Employability and personal career development Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules. To amplify your career ambition, you will need to actively dedicate time outside of your studies, whether you choose to explore placements, internships or volunteering. Or you could make a social impact by collaborating with our partner organisations through our volunteer scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). These all give you an edge, providing you with experience that you will be able to evidence on your CV and talk about in interviews. Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.