Primary Education BA (Hons)

Durham University

At Durham University, we are passionate about developing high-quality teachers who aspire to make a difference to the lives of their pupils, both now and in the future. At the core of our vision is a more equitable world in which education plays an important role in enabling individuals, communities and societies to flourish.

The Primary Education degree is ideal if you are committed to a teaching career in a primary school. You will complete a minimum of 140 days school experience, including training about whole-school issues that affect children’s learning environment. The degree programme offers the opportunity to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and this is awarded through an accredited provider.

The degree develops the professional knowledge and understanding to provide a foundation for effective teaching in a primary school. This includes:

An understanding of responsibilities and roles of the primary teacher

An understanding of schools and National Curriculum as the framework for children’s formal learning

In-depth knowledge and understanding of core National Curriculum subjects

Knowledge and understanding of other primary curriculum subjects to support effective teaching

Classroom effectiveness, drawing upon expertise of practising teachers

Personal educational philosophy

A professional approach to your work

The degree is aligned with the research focus of the department, offering up-to-date, relevant materials to support you as a developing teacher.

Professional development

During the course, you will be assigned to one of our Partnership School Training Centres, where you will have the opportunity to develop your skills in a classroom context, supported by the school, your School Training Centre Co-ordinator and a University Tutor.

These school-based activities involve structured classroom observations, planning and research projects and practical teaching – the latter starting with teaching individual pupils, eventually leading through group work to full classroom teaching. You will have a designated teacher-mentor who will guide your work in schools. Across all three years of the course, there are weekly serial visits and a range of block placements in school.

From September 2024 Durham will be entering into a partnership with Newcastle University to support the delivery of Initial Teacher Training (ITT) in North East England. This partnership will provide high quality teacher training, drawing upon both universities’ world-renowned expertise in education and research as well as the professional expertise of their partnership schools across the North East.

If you begin your programme with us from 2024 onwards your main degree – BA Primary Education - will be awarded by Durham University, but your professional (Qualified Teacher Status) qualification will be awarded by Newcastle University.

This new partnership builds upon a long and rich legacy of teacher training at both Durham and Newcastle universities. Moving forward, Durham will remain in initial teacher education, offering both PGCE primary and secondary programmes and the BA Primary Education degree from September 2024 working with Newcastle University. It will ensure the two universities continue to provide high-quality teachers to local schools and will offer exciting opportunities to build upon and strengthen their contributions to teacher education both regionally and nationally.

Accredited by the Department for Education (DfE) for the purpose of delivering initial teacher training programmes to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS).