Primary Education with Art BA (Hons)

University of Reading

Our BA Primary Education with Arts Specialism (QTS) course will develop your talents as an artist and teacher, and champion your passion for art within primary education.

This course will enable you to get a job as a primary school teacher following graduation. There is a high demand for specialist primary school teachers and many of our graduates go on to become subject leaders. Furthermore, we are ranked 7th in the UK for Education (The Guardian University Guide 2021). and have strong links with schools.

You will divide your time between studying modules on professional skills and curriculum subjects, and developing your artistic skills and knowledge. The former will introduce you to the core National Curriculum subjects, including Information and Communications Technology (ICT). You will develop skills essential to the role of a teacher, including leadership, classroom management, and evaluation and assessment. You can then put these skills into practice through professional placements, which take place throughout the course. Additionally you will study professional legal requirements, and investigate the role of the teacher and how children develop.

The Art Specialism will develop you as a skilled artist by exploring a range of different media, materials and techniques. During your three years on the specialism, you will have access to a range of excellent facilities including a large print room, ceramic and kiln space, a dark room and, importantly, your own studio bay where you can develop and research your own art-making.

At the end of your second and third year, you will produce an exhibition of your work, showcasing your developing skills and artist-identity. Tutors and technicians are skilled in all disciplines, with the additional teaching support of our artist-in-residency programme. You will also study art history, with a focus on twentieth and twenty-first century art practices. Additionally, a vital component within the Art Specialism is to develop key leadership skills in order for you to lead and inspire art in primary schools.

Placement

You will have the opportunity to carry out placements throughout this course. These will take place within local schools that the Institute of Education has active relationships with. Whilst there you will be mentored by a teacher and linked to a University tutor, who will provide you with additional support.

During your first year you will attend a weekly placement, which will familiarise you with the daily routine of the classroom and link in with your professional modules. For example, you may have to complete an observation for an assignment.

You will also complete a block placement during each year of the course. You will spend four weeks in a Key Stage 1 (KS1) setting during your first year, seven weeks in a KS2 setting in the second year, and an eight-week placement in a Key Stage of your choice during the final year.

For more information, please visit the Institute of Education website.

Careers

As a graduate of this course you will be able to work as a teacher or teaching assistant in a primary school, or move into nursery education. We will provide you with careers advice throughout the course, and can also give support when preparing for interviews.

Overall, 98% of our students are in work or further study 15 months after finishing their course [1]

[1] Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017/18 First Degree, Postgraduate (Taught) and Postgraduate (Research) responders from the Institute of Education.