You’ll develop a thorough understanding of how children learn and the skills needed to develop as a creative and innovative teacher who can make a make a real difference to the lives of young people. School placements are in a wide range of settings including urban and rural, mainstream and special schools where you’ll be supported by experienced staff to learn how to plan appropriate schemes of work and consider assessment and reporting strategies.

This exciting degree with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) trains you as a primary teacher especially equipped to teach in Wales and is equally valid for those wanting to teach in the rest of the UK and beyond. It is a great time to come and study to be a teacher in Wales. Education in Wales is entering an exhilarating new era developing a world class curriculum for schools. Bangor University, with its longstanding and excellent reputation for teacher training and education, is partnered with quality schools in north Wales who have had an active role in designing the course you’ll study. This course is delivered as part of the CaBan partnership between schools, Bangor University, the Regional Consortium GwE and the research institute CIEREI. Together we share the common goal of educating the next generation of world-class educators, from initial teacher education, through continuous career long professional learning.

Our partner schools have well-trained mentors who will support your progress towards becoming an excellent and innovative teacher. Experienced tutors and researchers in university and school based staff will provide excellent support and stimulating learning sessions both in the university and in your placement schools. Students on this English medium course will be placed in English medium schools only and you do not need to speak Welsh, or live in Wales, to apply for the course. However as part of our commitment to bilingualism we will support you in your understanding of Welsh culture and your Welsh language learning, whether you are a complete beginner or a fluent user of the language.

This is the English-medium course. The Welsh-medium course has a different UCAS code.

Why choose Bangor for this course?

• 5th for Student Satisfaction (Education – NSS 2020).
• 5th for Career Prospects (Guardian Good University Guide 2021).
• Top 10 for Research Quality (Complete University Guide 2021).
• English, Welsh and bilingual programmes and school placements.
• Varied and supportive placements across more than one age range widen your career options.
• Cultural appreciation and experience of multi-lingual environments is highly valued by employers in Wales, across the rest of the UK and beyond.

You’ll spend an average of 20 hours per week in lectures/seminars. You’ll also need to read, prepare for seminars, complete coursework and prepare teaching resources. The University-based elements are assessed through a wide range of coursework. Your school practice will be monitored by school mentors and link tutors.

What will you study on this course?

You’ll learn about how young children develop and the key learning theories. You’ll also gain knowledge on how to teach a wide range of learners, including those with Additional Learning Needs and bilingual learners. You’ll learn key professional skills, such as behaviour management. Learning about the school curriculum will increase your own subject knowledges in areas such as Mathematics, Literacy, Science, Technology, the Humanities and the Arts. You’ll explore the importance of health and well-being for all pupils and will gain the skills you’ll need to plan, create resources, teach and assess effectively across the whole range of subjects.

School Experience

You’ll work alongside, and with support from, experienced teachers to develop as a class teacher. This will help you to become familiar with the foundation phase framework and national curriculum and the new developing curriculum for Wales. You’ll learn how to plan appropriate schemes of work and consider assessment and reporting strategies. There are at least eight weeks of school placement each year in a wide variety of settings.

BA (Hons) Primary Education with QTS (3-11) is recognised across Wales and England and is often transferable* further afield for entry into the teaching profession. It fully prepares you for the demands of teaching in Wales and beyond.

This programme prepares you for a wide range of roles within education and develops leadership skills which will be essential for you as your career develops. There is a growing body of evidence that school leadership has an impact on student outcomes second only to the influence of teachers in the classroom. Within the CaBan partnership we have international expertise and experience of the latest leadership theory and research. This expertise impacts on both the content of this programme and the significant developments across the region and national level with respect to developing strong and effective leadership teams in our schools.

The programme offers short/full placements in Primary and Special Schools, Outdoor Centres and other education related settings to ensure you have enhanced experience specific to your individual interests. The programme is co-constructed, delivered and assessed with a network of excellent partnership schools across the region giving you a fantastic set of up-to-date skills that will be invaluable as you move into your primary teaching career.

*Those seeking to teach outside Wales and England should check recognition and transferability of Qualified Teacher Status with the respective country’s Teachers’ Professional Body.