Primary Teacher Training Course

Course overview

  • Primary
  • Age Range: 5 to 11
  • Course Length: 1 year full-time
  • Course Code: D976
Our 1 year Primary course covers all of the subjects below. Click on the tiles to learn more about each of the subject curriculum designers.
FOR: Graduates, Career changers, Returners to work
QUALIFICATIONS: Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and PGCE (60 Masters credits)
PGCE Accredited by: 
​University of Nottingham 
START DATE: August 2025

​Core Subjects

Foundation

anchor: primaryenglish

Primary | Core | English

  • Curriculum Designer
  • Subject Aims
<
>
"English has a pre-eminent place in education and in society. A high-quality education in English will teach pupils to speak and write fluently so that they can communicate their ideas and emotions to others, and through their reading and listening, others can communicate with them. Through reading in particular, pupils have a chance to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. To draw on a quote, in this case from James Earl Jones: ‘When I read great literature, great drama, speeches, or sermons, I feel that the human mind has not achieved anything greater than the ability to share feelings and thoughts through language.​"
Olivia Bartlett
​CURRICULUM DESIGNER
  • Gain a clear understanding of the National Curriculum and programmes of study for English, appreciating the importance of each modality; reading, writing and spoken English.
  • Appreciate the importance of oracy within the curriculum and teaching strategies to ensure its use is embedded in classrooms.
  • Understand the sheer importance of reading and the implications for a child’s educational journey when reading is a barrier.
  • Learn the interplay between word reading and language comprehension for skilled reading, and the most effective teaching strategies for each component part.
  • Know how to effectively break down and teach the complex process of writing.
  • Learn how to effectively assess in reading and writing and how an adapted approach is crucial to ensure all children can access the learning, including how interventions in English can be purposeful and effective.
anchor: primarymaths

Primary | Core | Maths

  • Curriculum Designer
  • Subject Aims
<
>
"In the mathematics classroom, learning can be exciting! Learning through exploring, discussing, using manipulatives and creating representations, helps children grapple with concepts which give meaning to their world. This course will enable you to create an equitable classroom where all children can participate and be influential and where all children are encouraged and supported to develop a deep connected and sustained understanding of the mathematics being explored."
Reference to the ‘Jurassic Maths Hub Mastery Statement’.
Louise Freir
​CURRICULUM DESIGNER
  • Know and understand the National Curriculum aims for mathematics, the strands that sit within this and the important part problem solving and reasoning play.
  • Explore and critically analyse a wide range of mathematical teaching pedagogy, including the use of varying resources and schemes.
  • Develop mathematical subject knowledge through the use of resources, case studies and exemplar material.
  • Be introduced to NCETM’s 5 big ideas for teaching for mastery.
  • Consider ways to support learners in mathematics through effective feedback, assessment and adaptive teaching approaches.
  • Make mathematical links to other areas of the curriculum and consider the benefits of this.
anchor: primaryscience

Primary | Core | Science

  • Curriculum Designer
  • Subject Aims
<
>
"Science explains the world around us. It is everywhere and an education in science helps us to understand many phenomena in our day-to-day lives. The scientific method – the act of seeking rationale explanations and evidence to support them – is applicable not only in science lessons or science jobs but in our daily lives as citizens. It gives us the skills needed to weigh up evidence, to decide whether we agree with or trust any given statement and to make our own decisions. You will develop your ability to communicate key scientific concepts and skills, learning how to engage and inspire children to make their own discoveries, interpret their own data and understand our world."
Katharine Pemberton
​CURRICULUM DESIGNER
  • Explore the National Curriculum aims and purpose of primary science, ensuring children are able to understand and engage with the science of our world.  
  • Understand the substantive and disciplinary strands within science; the subject knowledge content alongside the key skills involved in working scientifically.
  • Explore a range of pedagogy for the effective teaching of scientific content, appreciating the importance of a practical approach where possible.
  • Learn how to teach enquiry skills and how to weave this into the teaching of subject content.
  • Explore the importance of feedback and assessment through the lens of science teaching and learning.
  • Discover adaptive teaching approaches to maximise learning for all within science lessons.
anchor: primaryphonics

Primary | Core | Phonics and Early Reading

  • Curriculum Designer
  • Subject Aims
<
>
"Reading is the gateway to everything. Providing children with the tools to be able to read supports them to access the wider curriculum and beyond. Phonics is the vehicle to learning to read and spell. As soon as children develop their word reading skills, they can build on these foundations to develop the more strategic skills of language comprehension. The earlier we get children to read with automaticity, the more opportunities they will have to experience a wider vocabulary, genres of texts and strengthen their knowledge of the world around them. Ultimately, I want pupils to develop a love of reading."

"Teaching is such a privilege. We get to nurture and shape the future of the children in our care. It thrills me to be able to share this passion with the next generation of teachers."
Jenny Violette 
​CURRICULUM DESIGNER
  • Know the key research, evidence and documentation that underpins the typical teaching sequence and approaches within phonics lessons.
  • Articulate each of the phonemes correctly and know how to blend words for reading and segment them for spelling.
  • Understand what common exception words are and how to teach children to read and spell them.
  • Appreciate the importance of children applying their phonics skills when reading closely matched books.
  • Understand the formative and summative assessment approaches within phonics to ensure pupil progress is maximised.
  • Know how to adapt lessons and provision to ensure all children are being taught how to read effectively.
anchor: primaryart

Primary | Foundation | Art

  • Curriculum Designer
  • Subject Aims
<
>
"An Art curriculum provides children with the opportunity to express creativity and imagination. It provides children with a wealth of opportunities to get them thinking or questioning images they see, it can be a visual link to history and culture and an opportunity to communicate thoughts, feelings, emotions and experiences without words. The Primary Art element of the programme provides you with the pedagogy and knowledge to become confident and competent in providing these opportunities for all children. It will guide you through how to ensure the children you teach gain the knowledge and skills to become artists themselves and show an appreciation of the art around them."
Nicola Cardew
​CURRICULUM DESIGNER
  • Explore the National Curriculum for Art and unpick why an engaging and challenging art education is so important.
  • Know the range of materials and processes used, along with the formal elements in art, and explore the pedagogical approaches best suited to teach these effectively.  
  • Know how to look at a sequence of lessons and identify the progression in skills and how to teach the small steps.
  • Understand how following the cycle of research, practise, plan, make and evaluate, enables children to use their sketchbooks to the best effect.
  • Gain a good knowledge of the great artists, architects and designers in history and learn how to use these to best enrich an art curriculum.
  • Explore ways of best providing effective feedback in art lessons and how to use assessment to maximise pupil progress.
  • Know that all pupils are entitled to a high-quality education in art and learn how to adapt lessons to meet the needs of all, including those with SEND.
anchor: primarycomputing

Primary | Foundation | Computing

  • Curriculum Designer
  • Subject Aims
<
>
"Digital technology is driving extraordinary global changes that some are calling the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Navigating these changes effectively and safely requires a significant understanding of digital literacy, information technology and computer science. This knowledge is also crucial if business, industry and individuals are to exploit the opportunities offered by this revolution. The national curriculum makes it clear that computing is mandatory at key stages 1 to 4 and that ‘a high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world."

​"Learners’ success in future engagement with computing will depend on how well introductory curricula prepare them in both the cognitive and affective dimensions of computational learning."​
Clare Nevinson
CURRICULUM DESIGNER
  • Understand the purpose and aims of the Computing National Curriculum​, unpicking the three strands of computer science, information technology and digital literacy.
  • Identify and understand the declarative and procedural knowledge in the computing curriculum​, alongside the required subject-specific vocabulary.
  • Explore how knowledge and skills must be sequenced to support pupil progress​ and unpick the approaches of teaching computing discretely or integrating it within other subjects.
  • Explore a range of resources, schemes and pedagogical principles which are effective for the teaching of computing.
  • Consider how to ensure high expectations in computing lessons​ for all children, exploring how to adapt effectively when required.
  • Know how to effectively assess within computing to move all children forward with their learning.
anchor: primaryDT

Primary | Foundation | Design Technology

  • Curriculum Designer
  • Subject Aims
<
>
"Design Technology enables the future ground breaking inventor, designer, architect or engineer to thrive in each and every classroom. It allows children and young people to actively contribute through their creativity and imagination to design and produce items that aim to solve problems in their school, community or the wider world. As a subject, DT provides the rare opportunity within a primary curriculum for risks to be taken, leading to more resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable pupils that are able to think critically."
Callum Ellis
​CURRICULUM DESIGNER
  • Explore the National Curriculum aims and programmes of study for DT.
  • Understand the ‘design, make and evaluate’ iterative design process within DT, appreciating the importance of pupils designing and making products which solve real and relevant problems.  
  • Understand the technical knowledge underpinning the design process within the disciplines of structures, mechanisms, textiles, cooking and nutrition.
  • Explore the best pedagogical approaches to the teaching of DT and the resources available to support with this.
  • Know how to support all children to achieve within DT, how to overcome barriers to learning and how to adapt as necessary in response to their needs.
  • Explore how to best provide feedback and assess within DT to ensure all children are progressing well.
anchor: primarygeography

Primary | Foundation | Geography

  • Curriculum Designer
  • Subject Aims
<
>
"Geography provides children with the opportunity to study our world with a microscopic lens. In our current climate, it is crucial that our children are able to understand the human and physical processes of our planet, as well as empathising with the positives and negatives we are facing. Geography is a wonderful subject that develops curiosity and inquisitiveness; this is something that all children should experience during their time in education. Geography is about understanding the complexity of our world, appreciating the diversity of cultures that exist across continents. This will support with the social and moral development of our pupils, enabling them to become conscientious citizens who are aware of the world around them."
Alasdair Williams​
​CURRICULUM DESIGNER
  • Explore the National Curriculum aims and programmes of study for geography.
  • Develop the skills needed to equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes
  • Explore a wide range of effective pedagogical approaches in geography, including the exploration of different resources, enquiry questions and technology.
  • Appreciate the importance of fieldwork within geography and explore effective ways of carrying this out safely.
  • Learn how to make geography fully accessible to pupils at different stages in their learning and ensure a stimulating and supportive climate for all
  • Explore effective approaches to the assessment of pupil’s geography learning and progress.
anchor: primaryhistory

Primary | Foundation | History

  • Curriculum Designer
  • Subject Aims
<
>
"History is a window into the past. History allows us to gain an understand of what came before us and how we got to be where we are now. Without knowing about the past, it is impossible to learn for the future. You will develop your historical knowledge, understand how to effectively teach History and learn how to embed a love of History for young people. Alongside this you will learn how to make local links with History which are meaningful and relevant for the young people you are teaching. Having the opportunity to share my passion for a wonderful career and to support the teachers of the future on their journey into education is a privilege."​
Paige Pink
​CURRICULUM DESIGNER
  • Explore the aims of the National Curriculum for history and unpick the programmes of study, including the requirement to investigate local historical links within the South West.
  • Develop own history subject knowledge through the use of resources, case studies and exemplar material.
  • Explore a wide range of teaching pedagogy to ensure lessons are building up rich schemas of knowledge in an engaging and creative manner.
  • Understand how to use high-quality texts to introduce new knowledge in history, encapsulate a love of learning and enhance understanding of key vocabulary through story.
  • Explore ways of ensuring all history lessons are well adapted to meet the needs of all children.
  • Know how to use formative and summative assessment effectively in history to maximise pupil progress.
anchor: primarymusic

Primary | Foundation | Music

  • Curriculum Designer
  • Subject Aims
<
>
“Music education can help spark a child’s imagination or ignite a lifetime of passion... Music education should not be a privilege for a lucky few, it should be part of every child’s world of possibility.” (H. Clinton) 

This course will focus on developing your own musical skills and confidence to empower you to be able to pass the gift of music on to the children whose lives you will impact as a teacher. 
Louise Darvid
​CURRICULUM DESIGNER
  • Understand the aims and purpose of the National Curriculum and programmes of study for Music.
  • Explore the array of resources and schemes which can support with the planning and delivery of an effective music curriculum.
  • Explore the best pedagogical principles for the teaching of music – including when singing, playing, composing, improvising, notating, listening and using technology.
  • Secure own subject knowledge around how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions of pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture and structure.
  • Explore how to best use feedback within music lessons and how to effectively assess - appreciating the role that technology can play to support this.
  • Know how to adapt music lessons and wider school provision, to ensure all children can make progress and benefit from the power of music.
anchor: primaryPSHE

Primary | Foundation | PSHE

  • Curriculum Designer
  • Subject Aims
<
>
"Given the right tools, schools can help build happy, healthy children and young people who are in charge of their emotional states which increases their capacity to learn. Children make healthy choices in their friendships, the exercise they engage in and the food that they eat. Through PSHE, children become more mature, independent and self-confident.  They develop their sense of social justice and moral responsibility and begin to understand that their own choices and behaviour can affect local, national or global issues and political and social institutions."
Olivia Bartlett
​CURRICULUM DESIGNER
  • Understand that PSHE is an umbrella term for a number of subjects and topics, with relationships and health education being statutory parts of the curriculum.
  • Appreciate the importance of fostering understanding and respect for diversity in our classrooms and schools.
  • Understand the part that SMSC plays in personal development curriculum-wide and how we can embed this.
  • Know the fundamental British values and how we can teach and promote them in schools.
  • Develop PSHE subject knowledge and gain familiarity with the schemes and resources available to help plan and teach sequences of lessons effectively.
  • Know how to assess in PSHE to best support pupils’ learning and how we can adapt lessons to enable all pupils to make progress.
anchor: primaryMFL

Primary | Foundation | MFL

  • Curriculum Designer
  • Subject Aims
<
>
"The vision I have for MFL is to promote social justice and social mobility by designing an ambitious curriculum which is accessible and engaging for all, including PP and SEND students. The aim of this curriculum is to empower teachers to teach language that is useful for real life communication and create more fluent linguists. This is why the cognitive load theory is at the centre of its design. There will be a strong focus on communicative functions and related constructions as well as interleaving, which will provide learners with opportunities to recycle language and link new information to prior knowledge with the ultimate goal to move language from the working memory to the long-term memory."​
Susie Fernandez Gomez​
​CURRICULUM DESIGNER
  • Unpick the National curriculum aims and programmes of study for MFL and appreciate the importance of fostering pupils’ curiosity and deepening their understanding of the world.
  • Explore different schemes of work and resources which can support the development of an effective MFL curriculum.
  • Look at a vast array of teaching strategies and approaches designed to ensure children know more and remember more, in a fun and engaging way.
  • Unpick the importance of empowering pupils to understand the language before we expect them to produce it.
  • Explore a range of assessment techniques and approaches, discussing their purpose and effectiveness within the teaching of modern foreign languages.
  • Look at adaptive teaching approaches through an MFL lens, exploring methods for ensuring our teaching is inclusive and accessible to all.
anchor: primaryPE

Primary | Foundation | PE

  • Curriculum Designer
  • Subject Aims
<
>
"Physical Education provides children with the knowledge and confidence on how to look after their own mind and bodies. In our current climate, it is crucial that children understand the benefits of physical activity and they are aware of the impact it has on their bodies if they do not stay fit and healthy. Physical Education is an exciting subject as it allows you to push yourself out of your comfort zone, try new skills and allows you to focus and improve upon yourself."​
Chelsea Castell
CURRICULUM DESIGNER
  • Explore the National Curriculum content for Primary PE and the overall purpose and aims.
  • Understand the importance of physical activity for sustained periods of time and our role in promoting the leading of healthy and active lives.
  • Know how to develop fundamental movement skills with pupils, extending their agility, balance and coordination as well as mastering basic movements.
  • Know the importance of competitive games within the PE curriculum and how best to teach the rules, strategies and tactics.
  • Explore pedagogical approaches to best teach all aspects of PE, including dance.  
  • Explore strategies for providing effective assessment in PE to best support pupil progress and how to adapt PE lessons to ensure learning is accessible to all.