Teacher working with a pupil.

Year of study

2025

Key details

Start date(s)
September 2025
Location
Main Campus (Horsforth)
School
Education
UCAS tariff points
112-144
Study Mode
Full-time (3 years)

Are you excited by a career in which you can encourage young children to enjoy learning and make daily progress?

Education in primary schools and early years settings is focused on creating enabling environments and positive relationships and is full of exciting provision that is responsive to children’s needs and the requirements of the Early Years curriculum.

As soon as you begin the programme, you start your journey of professional development towards becoming a qualified teacher.

Our Primary Education (Early Years 3-7) degree fulfils the minimum entitlement of the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF),  alongside an ambitious and innovative curriculum which provides opportunities to develop clear links between theory and practice along with a series of visiting speakers to enhance your understanding of all aspects of primary school life and learning.

The Student Contract

About this course

We'll work with you to ensure that Communication and Language, Personal, Emotional and Social Development and Physical Development, the prime areas of learning which lay the foundation for all children’s learning are embedded in all that you do, helping you to understand your influential role in young children’s lives. 
 
You'll learn how experiential, play-based learning supports young children's development and how, as an effective practitioner, you can have a positive impact on children’s development and learning. Teaching in early years is dynamic, and you'll learn the professional skills related to planning, teaching and assessing, as well as how to manage a setting where children and adults work together in learning. 
 
You'll gain an understanding of the transition to Key Stage 1 and then into Key Stage 2 and develop knowledge of both the Early Years Foundation Stage and the National Curriculum at Key Stage 1. 
 
The Early Years 3-7 programme will enable you to develop the right expertise and values to provide outstanding learning experiences for all children, building on key features of effective practice

School Experience

Over the course of the three-year programme, you will complete a minimum of 24 weeks of assessed school experience, along with additional focus visits. In the first and second years, your school experience is eight weeks; in the final year, it's ten weeks. Intensive training and practice (ITaP) weeks provide opportunities to focus on foundational aspects of teaching and learning. These will draw upon the expertise of a range of colleagues and have been developed to give you the opportunity to practice, apply and refine your skills in specific aspects of teaching and learning. You will be mentored by expert colleagues in school and University settings. 

In the first year, you will gradually take on some of the teacher's role by working with small groups of children, setting activities in areas of provision, team teaching and moving on to teach whole group lessons. 

Throughout the second and third year, you will increase the amount of time you spend planning, teaching and assessing children; building your confidence, independence and progress in meeting the Teacher Standards and preparing you for your Early Career development.

Why study with us?

  • Explore how children learn through playful hands-on experiences which reflect the characteristics of effective learning from specialist tutors in early teaching and learning. 
  • Benefit from our strong partnerships with a wide range of schools through classroom experience and co-delivered training sessions and conferences
  • Meet the Teachers' Standards and you'll be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) when you complete your programme.  
  • Receive ongoing guidance and career development opportunities during the early stages of your teaching career after graduation. 
PGCE students in seminar.

Course modules

You will study a variety of modules across your programme of study. The module details given below are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

The Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF) provides the foundation for our curriculum which has four overlapping strands which are revisited in different contexts and increase in complexity over your three years of study.

  • Subject Knowledge and Applied Pedagogy
  • Professional Studies
  • Research Literacy
  • School Experience

Centre-based Training at University and School Experience are integrated to allow for reflective practice as you progress through each level.   

Students will study a range of core modules across their three years of study, designed to build phase expertise in Key Stage 1 where you will gain both theoretical and subject knowledge alongside practical experience in these phases of primary school.

Year 1

During your first year, you'll study seven core modules.

Introduction to Academic Study - Core Introduction to Teaching - Core How We Learn - Core Preparation for School Experience –1 - Core Subject and Curriculum - Core School Experience 1 - Core Subject and Curriculum 3-7 - Core

Year 2

During your second year, you'll study seven core modules.

Planning and Teaching Sequences across the Primary Curriculum (3-7) - Core Preparation for School Experience – 2 - Core Planning and Teaching Sequences across the Primary Curriculum (Wider) - Core Adaptive Teaching - Core Equality, Diversity and Inclusion - Core Developing Academic Enquiry - Core School Experience 2 - Core

Year 3

During your final year, you'll study six core modules.

Embedding the Learning and Assessment Cycle across the Core Curriculum (3-7) - Core Embedding the Learning and Assessment Cycle across the Wider Curriculum - Core Preparation for School Experience – 3 - Core
Enhanced Enquiry Project - Core

You'll independently carry out a small-scale research project and record your findings appropriately.

Develop your knowledge and understanding of ethical issues, carry out literature reviews, plan and conduct research, analyse evidence and draw conclusions.

You'll also critically evaluate the role of research in developing personal and professional practice.

Educational Debates - Core

Explore current and key issues affecting primary education.

Indicative content includes the changing nature of schools and the different types of schools in the UK system.

You'll synthesise international evidence on successful school systems and school reform.

You'll critically appraise different pedagogical models and interrogate the evidence of ‘high-quality teaching’ and the science of learning.

Get an understanding of what determines evidence-based teaching and how to embed research into your pedagogical toolkit.

We'll examine the role of teachers in the 21st century, enabling your development in critical reflection, professional learning and teacher leadership.

School Experience 3 - Core

Got a question about the course?

Our Primary Education team are on hand to answer your questions, whether you want to know about the modules you'll be studying, where you can complete your professional placement or the types of assessments you'll do, they are here to help.

Learning and teaching

Assessment

A variety of assessment methods are used, matched to the learning outcomes for your programme, allowing you to apply and demonstrate the full range of knowledge and skills that you have developed.

For more details on specific assessment methods for this course contact hello@leedstrinity.ac.uk

Programme delivery

Your time on campus, learning through in-person teaching, is at the heart of your academic experience and the way we deliver our programmes. This is supported and further enhanced by additional engagement activities and opportunities provided online and through digital teaching materials. This blended approach seeks to ensure a positive learning and teaching student experience.

Your programme of study has been carefully designed around a three-phase model of delivery:

  1. Preparation: You will be given clear tasks to support you in preparing for live teaching. This could include watching a short-pre-recorded lecture, reading a paper or text chapter or preparing other material for use in class.
  2. Live: All your live teaching will be designed around active learning, providing you with valuable opportunities to build on preparation tasks, interact with staff and peers, and surface any misunderstandings.
  3. Post: Follow-up activities will include opportunities for you to check understanding, for staff to receive feedback from you and your peers to inform subsequent sessions, and for you to apply learning to new situations or context.

Preparation, Live and Post teaching and learning and the digital materials used will vary by course, but will be designed to help you structure your learning, take a full and active part in your course, and apply and test your developing knowledge and skills.

Learning and teaching

At Leeds Trinity we aim to provide an excellent student experience and provide you with the tools and support to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional potential.

Our Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy delivers excellence by providing the framework for:

  • high quality teaching
  • an engaging and inclusive approach to learning, assessment and achievement
  • a clear structure through which you progress in your academic studies, your personal development and towards professional-level employment or further study.

We have a strong reputation for developing student employability, supporting your development towards graduate employment, with relevant skills embedded throughout your programme of study.

We endeavour to develop curiosity, confidence, courage, ambition and aspiration in all students through the key themes in our Learning and Teaching Strategy:

  • Student Involvement and Engagement
  • Inclusion
  • Integrated Programme and Assessment Experience
  • Digital Literacy and Skills
  • Employability and Enterprise

To help you achieve your potential we emphasise learning as a collaborative process, with a range of student-led and real-world activities. This approach ensures that you fully engage in shaping your own learning, developing your critical thinking and reflective skills so that you can identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and use the extensive learning support system we offer to shape your own development.

We believe the secret to great learning and teaching is simple: it is about creating an inclusive learning experience that allows all students to thrive through:

  • Personalised support
  • Expert lecturers
  • Strong connections with employers
  • An international outlook
  • Understanding how to use tools and technology to support learning and development

Entry requirements

Leeds Trinity University is committed to recruiting students with talent and potential and who we feel will benefit greatly from their academic and non-academic experiences here. We treat every application on its own merits; we value highly the experience you illustrate in your personal statement.

Information about the large range of qualifications we accept, including A-Levels, BTECs and T Levels, can be found on our entry requirements page. If you need additional advice or are taking qualifications that are not covered in the information supplied, please contact our Admissions Office.

Entry requirements for this course:
QualificationGrade
UCAS tariff112-144
GCSE requirementsGCSEs in English Language or English Literature, Maths and Science at grade C or 4 (or higher) will be required A variety of level 3 qualifications are accepted. Please note that in accordance with DfE guidance, qualifications in key and functional skills at level 2 are not equivalent to GCSEs in terms of content and therefore do not meet the minimum entry requirements of the course.

Additional entry requirements

In addition to the academic entry requirements, you will also need to meet the additional entry requirements set by the DfE for selection. This includes a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal records checks and a health check that demonstrates fitness to train to teach prior to the start of the course.

Applicants also need to demonstrate the commitment, attitudes and values appropriate to those of a primary teacher and the potential to train as a teacher. Strong applicants often have experience in primary schools, but this is not a requirement.

For further information, please visit our Initial Teacher Training additional entry requirements page.

Interview Information

Applicants who meet the entry criteria will be invited to interview. At the interview, a written assessment may be used to evaluate your strengths and needs. Once you have completed your interview we will be able to make a decision about your offer.

Fees and finance

UK Home fees £9,250 per year
Full-time

Funding

UK Home Students:

Tuition fees cost £9,250 a year for this course in 2024/2025.

Part-time tuition fees will be prorated accordingly to the number of credits you're studying.

Depending on government policy, tuition fees may change in future years.

Tuition fees for 2025/2026 entry will be confirmed, subject to government approval, later in 2024.

Living costs, e.g. accommodation, travel, food, will also need to be taken into consideration.

Leeds Trinity offers a range of bursaries and scholarships to help support students while you study.

International Students, including EU Students:

Visit our webpage for international students.

Part-time study is not available for international students on a Student Route Visa. 

Additional costs

We advise students that there may be additional course costs in addition to annual tuition fees:

  • Recommended and required reading lists will be provided at the start of your course. All the books and e-books are available from our Library to borrow but you may choose to purchase your own.
  • On some courses there may be additional costs, such as field trips, equipment, accreditations, that may be part-funded by the University. More details will be provided at the start of the course.
  • You'll need to include placement/s travel and associated costs too, however the University will contribute a standard amount towards your total expenditure.
  • The University provides students with a £6 printing credit each academic year which can be topped up either on campus or online.

How to apply

For full-time undergraduate courses, you apply through UCAS. That's the University and Colleges Admissions Service.

On your application form, you'll need to know our institution code - it's L24 - and the course code. If you click through to the UCAS website using the button below, it'll take you to the right place with all the information you need.

You'll need to write a personal statement - we've prepared a guide to help you.

Applications are now open for courses starting in September 2025. The UCAS application deadline for courses starting in September 2025 is 29 January 2025.

There's lots more information about the application process on the UCAS website, or you can get in touch with our admissions team who will be happy to help:

Graduate opportunities

Providing you with the opportunity to develop the professional skills and experience you need to launch your career is at the heart of everything we do at Leeds Trinity University.

The vast majority of our graduates go on to work in school or early years settings – initially as class teachers, but then moving up into middle and senior leadership roles. Many of our graduates opt to work abroad. Your QTS award is recognised in many countries around the world, meaning that you can be appointed to a teaching or education-related role almost anywhere. Recent graduates are currently working in schools in Poland, Russia, Oman, UAE and Australia.

After you graduate, Careers and Placements will help you as you pursue your chosen career through our mentoring scheme, support with CV and interview preparation and access to graduate employability events.

To find out how we can help you make your career ambitions a reality, visit:

Careers

Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies (CCRS)

Achieve an additional qualification alongside your degree with the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies

Although the CCRS isn't compulsory, it is recognised across the Catholic sector as a desirable qualification that can expand both your expertise and your vocational focus. The course aims to ensure you have the basic knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the beliefs and principles of the Catholic Faith while providing a basis for further study. 

Meet the team

Primary Education Anna Park
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Primary Education Chris Price
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Education Vikki Chadwick
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Primary Education Bethany Drake
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Primary Education Salik Miah
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