Primary Education

Inspire curiosity and nurture the next generation with a degree in Primary Education

Male student playing with a toy with a student.

Study Primary Education and prepare for a career in teaching.

Teaching is an amazing profession. You get to work with children and their families, you’re supported by fantastic colleagues in school and every day brings something new.

At Leeds Trinity, we offer two undergraduate programmes in Primary Education which cover the age ranges 3-7 years and 5-11 years. Whichever age-range you train for, you will be qualified to teach across ages 3-11 years in the primary sector.

Our courses are developed alongside school partners, academic staff and the latest research so they remain current and respond to the latest requirements in the education sector.

You’ll be mentored by expert colleagues in school and University settings. You’ll receive specialist training on teaching the most difficult aspects of subject content and understanding children and young people at various ages and stages of development, including how to manage a busy classroom.

On completion of your degree programme, you’ll be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and will be well prepared for your future career in the teaching profession.

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Get a taste of life at Leeds Trinity.

An Open Day is your chance to explore the campus, meet your future lecturers, chat to current students and discover where you could live and study.

You'll tour our facilities, check out accommodation and learn how we'll support you every step of the way.

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Our courses

Course title	Award	Year of entry	Link to view course
Primary Education (Early Years 3-7) with QTS	BA (Hons)	Year of entry: 2025, 2026	View course
Primary Education (Early Years 3-7) with QTS with Foundation Year	BA (Hons)	Year of entry: 2025, 2026	View course
Primary Education (Later Years 5-11) with QTS	BA (Hons)	Year of entry: 2025, 2026	View course
Primary Education (Later Years 5-11) with QTS with Foundation Year	BA (Hons)	Year of entry: 2025, 2026	View course

Not too late to apply for 2025

If you have missed the main UCAS Deadline, you still have other options. You can apply through UCAS Extra or Clearing.

Find out more Register for Clearing

"I love how small the class sizes are and how homely the University feels. Through the lectures, workshops and activities, I have developed close relationships with everyone on my course."

Abbie Blackburn
Primary Education (Early Years 3-7) Student

Discover Abbie's blog

Abbie Blackburn, Primary Education student at Leeds Trinity.

Our achievements

98% of our School of Education graduates are in employment or further study 15 months after graduating

Graduate Outcomes, Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), published 2024

Top 15 in the UK for ‘assessment and feedback’ among universities in the UK included for teacher training

National Student Survey (NSS) 2024

Leeds Trinity University is top in Yorkshire and top 10 in the UK for 'satisfaction with teaching'

The Guardian University Guide 2025

Early Years 3-7 or Later Years 5-11?

We offer two undergraduate programmes in Primary Education which cover the age ranges 3-7 years and 5-11 years. Whichever age-range you train for, you’ll be qualified to teach across ages 3-11 years in the primary sector.

Early Years 3-7

The Early Years 3-7 programme prepares you for the very early teaching and learning experiences. In this role, you’ll spend time helping children develop through experiential, play-based learning. You’ll be a key figure in nurturing children’s communication and social, emotional and physical development, as well as teaching the first skills needed to support the rest of their school years.

Later Years 5-11

The Later Years 5-11 programme prepares you to build on the prior knowledge and skills that children have developed in the Early Years Foundation Stage and support them to develop key skills, such as working with others, problem-solving and communication. Teaching across this age-range, you’ll provide high quality learning opportunities to help children develop these skills effectively and prepare them for moving to secondary education and beyond.

Programme Structure

In each year of the programme there are four key strands which structure your learning and professional experience at university and in school.

Professional Studies

You’ll develop knowledge and understanding of the statutory frameworks that teachers work within as well as best practice in meeting your legal and ethical obligations in key areas such as safeguarding and child protection.

Subject Knowledge and Applied Pedagogy

Our focus is on developing your ability to teach a broad and balanced curriculum and gain an understanding of subject and age-specific pedagogy to enable you to plan, teach and assess across the curriculum confidently.

Research Literacy

An important aspect of training to teach is developing your understanding of why we work in certain ways. Understanding the theory behind what works helps you to reflect professionally on your teaching and sets you up to be confident in your own practice and decision-making.

School-based Training

You’ll spend substantial time working alongside practitioners in Early Years and Primary settings. To help you develop the confidence you’ll need to become a teacher, you’ll complete at least 24 weeks of school-based training as part of your degree. We’ll support you to build your skills gradually, so you’ll be ready to take on the role of class teacher by the time you undertake your final placement.

Our dedicated School Partnerships team will work with you to find the right opportunity for your school-based training. You’ll be allocated a university link tutor and a school-based mentor for each placement who will support you throughout your training.

Before you complete each block of school-based training, you’ll take part in intensive and immersive preparation training led by your Primary Education lecturers.

The experiences gained from school-based training are priceless, they prepare you for your early teaching career. Observing skilled teachers, then co-teaching alongside them, is valuable learning that builds courage to thrive at being the teacher yourself, while always feeling supported.

Kushwant Ratour
Primary Education (Early Years 3-7) BA (Hons)