School teaching is an intensely rewarding yet challenging profession. The opportunity to help shape children’s futures is both a privilege and a responsibility.

Brunel’s PGCE in Primary Education is designed to prepare you for work with pupils aged 5 to 11 years. The course covers all Key Stage 1 and 2 of National Curriculum subjects: English, mathematics and science, computing, physical education, history, geography, religious education, art, design and technology, modern foreign languages, PSHEE and music. 

The focus of your studies will be on the principles and methods of teaching and learning delivered through three core modules, together with compulsory, practical school-based teaching placements.  Your progress will be assessed in both areas.

Your placement will typically take you into Brunel partner schools or other educational settings in and around London for at least 120 days in block placements in two or more different contexts with support from a school-based mentor. 

Links with schools across our Partnership enable you to take placements that will equip you with the skills to work with young people in a variety of educational contexts. The Education Department at Brunel was highly praised for this Partnership work in the 2015 Ofsted inspection – Ofsted graded Brunel’s Initial Teacher Education Partnership as ‘Outstanding’ in all areas.

As you progress through your own development and learning on the course, you will be encouraged to reflect critically on your own and other teaching practices in relation to national and regional priorities and policies, and current research.

At the heart of the programme is the commitment to ensuring that your practice will impact positively on pupil progress over time, and Brunel Partnership activities with schools will contribute to school improvement of which you will play a central part.

Upon successful completion of your course, you will receive both the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and recommendation for the Qualified Teaching Status (QTS).

A Brunel PGCE with recommendation for QTS is a recognised symbol of high quality Initial Teacher Education (ITE). This is demonstrated by Brunel’s outstanding employment rates over time and feedback from Brunel alumni student teachers, our partnership schools and Ofsted inspectors.

Brunel PGCE graduates have gone on to work in our partnership schools, and many in schools where they undertook a placement experience. This allows the department to retain links with former students and often they become school-based mentors for Brunel PGCE students. The department also has a network of alumni in positions of responsibility in schools across the country.

After you graduate, your relationship with Brunel doesn’t stop there. As alumni,  you can remain involved in the Partnership in a range of ways including mentoring, and can also sign up to receive invitations to Brunel public lectures, Department of Education research seminars, events and steering groups, to ensure you continue to develop through a community of professional practice within, and beyond the school in which you work.

If you decide to pursue further study after your PGCE course, (perhaps an MA, a taught Doctorate of Education or a research based PhD), you will be warmly encouraged by the department with the opportunity of discounted fees as a Brunel graduate.