Based in Cambridge, Chelmsford or Peterborough (two-year accelerated degree) our course will prepare you to join postgraduate Initial Teacher Training.

You needn’t be limited to primary school teaching, though. You might have your sights set on a career in the wider education sector, cultural institutions and NGOs, or related fields such as health and social work. On this degree course you’ll develop your understanding of primary education, and gain the knowledge and skills to work collaboratively in a range of settings.

At ARU, we're proud to be ranked number 1 in the country for Education in the Guardian League Table 2021. Our Primary Education Studies degree also scored over 90% for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2020.

Our Primary Education Studies course is designed for those looking for a career working with children aged 3-12 and their families. It’s also a great option if you already work in education but want to learn more about the subject or progress in your career.

We focus on education history, policy and the way children are taught today. You’ll graduate with a thorough understanding of classroom management, lesson planning, National Curriculum subjects, and the three Key Stages in primary education. We’ll also touch on special educational needs provision.

Throughout the course there’s a strong focus on the core subjects that all primary-aged pupils study: reading, writing, maths and science. You’ll become familiar with teaching approaches and how to make adjustments to suit learners of all abilities.

Of course, anyone working with children and families knows that it’s important to support the ‘whole child’ and so, as well as looking at education and teaching, we’ll explore related areas such as health, welfare, child psychology and children’s rights.

While studying at ARU, you’ll have opportunities to observe teaching in local schools. We offer our Primary Education Studies course as a three-year degree or an accelerated degree, which you’ll complete in two years. When you graduate, you’ll be ideally placed to join a postgraduate teacher training course with one of our partners and return to us to complete your PGCE.

Foundation year option

You have the option to study this course as a four-year degree with foundation year. In your first year you'll study with our partner, ARU College, on our Cambridge campus. After that you can choose to study in Cambridge or Chelmsford.

The chances are you’ll be drawn to working with primary-aged children and their families. Our BA (Hons) Primary Education Studies is the first step on your career path.

If you’re interested in teaching, our degree will prepare you for postgraduate initial teacher training programmes. We work with local ITT providers who actively recruit our students to School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITTs) and you’ll be prepared for interviews throughout your degree.

At ARU, our courses are designed with your future in mind. We work with schools to make sure you graduate with the knowledge, skills and abilities they need. They help us review what we teach and how we teach it – and they offer hands-on, practical opportunities to learn through work-based projects, internships or placements.