IN CLEARING
IN CLEARING

School of Society and Culture

BEd (Hons) Primary (Special Educational Needs with QTS)

Get the best preparation to take on the challenge of a career as a primary teacher focusing on Special Educational Needs (SEN). With teaching methods shaped by our own research expertise, and plenty of on-the-job training in the classroom, you’ll gain the confidence and experience you need to work with SEN students in a variety of roles and settings. We’ll support you to explore the diversity of how children learn and develop your own toolkit for inclusive and effective teaching.

Secure your place this September

Clearing is another opportunity for you to secure your place at the University of Plymouth this September.

Contact our Clearing call centre: 0333 241 6929

If you’re worried about your results or you’d like to chat about your options, our friendly team is there to answer your questions.

Learn more about Clearing

Careers with this subject
Discover employment and further study opportunities that you could consider once you graduate with a BEd Primary degree, and learn how you can stand out to graduate employers.
Where could your degree take you?

Key features
  • Launch your career: obtaining integrated Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which means you can begin your teaching career immediately. Expand your horizons, enhance your practical experience and set yourself above the competition.
  • SEN focus area: this degree will look at teaching over the primary phase but also look at the way SEN and inclusion feeds into KS1 and KS2 preparing you to work with children from any phase of primary education in either mainstream or special schools.
  • Partnership with special schools: throughout this degree you will be visiting special schools and working with learners with inclusive needs. You will have a good understanding of how these schools support children with their learning.
  • No exams: learn through interactive workshops and with no end-of-year/semester exams.
  • Close links to the Master of Education (MA Ed): this link enables students to achieve enhanced career progression in a profession in which masters level attainment is increasingly valued.
  • Work based learning opportunities: students benefit from a wide range of placement types within our partnership of over 500 schools and other settings, from single days to extended block placements to develop and consolidate QTS standards.
  • Professional identity: from the very start of the programme you are considered as a teacher in development. The programme supports you as you develop your professional standards and identity.
  • Research -informed teaching: not only are all modules enhanced by tutors’ active research interests but students are immersed in a research culture and benefit from learning about the advantages of researching their practice first hand.
  • Student support: within the Plymouth Institute of Education there is a strong ethos of support for all students. Your professional tutor will actively engage with you throughout the BEd programme to offer guidance and support in both academic and pastoral terms.
  • OfSTED recognised: recent inspection rated the Primary ITE provision at Plymouth as good in all aspects, with particular strengths in the partnership led elements of the programmes and the quality of the graduates.

Course details

  • Year 1

  • In your first year, you’ll focus on your own subject knowledge. You’ll study modules looking at the role of the teacher, looking closely at the primary curriculum in order to get an understanding of the content, and consider how theory underpins the practice of teaching. You’ll also gain practical experience of the classroom with a two-week and a four-week school placement across the primary age range.

    Core modules

    • Education Core Knowledge and Pedagogy 1 (ECKP401)

      During the course of this module students will become familiar with, enhance and broaden their own subject knowledge and understanding in order to support learners in FS, KS1 & KS2 in maths, English and science.

    • Education Primary Curriculum Module 1 (EPCM401)

      During the course of this module students will explore the FS Framework and National Curriculum for KS1 & KS2, developing their subject knowledge and pedagogic knowledge. They will be guided to design and develop engaging learning opportunities for children. They will come to understand how children's learning can be appropriately assessed, with reference to clear learning objectives.

    • Education Primary Theory and Praxis (EPTP401)

    • Education Settings Placement Module - Year 1 (ESPM411)

      Students work to begin taking a leadership role in classrooms. The emphasis is on teaching in the primary curriculum subjects of the National Curriculum. This experience will complement campus-based work in Education Studies, Core and Broader Curriculum modules. The experience provides opportunities for supportive critical appraisal of work undertaken.

  • Year 2

  • In your second year, you’ll build on your growing knowledge and expertise, particularly with inclusion and special educational needs, looking at how the core curriculum of maths, English and science is taught in schools. You’ll also look to further your understanding of the SEN in more detail. Classroom experience will come from a two-part school experience within the same school to look at how children progress over the year.

    Core modules

    • Education Core Knowledge and Pedagogy 2 (ECKP501)

      During the course of this module students will learn how to apply their own subject knowledge and understanding, along with learning theory and pedagogy, to ensure effective learning of maths, English and science for the full range of learners in FS and primary settings, incorporate TEL as appropriate.

    • Education Moving to Outstanding Practice (SEN) (EMOP501SN)

      Those on the Primary (SEN) programme will follow a module focused on Special Educational Needs in order to strengthen their understanding.

    • Education Primary Theory & Praxis 2 (EPTP501)

      This module aims to give students opportunities to analyse principles which underpin effective teaching and learning, to consider their own attitudes and values and to develop understanding of how to promote learning. This module will look at diversity amongst learners and look at aspects of difference such as LGBTQ+ and SEND.

    • Educational Settings Placement Module - Year 2 (ESPM511)

      Students undertake a leadership role in classrooms. The emphasis is on progression in the core and broader curriculum subjects of the National Curriculum. This experience will complement campus-based work in Education Studies, Core and Broader Curriculum modules. The experience provides opportunities for supportive critical appraisal of work undertaken.

  • Final year

  • In your final year, you’ll develop your understanding and knowledge regarding SEN, as well as producing your dissertation. You’ll reflect on your professional identity and how to shape your teaching practice for the future. You’ll also look at how the SEN and inclusive practice supports the rest of the primary curriculum. You’ll gain significant practical experience on a 10-week school experience, where you’ll take full responsibility for the class. You’ll also have extensive support in obtaining, and preparing for, your first post.

    Core modules

    • Education Dissertation (EDIS601)

      This module enables students to use the skills, experience and specialist subject knowledge they have acquired previously to attempt a significant piece of original research. They will relate their research to pedagogy and its impact on children's learning. All students will be expected to undertake the assignment for the subject focus award which they have chosen.

    • Education Moving to Outstanding Practice (SEN) (EMOP601SN)

      This module offers students the opportunity to become an advocate and outstanding practitioner for their chosen programme of KS1/KS2

    • Education Primary Curriculum Module 2 (EPCM601)

      During the course of this module students will further enhance and deepen their subject knowledge and pedagogic knowledge across the curriculum, including knowledge related to their chosen Exit Award. They will be challenged to design and develop engaging learning opportunities for children, justifying their decisions with reference to relevant reading, research and first-hand experience. They will demonstrate a thorough understanding of why children's learning should be assessed and how this can be achieved appropriately, with reference to clearly articulated and well-chosen learning objectives and success criteria.

    • Education Settings Placement Module - Year 3 (ESPM611)

      Students work to consolidate their role in classrooms. The emphasis is on assessing within the core and broader curriculum subjects of the National Curriculum. This experience will complement campus-based work in Education Studies, Core and Specialism modules. The experience provides opportunities for supportive critical appraisal of work undertaken.

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

BEd (Hons) Primary programme specification_6652

The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.

Entry requirements

UCAS tariff

112

All appropriately qualified candidates will be given equal consideration during the selection process. University of Plymouth does not tolerate discrimination on the grounds of gender, ethnicity, colour, disability, religion, nationality, age, sexual orientation or any other irrelevant distinction.

Academic requirements

  • All applicants are required to have GCSE mathematics, English language and science at grade C or above. Equivalent qualifications may be considered. We offer our own GCSE Maths equivalency programme. 
  • 28 IB points.
  • BTEC National Extended Diploma DMM.
  • Pass Access to HE Diploma with at least 33 credits at Merit or Distinction.
  • T level, merit, any subject.
  • All candidates must be able to reflect on some experience in relevant educational setting(s). 
  • English language requirements.
  • We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.
  • There is also a requirement to pass minimum standards for literacy and numeracy.

BTEC National Diploma modules

 If you hold a BTEC qualification it is vital that you provide our Admissions team with details of the exact modules you have studied as part of the BTEC. Without this information we may be unable to process your application quickly and you could experience significant delays in the progress of your application to study with us. Please explicitly state the full list of modules within your qualification at the time of application.

Non-academic requirements

 
  • All candidates will be required to complete a satisfactory DBS (formerly CRB) Enhanced Disclosure, register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority and complete a criminal convictions self-declaration form.
  • All candidates must be deemed fit to teach.

An interview is a pre-requisite for entry onto this programme

All candidates are required to attend an interview. Interview days are conducted by the programme lead representative and include a practising teacher who represents the wider partnership and offers an employer perspective on suitability for the profession. Find more information about interviews in the Institute's interview pages.
For a full list of all acceptable qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.

Fees, costs and funding
Student 2023-2024 2024-2025
Home £9,250 £9,250
International £16,300 £17,100
Part time (Home) £770 £770
Full time fees shown are per annum. Part time fees shown are per 10 credits. Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them shown in the prospectus are correct at the time of going to print. Fees shown on the web are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances. More information about fees and funding.

Undergraduate scholarships for international students

To reward outstanding achievement the University of Plymouth offers scholarship schemes to help towards funding your studies.

Additional costs

This course is delivered by the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business and more details of any additional costs associated with the faculty's courses are listed on the following page: Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business additional costs.

Essential technology for your studies 

The university recommends that all students have access to their own technology to access their programme. If you’re purchasing a laptop, you should review the specifications listed below, but if you’re unsure about the requirements for your course, ensure that you ask your programme team before you buy anything:
  • Minimum specifications for basic processing (enabling the use of university web-based systems and general-purpose applications, such as Office 365): Intel Core i3, 8GB RAM, SSD storage, Full HD display or equivalent, Windows 10.
  • Recommended specifications for students intending to run a variety of software applications: Intel Core i5, 16GB RAM, SSD storage, Full HD display or equivalent, Windows 10.

Bursaries and funds

If you’re experiencing financial hardship due to extra costs, unexpected health issues or other factors, there are bursaries and funds to help you. Take a look at our Bursaries and other funding options page.

How to apply
All applications for undergraduate courses are made through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). 
UCAS will ask for the information contained in the box at the top of this course page including the UCAS course code and the institution code. 
To apply for this course and for more information about submitting an application including application deadline dates, please visit the UCAS website.
Support is also available to overseas students applying to the University from our International Office via our how to apply webpage or email admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

Why study BEd Primary?

Our BEd Primary degree is the ideal preparation for a rewarding and successful career in primary teaching. You will be able to gain relevant work experience while improving your team work, communication, analysis, evaluation, interpretation and presentation skills. Graduates for our course are now employed in a wide variety of roles including primary teacher, learning centre manager and special needs coordinator.

7 reasons to study BEd Primary

ABC primary education close up

Interviews

For many of our courses successful applicants will need to attend an interview and undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service assessment.
Learn more about your interview, with information specific to your programme of study
 
Two PIE Students at whiteboard

People

* These are the latest results from the National Student Survey. Please note that the data published on Discover Uni (Unistats) is updated annually in September.