What can you do with your primary education degree?

Your studies will provide a broad range of skills of value to employers:

• excellent communication and presentational skills
• interpersonal skills for working with children, other teachers and parents
• knowledge of national curriculum subjects
• resilience and self-discipline
• an interest in helping children to develop both academically and as individuals
• development of critical thinking and understanding of theory
• problem-solving and flexibility within work-based learning and related experiences
• teamwork and leadership skills through group projects
• researching, analysing and evaluating data through seminar work and independent assignments
• time management and organisational skills through juggling different module assessment requirements and work-based learning alongside studies
• emotional intelligence
• written communication through report writing and presenting
• planning and project management through independent research tasks
• a satisfactory health record and enhanced criminal record check through the Disclosure and Barring Service
  

Primary teaching is rewarding, diverse and dynamic, requiring you to demonstrate a passion for learning and the ability to support children across a range of backgrounds and abilities. The BEd Primary degree at the University of Plymouth offers you the opportunity to undertake work-based learning, allowing you to see first-hand where you could fit as an educator in the primary landscape while you develop the QTS standards needed. You can teach from foundation year (age 3) right through to Key Stage 2 (ages 7–11), so you should consider during your degree what appeals to you most.

If teaching in a primary school isn’t for you, you can also use your BEd to apply for work within health care, charities, local councils and even leisure. Since specific career paths may be obvious, you should use your research skills to explore the range of opportunities and consider your personal interests, motivations, values and strengths.

 

Researching your career options

Given the potential career options open to BEd graduates, you should research and explore these fully so that you can make informed decisions about your future.

The following websites provide helpful information on options for primary teaching:

• Prospects
• TEFL
• National Teaching and Advisory Service (NT&AS)
• National Teaching Fellowship
• Guidance for Newly Qualified Teachers
• Continuing Professional Development for Teachers - TES

 

Employment opportunities

Below is a snapshot of what some of University of Plymouth BEd graduates told us they were doing six months after graduation. For some graduates, these jobs serve as ‘stepping-stones’ to professional posts by providing relevant workplace experience.

• Teacher (years 2–6)
• Mathematics Teacher
• Family Practitioner
• Company Director
• Nursery Practitioner
• Reception Years Teacher
• Pre-School Manager
• Deputy Nursery Manager

 

Employers to consider

Redruth Primary School

Monkwick Primary School

Hill View Primary School

Devon County Council

North Somerset Council

Supply Plus

Learning Academy Partnership

Birmingham City Council

Hampshire County Council

Some of the careers chosen by primary graduates will require—or benefit from—further study, so this should be considered carefully. The University of Plymouth offers the following postgraduate study options that could be of interest: 

• MA Education
• PgCert Education: Autism
• PGCE Secondary (various subjects)
  
• discover our postgraduate degrees here

You should consider the financial implications of further study as well as selecting a programme that suits your interests, learning style and future career direction. The following websites are a good starting point for exploring postgraduate options, but you may also benefit from talking to a Careers Consultant about your individual situation.

Find a Masters

Find a PhD

Prospects

Accessing support from the Careers Service couldn’t be easier; come along to the Careers Service Helpdesk in the Student Hub or access 24/7 online resources.

A wide range of support is available from skills workshops to events, placements and internships advice, 1-2-1 appointments and help getting started with LinkedIn.

Our bite-sized Skills Workshops can give your career the boost it needs. Choose from a range of topics:

• effective career planning
• job hunting techniques
• finding part-time work
• CVs and interviews
• mastering LinkedIn
• and more.

Workshops are delivered by the Careers Service; however, they are also an opportunity to learn from your peers, share experiences and ask questions. Visit myCareer to see the full range of activities and to book your place.

Build your network and job sector knowledge using LinkedIn’s alumni tool. This will allow you to see the career journeys of graduates from your programme, the qualifications they completed, the skills they developed and the employers they worked for. You can then ‘connect’ with people of interest.

• Search LinkedIn for ‘University of Plymouth’
• click on ‘Alumni’
• filter the results by subject, sector, company or location.

For more information about the alumni tool, click on the LinkedIn alumni tool guide. If you are looking for help with setting up or learning how to make the most out of your LinkedIn profile, click on the LinkedIn guide for students or come to one of our workshops.

Undertaking work experience in your first and second years will help you stand out from the crowd when the time comes for you to complete applications for graduate employment and further study. Work experience develops valuable skills and qualities that employers are looking for and is essential for many roles. It can also help you to confirm or rule out particular career choices. Furthermore, experience in the workplace can bring you into contact with people who may be able to assist you at the beginning of your career.  

You have plenty of options open to you. You could work part-time around your studies, undertake volunteering or approach organisations directly to negotiate short periods of work experience. Some organisations offer paid internships over the summer or of one year’s duration.

The University of Plymouth Students’ Union offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities.

Tutor and academic support

Your tutor and other academic staff are an excellent source of support for your career development. They will have experience and contacts across industry and academia, so definitely approach them for advice and insights into careers you are considering. Your tutor will ultimately write references for your employment or further study applications, so establishing a positive relationship with this person is invaluable.

 

Clubs and societies

Participating in a sport or society shows employers you are engaged and can seek out opportunities. It also helps you improve your teamwork, communication and negotiation skills. Committee members can develop leadership, diplomacy and organisational skills and will gain experience of meetings, handling funds and society promotion.

You may choose to join a society that is specifically linked to your studies or take the opportunity to explore the university’s wide range of clubs, societies and sports, all of which can help you to broaden your horizons and explore new interests.