PGCE iQTS Primary (5-11)

Placements

We require iQTS candidates to work in a school with children aged 5-11 or secure a role in a school abroad that's willing to support their iQTS. The course will include a significant amount of teaching practice, where you'll benefit from at least 120 days of practical teaching experience over 36 weeks.

We'll talk to you and your school to ensure you'll be able to meet the requirements of the qualification in your placements, including undertaking relevant safeguarding checks. This will include appropriate in-school mentor support, which is essential to your study and must be agreed by UWE Bristol before starting the course.

Study facilities

Your course materials and reading will be available to you online. You'll log onto our virtual learning environment to take part in live webinars, watch videos, take part in discussion activities, and access your study tasks. Throughout the course, technical and academic support will be on offer.

You'll need easy access to a computing device with a browser and broadband internet access. The University provides central guidance on the recommended specification for any device you use to undertake your academic work.

Entry requirements

For Primary (5-11), you should typically meet the following criteria:

• A standard equivalent to a GCSE grade C/4 in Mathematics and Science.
• An undergraduate degree, or a recognised equivalent qualification. This is typically 2:2 or higher but we will look at all applications against the demands of the course. 
• Your degree does not need to be in a particular subject or discipline to study the Primary course
• International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5, with at least 6.0 in each component (or approved equivalent).

You must meet all of the iQTS Teachers' Standards, including those that relate to subject and curriculum knowledge, by the end of your training. Full support will be provided to ensure you are clear on the requirements of the iQTS Teachers' Standards.

When applying to this course students should upload a personal statement which explains why they want to do the course and what they hope this course will allow them to achieve once completed.

To enrol on the course, you'll also need:

School: This is a practice-based course. To enrol on the course, applicants need to be working in a school who will support their full engagement on the course and be able to confirm that the student has any safeguarding clearance required in that education system/context. 

This will usually involve at least 120 days in teaching practice, including an intensive teaching block at the end of the year. At least 2 weeks of this teaching practice will need to include experience in an alternative school setting. If this is not possible we will explore alternative ways of ensuring trainees have experience and understanding of a different school context.

We'll usually ask trainees to video record some of their teaching (the trainee as teacher, not the learners) to support self-reflection and tutor and mentor evaluation. The school will need to approve this feature of the course.

We'll liaise with the school, and provide full information, along with a contract of engagement detailing specific features and requirements of the course. The school will need to be able to deliver the school-based elements of the qualification. This needs to be agreed and signed by the Headteacher or delegate at the school, and by UWE Bristol. We may also need to undertake checks to ensure there are no barriers to undertaking an international teacher training course in the country the school is located in.

Mentor: To ensure each trainee is fully supported and co-evaluated with UWE Bristol, in advance of the course start, each trainee needs to be assigned a named in-school mentor in the trainee's placement school who can support the student's progress to achieve the iQTS qualification. UWE Bristol will liaise with the applicant and the school to ensure this, and mentors will receive full training.

Selection process

Applicants who meet the entry criteria will be invited to an online interview which will include some tasks.

A general interview for primary and subject interview for secondary will be conducted. Additionally, each applicant will be required to give a short presentation - full details will be provided on invitation to interview. A subject knowledge audit linking to the English National Curriculum in the chosen secondary subject or primary phase will be required prior to the interview and used to form a discussion during the interview process.

Additional criteria

• All schools will be required to provide information about the safeguarding clearance required in that education system/context, and evidence that the applicant has achieved this in the appropriate timeframe for the course. This must include a check to ensure the trainee has not been disqualified from a childcare role.
• If the applicant has recently been resident in the UK, UWE Bristol will require a clear Enhanced DBS Disclosure including check of children's barred list. These checks would also be carried out prior to working in the UK.
• Criminal records checks overseas. If you have lived, studied or worked overseas for five months or more in the last five years you will need to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct from the country of residence will be required even if you are a UK applicant.
• Two satisfactory references received directly from the referees, relating to work with children, including one from the host school.
• Assurance that the applicant has the health and physical capacity to train to teach. Applicants will be required to complete a fitness questionnaire.

All information will be treated in confidence.

Standards and requirements

Our PGCE courses have been designed to be compliant with the latest relevant Initial Teacher Training standards and requirements.

Deferrals

We do not accept deferrals for this course.

English Language Requirement

Due to a high level of placement-based learning and working with children, all applicants should have an effective command of the English language and be able to use it appropriately, accurately, and fluently in a school setting.

To demonstrate proficiency in the English language, International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5, with at least 6.0 in each component (or approved equivalent*).

*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language requirements.

Potential exemptions

If you are a national of one of the following English-speaking countries (or have a bachelor's degree or higher from one of these countries), you will not be required to provide evidence of English language proficiency. Exempt countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States.

How to apply

Applicants apply directly to the University by completing the formal application form. 

Applicants linked to Council of British International Schools (COBIS) are eligible for a 5% discount on tuition fees. To apply with the discount, in your application please answer "Yes" when asked "Are you making an application through a partner institution which has an agreement with UWE Bristol?" and then select "Council of British International Schools" as a partner.

Check if your school is a COBIS member.

Further information on the difference between the iQTS and the iPGCE requirements for the schools and mentors, and technical guidance is available on the UWE Bristol iQTS information page.

Read more about postgraduate applications.

Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.

For further information

• Email: Admissions@uwe.ac.uk
• Telephone: +44 (0)117 32 83333