School of Education

BA (Hons) Primary Education (QTS)

BA (Hons) Full-time 3 years

Our Primary Education degree offers top-tier training for aspiring primary school teachers. With exceptional teaching (97% student satisfaction), superior academic support (94% student satisfaction), and national recognition (ranked 9th in the UK for Education), our program stands out.

Our Primary Education degree offers top-tier training for aspiring primary school teachers. With exceptional teaching (97% student satisfaction), superior academic support (94% student satisfaction), and national recognition (ranked 9th in the UK for Education), our program stands out.

Award
BA (Hons)
Start date(s)
15 September 2025
UCAS Code
X120
Course specifications
Course length
Full-time (3 years)
Campus location
University: Walsall Campus
School
School of Education
UCAS points calculator

Why choose this course?

  • 97% of students are happy with the teaching on their course (NSS, 2024).
  • 94% of students are happy with the academic support they receive (NSS, 2024).
  • Ranked 9th in the UK for Education (The Guardian University Guide 2025).
  • GOOD Ofsted rating for all of our Initial Teacher Education Courses.

You will be taught by knowledgeable lecturers who are all qualified teachers with a wealth of experience and are passionate about primary education. The course is enhanced through the involvement of expert colleagues and intensive training and practice.  

You will focus on the teaching of the National Curriculum for primary schools and specialise in teaching Key Stages 1 and 2 whilst also having valuable opportunities to experience alternative educational settings such as Early Years, Secondary and SEND settings as well as enhancement opportunities that support your development as you train to teach. 

We have partnerships with a large number of schools and educational settings across the West Midlands and wider area for your placements and enhancement experiences throughout your course. We work with trained and passionate school mentors who will support you with every step of your placements.  

You will be taught at Walsall Campus, just a short walk from Walsall town centre and a bus ride from the centre of Birmingham and Wolverhampton.  Our provision includes lecture theatres and classrooms as well as social learning areas, which include the Student Union.  

The Walsall Campus is a welcoming campus with a community feel. The course is designed for a cohort size where all students and staff are able to get to know each other and build a sense of belonging. We have strong partnerships with schools across Walsall, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, Sandwell and Birmingham, which allow you to experience a diverse range of teaching practices that will equip you with the knowledge and skills to be a resilient and responsive teacher. 

We are a widening participation university, which means that we are committed to breaking down perceived barriers to Higher Education. We work to inspire, engage and enable everyone, including those who may not have previously considered higher education, to fulfil their full potential. We strive to create opportunity, deliver social mobility and transform lives.  

You will work with a range of staff, including lecturers who themselves were first-generation graduates. We live, work and immerse ourselves in the local community with a keen focus on high aspirations, targeted support and understanding of our students. This is reflected in our student satisfaction results again with 94% student satisfaction for Academic Support. 

Our clear and student-focused timetable is designed to ensure that there is time to complete assessments as well as engage in social activities. You will also have the opportunity to learn from both current trainees and alumni to demonstrate how to develop your practice further. 

We offer a range of additional opportunities beyond the standard requirements, such as an option to undertake time within a SEND school setting, engage with a short-term international teaching experience and a range of employability and subject-focused research conferences. 

 

What's unique about this course?

  • Exceptional teaching: 97% of students are happy with the teaching on their course (NSS, 2024).
  • Superior support: 94% of students are happy with the academic support they receive (NSS, 2024).
  • National recognition: ranked 9th in the UK for Education (The Guardian University Guide 2025).
  • GOOD Ofsted rating: for all of our Initial Teacher Education Courses.

What happens on the course?

Our trainee teachers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and behaviours required of a primary school teacher. Trainee teachers gain not only the subject knowledge across Early Years, Key Stage 1 and Key stage 2 curriculums, but also the skills that develop high aspirations, such as self-confidence, critical thinking, compassion, inclusion & diversity, wellbeing, digital literacy, time management, independence, creativity and an understanding of the importance of belonging for staff, students, pupils and the wider education community.  

Assessments largely take the form of coursework or projects that are aligned to practical experiences of placement in schools. Trainee teachers are also assessed within practical school placements, where partner schools and university staff help to develop students’ confidence and ability in teaching.  

We believe firmly in the ability to link theory to practice, and our modules and assessments reflect this. They also encourage critical reflection, creativity, and problem-solving. 

Course Modules

Potential Career Paths

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

  • The University of Wolverhampton is one of the West Midlands’ largest providers of teacher education, with many of our graduates going on to work within the conurbation.  Our tutors are all experienced teachers who have worked with our partnership and family schools for many years.#
  • We are proud of our long-standing tradition of training teachers of Early Years, Primary, Secondary and Post Compulsory Education.
  • High quality learning facilities, including well equipped teaching rooms, cutting edge learning spaces, lecture theatres and a social learning environment.
  • Access to leading research in the field of Education that enables trainees to develop as reflective practitioners.

What do Ofsted say?

The University of Wolverhampton provision is particularly effective in developing highly professional teachers with the skills to reflect critically on the quality of their teaching in order to improve it. They are valued highly by the schools, colleges and other settings where they secure employment in the region.

The university has an excellent reputation that enables it to build strong partnerships across the region to support high-quality teacher training and educational improvement.  Employment rates in all phases are high, with many former trainees working in the region.

Ofsted (2021), Initial Teacher Education Inspection Report, London: Ofsted

Looking for 1-1 advice? OPEN EVENTS - FIND OUT MORE

Come to one of our Open Days, or, where you will have the opportunity to talk to staff and students who are currently studying and find out more about the course and our facilities. 

  • A range of subject-specific knowledge across the domains of the primary national curriculum.
  • Enhancement opportunities and opportunities to develop your knowledge, skills and behaviours in areas that you are particularly interested in and work with highly skilled tutors and expert colleagues who are recognised and commended for their passion and expertise. Examples include National Curriculum subjects, SEND, Inclusive practice, Early Years, digital pedagogies, and social justice. 
  • Intensive training and practice in specific aspects of teaching is embedded in the course. These areas are carefully selected to respond to local and national priorities. These currently are Oracy, Behaviour, Adaptive Teaching, Digital Pedagogies and Assessment.  
  • Skills to support a diverse range of inclusive practices and adaptive practice to support pupils.
  • Scholarly research informed practice and the opportunity to attend conferences relating to specific primary education knowledge, provided by expert colleagues from local partner schools.
  • A range of skills that underpin the role of a primary school teacher, such as compassion, creativity, critical reflection, ingenuity, flexibility, problem solving, cultural sensitivity, diverse communication skills and self confidence.
  • A sense of community and belonging to our ‘Wolf Pack’. We pride ourselves on our students feeling part of a course and community that is both supportive and uplifting.

Location Mode Fee Year
Home Full-time £9250 per year 2024-25
Home Full-time £9535 per year 2025-26
International Full-time £14950 per year 2024-25
International Full-time £15995 per year 2025-26

The University is committed to a transparent fee structure, with no hidden costs, to help you make an informed decision. This includes information on what is included in the fee and how fees are calculated and reviewed

Applicants must have achieved a standard equivalent to a grade 4 (previously Grade C) in GCSE English, Mathematics and Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Combined Science). If you are unsure whether you hold an acceptable GCSE equivalent qualification for ITT, please contact our Admissions Department admissions@wlv.ac.uk for clarification.

Please note we do NOT accept GCSE Short Courses or GCSE Equivalent Tests from other institutions or organisations, Key Skills Level 2 or Functional Skills Level 2.

PLUS

Typical entry requirement: 96 UCAS points

  • A Levels - grades CCC / BCD (excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking)
  • BTEC L3 Extended Diploma or OCR Cambridge L3 Technical Extended Diploma - grades MMM
  • BTEC L3 Diploma - grades DD
  • NCFE CACHE L3 Diploma in Childcare and Education or NCFE CACHE L3 Technical Diploma in Childcare and Education - grade C
  • Access to HE Diploma (60 credits) of which a minimum of 45 must be at Level 3 (96 UCAS point equivalence, minimum 45 credits at merit)

Use the UCAS Tariff calculator to check your qualifications and points

Your personal statement is an important part of the application process. We will be reviewing your personal statement to find out more about you and we will also be reviewing your spelling, grammar and punctuation and you have followed the UCAS (for undergraduate applications) or DfE Apply (for post graduate applications) guidance regarding length and what to include. Your application will not be successful if you do not demonstrate the high standards of accuracy the teaching profession demands.

 

Important Requirements

As part of the Department for Education (DfE) ITT compliance, if you are successful you will be required to provide your ORIGINAL certificates to the University of Wolverhampton Admissions Unit.

We will not accept applicants onto our professional courses who have been unsuccessful on professional courses at other institutions of higher education.

 

You will also take part in a rigorous selection process designed to assess your readiness to train to teach.  Further information regarding the interview process can be found at https://www.wlv.ac.uk/apply/how-to-apply/4---after-youve-applied/subject-specific-applications/.

Interview and Selection

First Stage: All applicants that are successful with their application will be invited to complete a set of short professional scenarios involving reading, writing and numerical tasks. These will provide us with an audit of your existing strengths as well as indicate any areas where you need to develop your knowledge and understanding during your course. If you are offered a place following interview, you will be required to demonstrate your professional readiness through successful completion of all of the tasks as one of your conditions of acceptance before the course starts. This may mean that you are asked to attend support sessions in English and mathematics during your course to enable you to demonstrate a satisfactory level of proficiency by the completion of your course.

Any work to address shortfalls in English and Mathematics must be undertaken by the trainee teacher in addition to other aspects of their training. It is the trainee’s responsibility to secure these fundamental skills before being recommended for Qualified Teacher Status.

Second Stage: You will undertake either an observed group task or a subject-specific activity (if you are applying for secondary teacher training).

Third Stage: You will engage in individual face to face interview

We will be assessing your ability to be able to meet the Teachers’ Standards by the completion of your course. Those successful in the audits and at interview will be subsequently required to meet enhanced DBS checks, fitness to teach and medical check and prohibition order check requirements. You will be expected to complete these forms once you have been successful and have a Conditional Offer.

Free Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Occupational Health Check:

Due to the professional nature of some of our courses you may also be required to complete a Declaration of Health and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check.  We will coordinate both of these non-academic conditions with you should your course require this and you receive an offer from us

There will be no cost for the DBS this is free to applicants who have secured an offer and have chosen to study at the University of Wolverhampton.

Those who do not meet the entry requirements may be offered an alternative course.

 

‘The Lecturers have all shown fantastic support throughout the 3 years, and because of that, I’ve been able to develop into (what I hope is) a great teacher with a passion for the job. The course is particularly strong around SEND and provides us with a range of opportunities and the confidence to adapt teaching for pupils. Schools always seem to think very little work is done around SEND in particular, this is not the case here’

Georgie Pratt – BA (Hons) Primary Education Graduate, Mature Student

‘One of my favourite things about the course was partaking in the international trip to India and Dubai. This opportunity provided a unique chance to explore diverse cultures alongside building long-lasting friendships. It also broadened my understanding of international teaching opportunities which can be explored and skills that can be applied back here in the UK’.

Georgia Evans – BA (Hons) Primary Education Graduate, Sports Scholar

Studying Primary Education at the University of Wolverhampton has been an incredibly enriching experience, which has provided me with countless opportunities and experiences within my degree which will be of lifelong benefit. This is due to the high level of support you get from the lecturers, which is phenomenal, there is always somebody to turn to. Nothing compared to any other uni!’

Chaahat Takhi – BA (Hons) Primary Education Graduate

‘Even as a mature student, I felt this course helped me grow as a person, as well as an educator. I have a better understanding of children’s needs and have the confidence to address them’

David Thomas – BA (Hons) Primary Education Graduate, Mature Student

‘The course really equips you for school life and the lecturers ensure that the sessions are interactive and engaging. The staff are super helpful and encouraging. Overall, a really fun and interesting course. Attending a variety of special schools really helped me in terms of what to expect in my own class, I’m genuinely grateful to have such supportive lecturers, schools and university staff who supported me during placement.

Rumanique Gill – BA (Hons) Primary Education Graduate

‘I feel that the practice in schools during the course is really effective as you gain experience and opportunities, you really do feel like a teacher. All the lecturers are supportive, and I definitely have learnt what it takes to become a teacher, thanks to this course’.

Karolina Grygiel – BA (Hons) Primary Education Graduate

Tuition Fees Loan (Home Fee Status):

Most students will be able to apply for a loans to pay for these subject to eligibility. To find out more information please refer to the government Student Finance website.

Changes for EU students:

The UK government has confirmed that EU students starting courses from 1 August 2021 will normally be classified as having Overseas Fee status. More information about the change is available at UKCISA:

EU citizens living in the UK with 'settled' status, and Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland, will still be classified as Home students, providing they meet the usual residency requirements, for more information about EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)


Self-funding:

If you don’t want to take out a loan to pay your fees or if you aren’t eligible to receive a loan, you might want to take advantage of the University’s scheme to pay by instalments: See How to pay.

For more information please contact the Gateway.


Your employer, embassy or organisation can pay for your Tuition fees:

If your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your tuition fees; the University will refer to them as your sponsor and will invoice them for the appropriate amount.

We must receive notification of sponsorship in writing as soon as possible, and before enrolment, confirming that the sponsor will pay your tuition fees.


Financial Hardship:

Students can apply to the Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund.

for help with course related costs however this cannot be used for fees or to cover general living costs.


Bursaries and Scholarships:

In addition the University also offers a range of Bursaries and Scholarships packages

You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

Telephone

01902 32 22 22

Email

enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

Online

Order a prospectus

How We Compare

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