Course description
Primary school years are crucial in a child’s education and social development. As a result, primary teaching provides a demanding but ultimately rewarding career. The Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary) is designed to equip graduates of almost any discipline with the professional training required to teach children in the age range three to twelve.
The process of teacher education is carried out in partnership with schools and the course includes substantial periods of placement in pre-school centres and primary schools. During placements, there will be tasks focusing on additional support for learning within inclusive education.
Teachers must be able to plan, implement and evaluate learning programmes across the entire primary curriculum. University-based study focuses on curriculum content and methods of teaching and learning, alongside the theoretical and practical aspects of professional studies in education, psychology and educational technology.
Care has been taken to ensure that the programme pays due attention to all issues and developments currently influencing Primary Education in Scotland. The programme takes account of the views of the General Teaching Council for Scotland and is based on guidelines produced by the Scottish Government Education Department.
In addition, student attainment is progressed against a set of benchmark statements incorporated in the Standard for Initial Teacher Education. Within these contexts, the programme develops a range of knowledge and understanding, skills and abilities, values and commitments which are fundamental to the professional role of the primary teacher.
These include: planning of content; learning processes and resources; organisation and management of children’s work spaces, grouping and time; strategies for behaviour management; assessment of children’s learning; evaluation of learning and teaching; identification of children’s needs; communication with children, parents and colleagues; and enquiry and research skills.
Course Contents
The programme is structured on a full-time modular basis around the following key areas: School Experience; School and Professional Studies; and the Primary Curriculum. The programme as a whole has a strong practical bias, with just over 50% of students’ time being spent on school placements. This is organised in two blocks of 8 and 10 weeks duration (total 18 weeks) in the following order: pre-school and early stages; middle; and upper primary. Work in University is closely related to school experience and includes the following:
* School & Professional Studies
* The Primary Curriculum (including Expressive Arts; Languages and Literacy; Health and Wellbeing; Mathematics and Numeracy; Religious and Moral Education; Sciences; Social Studies; Technologies)
A number of cross-curricular issues is also covered including Equality and Diversity, Enterprise Education, International Education and Inclusive Education. The programme concludes with a one-week induction to the probationary period.
* Education (Primary) – Hamilton
Professional Recognition
Successful students receive the formal teaching qualification necessary for provisional registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland, a requirement for taking up a primary teaching career in Scotland
