Primary Education with QTS

Primary education with Qualified Teacher Status is one of the most direct routes into teaching, combining degree-level academic study of education with the professional formation and school-based practice that lead to the right to teach in maintained schools in England and Wales. Primary teaching requires a broad curriculum knowledge, a sophisticated understanding of how young children develop and learn, and the interpersonal skills to build relationships with children, families and colleagues across a complex institutional setting.

At Manchester Metropolitan University you will study this three-year full-time programme, which integrates classroom experience with academic study of child development, educational psychology, curriculum, assessment, inclusion and the policies that shape primary education. School placements are a central feature, giving you direct experience of teaching across Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 under the guidance of experienced classroom teachers. The academic content develops your understanding of the research and theory that underpin effective practice, while the placement experience builds your classroom skills, professional judgement and resilience.

The typical entry tariff for this programme is around 136 UCAS points, and MMU's location in Manchester puts you within reach of a diverse range of placement schools across the city and region.

Qualified Teacher Status means that on graduation you are eligible to apply for teaching positions in maintained primary schools, academies and free schools. Career paths from there include classroom teaching across Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, with progression opportunities into subject leadership, special educational needs coordination, deputy headship and headship as you gain experience. Primary teaching is a profession in consistent demand, with particularly strong recruitment in areas of mathematics, science and early years.

Many primary teachers also move into roles in educational publishing, curriculum development, initial teacher training or local authority advisory work.