Continue your teacher training journey to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) with our Primary Education with QTS (Work-Based Route) BA.
Our Primary Education with QTS (Work-Based Route) BA is a top-up degree for people who have successfully completed a foundation degree in education and would like to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS).
The programme will run one day a week from 9am-4pm, so that you can continue to work up to four days a week in your school setting. For those wishing to enrol in September 2024 classes will be held on Friday and the course will start on Friday 13th September 2024.
Learn from devoted tutors in a supportive environment
Our lecturers are committed to your personal and professional growth. As a result, teaching is completely face-to-face and you’ll get bespoke personal tutoring.
One of our students says "teaching at university has been inspiring, taught by knowledgeable and dedicated lecturers. They really could not have done anything more to make my experience amazing."
Ofsted graded St Mary’s ‘outstanding’ in all areas of teacher training in 2019.
Specialise in PE or Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND)
You can choose modules to specialise in either PE or SEND. All modules are core but you can elect to specialise and submit assignments to work towards a specialism. If you choose the SEND specialism, one of the school placements must be in a SEND unit or school. Our Partnership Office can support finding an appropriate placement.
Students choosing our SEND module said "studying this module has now given me the skills, knowledge, and understanding of how to support and teach any child with SEND within the classroom. It has also given me the confidence to advocate for this in my classroom and school."
Our students have also praised the PE specialism, saying it is "a fantastic module with so many resources offered. [They] loved the practical elements, getting involved and learning whilst trying out activities. Teaching elements of lessons inclusively was extremely useful to my practice and putting lesson plans into practice and receiving feedback developed my confidence to teach PE."
Training in Autism and ADHD
Regardless of your specialism, you will undergo essential training in autism – provided by the Autism Education Trust – and ADHD Embrace to help you confidently support neurodivergent pupils in the classroom.
Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies (CCRS)
If you plan to teach in a Catholic or other Christian schools, you can complete our Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies (CCRS). This is a requirement for those seeking a leadership position in Catholic schools.
Placements
You’ll complete school placements in both KS1 and KS2 to meet requirements set by the Department for Education (DfE). If you specialise in SEND, you’ll undergo one placement in a SEND setting.
Course content
Modules
Professional Studies is at the heart of all modules to ensure that students work towards meeting the Teachers’ Standards and develop effective knowledge of the primary curriculum. All modules are core but students can choose one elective module to submit assessments for.
Course content is carefully designed to meet the requirements of the Initial Teacher Training Core Content Framework (ITTCCF) and is underpinned by research-informed practice.
Please note: it is possible that a module listed on the website will not be able to run due to reasons beyond our control. For more information please refer to our course information disclaimer.
How the degree is taught
Teaching methods
You'll be taught on our beautiful and historic campus located in Twickenham, London.
Please note: contact time is made up from teaching hours, guided learning hours, and work-based learning hours.
The aim of this top-up degree is to develop your professional experience whilst continuing to work. The curriculum is designed to develop your pedagogical knowledge, understanding and skills as well as enhancing subject knowledge which are needed to become an outstanding effective teacher.
Work-Based School Experience (QTS Pathway)
You will be required to gain experience in two key stages in two different school based placements. Throughout the placements you will be assessed by university tutors and your school-based mentors.
Assessment methods
Assessments are designed to demonstrate and build on your skills, knowledge and understanding through:
- subject knowledge audits
- portfolios
- essays
- reports
- presentations
- micro-teaching
- practical sessions.
Assessment is continuous throughout the programme and tracked against the Teachers' Standards.
As this is a professional course, very high levels of attendance are expected and monitored closely to ensure you are prepared for each school placement.
Feedback
We adhere to the university’s policy of providing feedback on assessments within 15 working days.
Entry requirements
We are committed to recruiting trainee teachers who have the 'ability to work in a way that promotes the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.' The interview process will cover the suitability of applicants to work with children and young people.
An A Level, BTEC or NVQ Level 3 or equivalent is required and you must have already gained a foundation degree in Education. To meet DfE requirements, you must also have English language GCSE or equivalent, Mathematics GCSE or equivalent and one Science GCSE or equivalent.
You will need to be employed in work with children and young people for at least two and a half days of the week (in either a paid or voluntary capacity). At least three years' experience working in school (either paid or voluntary) is also required prior to the start of the programme.
Headteacher supporting statement
Your headteacher will need to complete the Supporting Statement Form in order for us to confirm your place on the course. We will notify them of your application, but feel free to send them the link in advance. If they have any further questions, please encourage them to contact Farhana Irshad.
English and Mathematics competencies
Teacher training providers are responsible for assuring trainee teachers have met an appropriate level of skills in Mathematics and English. At St Mary's University, we require that you can demonstrate you are competent in English and mathematics competency skills by the end of your teacher training programme.
DBS check
Successful completion of a physical and mental fitness to teach and a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check with barred lists, which shows the same as an enhanced check plus whether the applicant is on the list of people barred from doing the role are required.
You do not need any UCAS points for this programme. Please disregard information concerning UCAS on these pages.
We understand that sometimes barriers you can't control get in the way of academic achievement. You are more than just your grades. We'll consider your application as a whole, taking into account things like:
- subjects studied at Level 3
- your GCSEs (or equivalent) profile
- non-academic achievements you mention in your personal statement
- your references and motivation.
International requirements
International students should check our country-specific pages for equivalents. If English is not your first language you will need to achieve an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in any section (or equivalent).
Equality Act 2010
St Mary's is committed to promoting equality of opportunity and nurturing an inclusive and diverse student population. As such, we welcome applications from all those interested in pursuing an academic programme of study. Throughout the application process and while a student is enrolled at St Mary's, we will ensure that individuals will not be discriminated against based on any of the characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010.
UCAS Personal statement support
Create your UCAS personal statement through our online builder and we'll email you a copy of your completed version at the end.
Further Information
For more information about entry requirements please email apply@stmarys.ac.uk.
How many UCAS points my grades are worth
A levels
A*
56 pts
A
48 pts
B
40 pts
C
32 pts
D
24 pts
E
16 pts
My qualification isn't listed:
If you can't find your qualification in this list please check the full list of UCAS tariff tables.
Fees & funding
Tuition fees
Home
£4,768
International
£17,100
Funding Information
Please note this programme is part-time, and the fee is £4,625 per year. Information about tuition fees, student loans and funding your studies can be found within our fees and funding section.
*Please note: these fees are annual and may increase as detailed in our tuition fee variation disclaimer.
Information about tuition fees, student loans, and funding your studies can be found within our fees and funding section.
Additional costs
We are committed to supporting our students, and there are no hidden costs associated with this programme.
Scholarships
Find out more about our range of scholarships and bursaries available to undergraduate students .
Living costs
A guide to your living costs has been created by our Student Funding Team.
Accommodation costs vary depending on whether you opt for an en suite room and on-site catering. Take a look at our accommodation options and the prices you can expect to pay.
Career opportunities
100% of our students are employed or in further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020).
Please contact the Career Services at careers@stmarys.ac.uk for further information.
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