Curious about studying Primary Early Years Education with QTS (3-7) PGCEat Edge Hill University? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
PGCE - Postgraduate Certificate of Education
Edge Hill University
Full Time
Sep 2027
1 Year
This primary early years teaching degree covers the essential skills and knowledge you’ll need for teaching children aged 3-11 with a specialism in the 3-7 age phase. This includes primary schools, nurseries and children’s centres. Whatever undergraduate degree you studied, this course will help you develop your expertise and understanding of how children learn. You’ll study both the national curriculum and the EYFS statutory curriculum, and build up your knowledge in the subjects you will be teaching. Your tutors and school-based mentors will help you to become teachers with a strong sense of social justice, advocating for children’s rights, challenging inequality, and supporting global sustainability. With your recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), on graduation you could teach in early years foundation stage (EYFS), key stage 1, and key stage 2. If you have qualified teacher status (QTS), you’ll get a minimum starting salary of £32,916 (or more in London) as a primary or secondary school teacher in England, rising to £51,048 for more experienced teachers. A balanced combination of coursework and observed classroom experience will be assessed against the professional standards for QTS. Before the end of your PGCE you will need to complete a professional portfolio which acts as a useful bridge between your initial teacher training programme and your two-year induction as an early career teacher.
Evidence-informed practice (early years) will equip you to evaluate educational research from a methodological and ethical perspective and apply it to your own practice. You will understand how and why 'evidence-based practice' has emerged as a central theme in English educational policy, and know the key methodologies associated with evidence-based practice, including understanding research ethics, central methodological concepts and terminology. You will also be introduced to the diversity of contemporary educational research and engage in critical dialogue around which methodologies are suited to resolving particular educational questions.
ITE Curriculum and Practice (Early Years) guides you through an ITE curriculum detailing the key knowledge and skills required for the award of qualified teacher status. The module consists of school experiences across three phases – introductory, developmental and consolidation - as well as integrated university-based teaching sessions covering the underpinning knowledge and understanding necessary for progress at each stage. This module combines academic development with the development of practical and vocational skills. You will experience an integrated curriculum that sets out regular milestone expectations for what you should know and be able to do at key milestones and throughout the programme.
Principles of learning and curriculum design (early years) allows you to design and then teach a curriculum unit over a sequence of lessons. You will become familiar with seminal and current theories of learning, curriculum design and adaptive teaching. You will be supported in developing your ability to critique these theories and apply them to your own practice.
For the academic year 2026/27 the UK Full-Time tuition fee is currently set to £9,790. Please note this is subject to Parliamentary approval and is likely to be increased in line with inflation (RPIX). There may be further inflationary increases in your subsequent years of study.
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