Primary Early Years PGCE (3-7)
Course code
Full-time - TEPQ-X3L1 (X3L2)
DFE Course Code: X120
Qualification
PGCE Primary Early Years
3-7 (with QTS)
Duration
1 year
Start Date
1st September 2025
Department of Study
Centre for Teacher Education
Location of Study
University of Warwick
At Warwick, we are proud to prepare teachers who inspire, support, and embrace the needs of every child. Our Primary Early Years PGCE programme, rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2024, equips you to meet the needs of pupils from diverse backgrounds, including those with SEND and EAL. With over 75 years of teacher training experience, we combine expert academic guidance from qualified tutors and partnerships with experienced school mentors to ensure you develop the skills, confidence, and values to thrive in your teaching career. Our bespoke Inclusion Enhancement offering, delivered with local schools, provides invaluable insights into inclusive teaching practices, helping you make a meaningful impact in every classroom.
Rooted in our Warwick Teacher Values—social justice, intellectual curiosity, and creativity—our programmes go beyond teaching. We foster reflection on your personal and professional identity, empowering you to become an agent of change in education. From initial training to ongoing mentorship through our vibrant alumni community, Warwick supports you at every stage. Many of our graduates become leaders and mentors themselves, transforming lives and shaping the future of education. Join us and take the first step towards a rewarding career where you will truly make a difference.
Course Overview
Our Primary Early Years Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) focuses on the 3-7 age range. Our courses will develop you into a highly effective teacher, equipped with the values, skills, and knowledge to become a successful school leader. Our Primary and Early Years courses have been expertly designed to ensure you become the very best teacher you can be – when teachers flourish, they have the best possible impact on the children they teach.
During your course, you'll take three modules and our Inclusion Enhancement. You'll learn key pedagogic principles such as behaviour management, assessment for learning and how to meet the needs of all through creating an inclusive classroom. You will develop your subject knowledge whilst learning how to plan and teach across all National Curriculum subjects, and the Foundation Stage Curriculum (Early Years Programme). At Warwick, we're proud to offer a range of activities that explore supporting children with SEND and EAL, helping you become a teacher who is well-equipped to consider all pupils in your classes. Our courses are further enriched by three conferences: Research in Action, Inclusion and Greenspace.
You will be incredibly well prepared to meet the needs of disadvantaged pupils as well as those with SEND and English as an Additional Language. Our bespoke 'Inclusion Enhancement' is designed and co-delivered in collaboration with expert colleagues from local partnership schools. You'll get the opportunity to learn first-hand from the inclusive approaches applied in special school settings.
All the Primary and Early Years tutors are qualified teachers with many years of school and teacher education experience. We work collaboratively with experienced and knowledgeable school partners across our well-established partnership. You'll be in the best possible hands for your teacher training journey.
You will have access to excellent personal, academic and pastoral support. From our partner schools, you can expect a programme of mentor support and professional training and development, which complements the University-based elements of the course, and which will support your development of classroom practice.
Why choose us?
In 2024, Ofsted recognised the exceptionally high quality of the PGCE at Warwick, and we were awarded the top rating of Outstanding. The inspection highlighted some of the key strengths of our Primary and Early Years programmes including our ‘truly exceptional’ quality of education and training, our highly valued pastoral support for our students, excellent links with schools across the partnership and high-quality mentoring on placement. Additionally, 100% of our Primary and Early Years trainees recommend us as a teacher training provider (results from the Primary and Early Years post-course survey 2024).
Our Warwick Teacher Values were another significant strength noted by Ofsted– the values of social justice, intellectual curiosity and creativity underpin all aspects of our programmes and are lived and breathed by trainees, tutors and our school partners. We also make space on the programme for reflection on your character and educational philosophy as we feel it is very important for you to understand your own personal and professional identity and how this shapes the kind of teacher you aspire to be.
We see our relationship with you lasting far beyond the PGCE. Our programmes equip you to pursue a lifelong career in education and become the leaders and agents of change for the future. Many of our trainees are now senior leaders and mentors in schools and continue to work with Warwick long after they complete their teacher training.
We have a wonderful and inclusive Primary and Early Years team at the Centre for Teacher Education, and we welcome a wide range of applications. We are absolutely committed to ensuring high-quality teaching, student experience and support and we are very proud of our long and successful history in teacher education. Countless numbers of Warwick alumni over the years have improved the life chances of the children they teach – we hope that you will come and join us at the Centre for Teacher Education so we can support you to become part of the next generation of Warwick teachers who will truly make a difference.
What is a PGCE?
A Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is usually a one-year teacher training course. It offers a mixture of academic and practical learning, and it's the first step for graduates in the development of a teaching career. It provides a recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS – a requirement to teach in the state school system as an Early Career Teacher).
Which route will you take?
Core | University-led
You will spend a minimum of 120 days in school spread across a minimum of two placement schools, which will be organised by our partnership office for you. Throughout these placements, you will engage in weekly observations and meetings with a Warwick-trained school-based mentor and have an allocated point of contact at the university with a moderation tutor.
You will also have further days in school as part of our Intensive Training and Practice programme focussing on key pedagogies including behaviour, phonics and adaptive teaching.
The rest of the programme will consist of sessions taught by the University of Warwick on our Westwood Campus, focussing on developing your knowledge and understanding of both the central issues in education (e.g. how children learn, assessment, adaptive teaching, behaviour management, etc.) and how to teach the breadth of the curriculum.
If you feel passionate about teaching and would like a programme offering placements in a range of schools with contrasting policies and schemes of work, this may be the best option for you. You will be trained across the Early Years and Key Stage 1 and gain an understanding of both curriculums and a range of teaching strategies. We will provide you with a good grounding upon which you will be building your professional skills and understanding in schools.
Lead Partner Route
On the Partner-led route PGCE programme, approx.130 days are spent in school and the rest of the programme will consist of sessions taught by the University of Warwick, some school-led sessions and independent study. You will also have further days in school as part of our Intensive Training and Practice programme focussing on key pedagogies including behaviour, phonics and adaptive teaching.
If you would rather be immersed in the classroom environment and school culture, consider the partner-led route where you'll spend the majority of the year based in a single school. There are three Lead Partner Routes available, Partner-led Training, Partner-led Training (Digital) and School Direct Salaried.
To find out more about the Partners we work with on these routes please visit our Lead Partners Pages
On the Lead Partner routes, you may be eligible for funding via a tuition fee loan through Student Finance EnglandLink opens in a new window. The School Direct Salaried route provides an employment-based option and is ideal for graduates with extensive work experience, who have worked in a school or similar setting for some time. You won’t be eligible for any bursaries or scholarships but you will receive a salary while you train.
Contact us
Enrolment questions: cte dot admissions at warwick dot ac dot uk
General entry requirements
Minimum requirements
- UK Bachelors degree with Honours at 2:2 or above, or equivalent level.
- At least Grade C or the new Grade 4 in GCSE English, Mathematics and Science.*
Equivalency Tests
We are able to accept approved 3rd party equivalency tests in place of GCSEs. The current providers that have been approved are as follows, with details of the current discounts that are available. If you are intending to use another equivalency testing company, we recommend you contact our admissions team prior to doing so to ensure that they meet the entry criteria.
- Why choose Equivalency Testing?
- Long standing company
- Excellent student support
- Secure testing
- Good and quick feedback
- Significant discount available for PGCE offer holders, please email cte.admissions@warwick.ac.uk for the code.
Why chose A Star Equivalency?
- Excellent student support
- A clear outline of required material in each exam
- Rolling programme of live online subject specific support sessions.
- An extensive range of free support material
- Practice papers and marking schemes
- Discounted from £165* to £139 (saving £26). Please contact cte.admissions@warwick.ac.uk for the discount code.
If you are intending to use another equivalency testing company, we recommend you contact our admissions team prior to doing so to ensure that they meet the entry criteria.
English requirements
Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, you will need a minimum score of 7.0 under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Find out more about English requirements at Warwick.
Documentation
If you graduated in the last two years, you’ll need to provide an academic reference. It can take a while to complete and submit a reference, so the sooner you get in touch, the better – you might want to send a description of the course and what you’d like to get out of it to make it easier. You can find more information and guidance here.
You will need original copies of all your qualifications. If you don’t have these any more, you can obtain a Certified Statement of Results instead, but these can take some time to retrieve from exam boards and you may need to pay a fee.
Classroom Experience
Although it is not a requirement for entry, we strongly recommend that you have some experience in the classroom within mainstream UK schools (Early Years, Key Stage 1 and 2) before applying. This experience will give you a flavour for your potential future career and will help you write your application. Find out how to gain school experience.
Safeguarding checks
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff, enrolled trainees and offer holders to share this commitment. The successful completion of an enhanced DBS check to confirm your suitability for the profession is a condition of any offer to study within CTE. Disclosure does not automatically make you ineligible to enrol onto a PGCE course, each application will be considered on a case by case basis, we recommend you use the DBS guidelines for applicants with previous convictions.
*The new grading system for those receiving their results for GCSE English, Mathematics and English was adopted in 2017. The grading system is now 9-1, with Grade 9 awarded to those students in the very top tier. Grade 4 is considered equivalent to the old Grade C.
**Special offer for the University of Warwick students. Maths exams are available in Foundation or Higher. English, Science and Biology are untiered
If students require further support, we offer a range of low cost options.
Core Modules
Subject Studies
This module focuses on the evidence base, subject knowledge and practice of teaching all the subjects across the curriculum. Early Years trainees are trained to teach all the Early Years Foundation Stage areas of learning in addition to the Key Stage 1 National Curriculum subjects.
Professional Enquiry
This module is concerned with pedagogy – the method and practice of teaching. It addresses central issues such as, teaching methods, how children learn, meeting individual needs, assessment, adaptive teaching and behaviour management. The module includes input from specialist teachers and will help you develop teaching that is effective and inclusive of all learners.
Professional Practice
This module connects the taught curriculum and school placements, focusing on how you are embedding new knowledge and robust evidence into your own teaching in a school placement. It also includes training which develops your professional behaviours such as reflective practice, teacher wellbeing and safeguarding.
Assessment
You will be assessed through written Master’s level assignments, which are aimed at assessing your professional and subject-specific learning. You’ll also be assessed on whether you meet the Teachers' StandardsLink opens in a new window at a level appropriate for a newly qualified teacher.
The current assessment methods consist of the following, however, CTE reserves the right to change these as appropriate in line with the requirements of regulatory authorities such as Ofsted and the DfE.
Professional Enquiry (Master's level)
Coursework focusing on a key issue and combining theory with your practice in schools.
1 x 4,000 word written assignment
Subject Studies (Master's level)
Coursework focusing on the role of the adult in supporting children's language development across the curriculum.
1x 2,500 word written assignment
1x 10 minute presentation
Professional Practice (Master's level)
Meeting the Teachers’ Standards at a Good or Outstanding level (Regular observations by mentors and Teaching Fellows; Tutorials; and Professional Digital Portfolio)
1 x 2,000 word written professional report
1 x Viva (professional dialogue)
Fees and Funding
| Route | 2025-26 | ||
| PGCE (Uni-led, Core) | Full Time | Home | £ 9,535 |
| PGCE (Partner Led) | Full Time | Home | £ 9,535 |
| PGCE (School Direct Salaried) | Full Time | Home | £ 2,100 |
| PGCE (Uni-led, Core & Partner-led) | Full Time | EU/Overseas | £ 27,680 |
Additional Costs
- Study costs
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access. - Computing requirements
A computing device with a browser and broadband internet access is required for the course. The university provides central guidance on the recommended specification for any device you use to undertake your academic work. - Travel expenses There will be extra costs associated with travel to professional practice placements.
For up-to-date information concerning fees, funding and scholarships for Home/EU and Overseas students please visit Warwick's PGCE Fees and Funding webpageLink opens in a new window
Your career
Career progression may be through a specialist curriculum or pastoral role, or by moving into management. Teachers may become heads of Key Stages or coordinators of a cross-curricular area, such as special needs or careers education, as well as subject or professional mentors for trainee teachers on placement.
Upon completing this course you'll be recommended for qualified teacher status (QTS) and gain 90 credits at Master's level. This allows you to fast-track to stage two of our Master's degree, quickly progressing your professional development. If you choose to complete a different Master's, you can still use 60 credits towards your course.
What do our students say?
I began my teacher training via a Partner Led route in 2014. When I qualified, I began working at a Primary School which was where I stayed for about 5 years. I took on the role of class mentor to trainees, supported NQTs and lead geography throughout the school. I began then working for the University of Warwick in January 2020. I mostly teach geography and history but also some maths across the EY, KS1 and KS2 curriculums. I also support trainee teachers in a pastoral setting as well as in a moderation setting by visiting the schools the trainees are placed in. I love teaching others, both children and adults alike and love learning myself. My motivation, I then suppose, comes from my own love of learning and wanting to instil that in others.
I like to think I’m an empathic educator and recognise the challenges that teachers, especially those beginning their career can face. I’m an advocate for the use of mindfulness as a way to manage the day to day difficulties teachers can face and run a weekly Twitter chat that looks at this (every Wednesday at 8pm. #MindfulTeacherChat).
I’d say that it’s important to remember that teaching is a career full of peaks and troughs. Sometimes you can have the best time of your life teaching and sometimes you can feel really snowed under but that it’s worth it in the end. Seeing those around you flourish under your guidance as their teacher is deeply satisfying and rewarding. There’s simply no other job like it.
Emily | Teaching Fellow at The University of Warwick
CTE Lead Partner Alumnus
Graduated 2014.
PGCE - Core | University-led
Applications are usually open between October - June. Once you have your course choice and certificates, you can apply through DfE Apply*Link opens in a new window
Lead Partners
You can find our lead partners on DfE apply - Each school has a different DfE Apply Code and you can apply directly to the partners. Our proposed lead partners for 2024/25 are:
|
School |
Code |
| NEW! | |
|
The Ignite FederationLink opens in a new window (The Revel Primary School) |
NEW! |
| NEW! | |
|
Arden Teaching AllianceLink opens in a new window (Secondary) |
2BU |
| 179 | |
|
Dorridge Alliance; Part of The Arden Multi Academy TrustLink opens in a new window |
2KX |
| 21T | |
|
St Peter's Catholic School Solihull Teacher Training AllianceLink opens in a new window |
17Y |
| 1K1 | |
| 5A1 | |
|
Transforming Lives Educational Trust Initial Teacher TrainingLink opens in a new window (TLET ITT) |
1XO |
| 2BN | |
|
Coventry and Central Warwickshire Teaching School HubLink opens in a new window |
1GH |
With the possible addition of more.
The list will be updated here once partnerships are confirmed.
*When applying for the University-led PGCE through DfE Apply, you need to select the University of Warwick. If you are applying for a Partner led route with us, you select the name of the school accredited by the University Of Warwick.
We recommend that if you wish to gain your qualification through the University of Warwick, you select your DfE Apply options as University of Warwick University-led (Core) and one of the schools affiliated with us (Lead Partners). We have lots of information about our partner schools available.