BA Primary Education Studies

About the Course

This programme is intended for those with an interest in Primary School Education and may be regarded as a ‘pre-professional’ degree for those hoping to undertake a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) following the successful completion of the degree.

It is also a suitable programme for those who wish to work in other roles within primary education, for example, Teaching Assistants.

This degree programme will offer you the opportunity to study the primary curriculum in detail while making links with the wider perspectives of education.

Award
BA (Single Honours)

UCAS Code
X320

Language Choice
English
Welsh

Course Length
3 years full-time; Part-time study available

Entry Requirements

The usual entry requirement is 180 UCAS points. However, all applicants are judged on an individual basis, and we welcome mature applicants who wish to return to study.

Career Opportunities

This programme aims to provide the knowledge skills and understanding to enhance opportunities for people wishing to work with children. Many students use this as a preparatory for gaining entry onto a professionally accredited course, such as the PGCE. However the programme also enhances transferable skills which will be applicable in a number of other career areas in the public and voluntary sectors.

Department

School of Social Justice and Inclusion

Campus

Carmarthen Campus

Typical modules

  • The Changing World of Education
  • The Foundation Phase in Wales
  • Key Stage 2 Studies
  • Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural Education
  • Personal Project
  • Additional Educational Needs

Key Features

  • Opportunities to study through the medium of Welsh, English or bilingually
  • Opportunities for work placement
  • Opportunities to study abroad
  • A chance to specialise in areas of primary education, for example, Special Educational/Additional Learning Needs, Environment Education and Creative Studies, for the completion of a dissertation
  • Experienced staff with first class experience in the field of Primary Education
  • Excellent resources for primary education
  • Close links with 250 partner primary schools

Why study at this University?

  • Experienced staff with first class experience in the field of Primary Education
  • Excellent resources for primary education
  • Close links with 250 partner primary schools

Programme Specification

The main educational aim of the programme is:

  • to acquire the knowledge, skills and understanding that will enable students to critically reflect upon the nature of primary education in school based and out of school learning environments.

As part of this key aim, students will have an opportunity:

  • to develop an understanding of the operation of the frameworks for formal learning;
  • to develop a broad historical understanding of statutory educational frameworks in Wales and the UK to include key factors in the cultural and political context of education;
  • to develop a broad understanding of language acquisition that informs a critical evaluation of the use of language in teaching in the primary phase;
  • to engage with a broad and balanced knowledge and understanding of the principal features of Social Inclusion within organisations in both national and international contexts;
  • to develop a working knowledge of aspects of school related to social awareness, moral values, spirituality and pastoral care;
  • to acquire a breadth of pedagogical knowledge to inform an academically rigorous understanding of best practice for primary sector learning and teaching in school based and out of school learning environments;
  • to develop study skills related to literacy, numeracy, ICT and investigation

Programme Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

By the end of the programme, students should be able to: 

  • demonstrate a critical understanding of the underlying values and principles relevant to education studies and a developing personal stance which draws on their knowledge and understanding;
  • demonstrate a critical understanding of the diversity of learners and the complexities of the education process;
  • demonstrate a critical understanding of the complexity of the interaction between learning and contexts, and the range of ways in which participants (including learners and teachers) can influence the learning process;
  • demonstrate a critical understanding of the societal and organisational structures and purposes of educational systems, and the possible implications for learners and the learning process;
  • demonstrate an ability to review, consolidate, extend and apply their knowledge and understanding across a wide range of social policy issues and be able to reflect critically on ideas that are presented in teaching and in relevant literature.

Application

By the end of the programme, students should be able to: 

  • analyse educational concepts, theories and issues of policy in a systematic way;
  • identify and reflect on potential connections and discontinuities between each of the aspects of subject knowledge and their application in educational policies and contexts;
  • accommodate new principles and understandings;
  • select a range of relevant primary and secondary sources, including theoretical and research-based evidence, to extend their knowledge and understanding;
  • use a range of evidence to formulate appropriate and justified ways forward and potential changes in practice.

Reflection

By the end of the programme, students should be able to: 

  • demonstrate the ability to reflect on their own and others' value systems;
  • demonstrate the ability to use their knowledge and understanding critically to locate and justify a personal position in relation to the subject;
  • demonstrate an understanding of the significance and limitations of theory and research.

Subject-specific Skills

By the end of the programme, students should be able to: 

  • demonstrate an ability to understand the core theories, concepts and approaches in social policy and a clear ability to distinguish among them;
  • demonstrate an understanding, and ability to reflect upon, the underlying value base of many policy proposals and distinguish clearly between normative and empirical arguments.

Transferable and Generic Skills

By the end of the programme, students should be able to: 

  • organise and articulate opinions and arguments in speech and writing using relevant specialist vocabulary;
  • use ICT in their study and other appropriate situations;
  • collect and apply numerical data, as appropriate; present data in a variety of formats including graphical and tabular; analyse and interpret both qualitative and quantitative data;
  • collaborate and plan as part of a team, to carry out roles allocated by the team and take the lead where appropriate, and to fulfil agreed responsibilities;
  • articulate their own approaches to learning and organise an effective work pattern including working to deadlines;
  • process and synthesise empirical and theoretical data, to create new syntheses and to present and justify a chosen position having drawn on relevant theoretical perspectives;
  • demonstrate sensitivity to the values and interests of others: an enhanced ability to identify and understand the different normative and moral positions in order to appreciate how human needs are felt and met - and to incorporate this understanding into social policy analysis.

Further Information

Assessment methods

The Primary education Studies programme uses a variety of assessment methods that encourage students to reflect critically on the nature of primary education in school, and out of school, learning environments. The programme uses methods that help embed the breadth of pedagogical knowledge and enhance knowledge and reflection on the principles and values of social inclusion. These methods also help to develop transferable skills important to working in school based and out of school environments, such as the use of ICT and working as part of a team. These methods include:

  • Assessed Seminar Presentations
  • Portfolios
  • Written reports
  • Placement Case Studies
  • Poster Presentations
  • Group work activities

Learning and Teaching methods

This programme aims to equip students with the skills and understanding to critically reflect upon the nature of primary education in school based and out of school learning environments. In addition, students will have the opportunity to:

  • develop an understanding of the operation of the frameworks for formal learning;
  • develop a broad, historical understanding of statutory educational frameworks in Wales and UK to include the cultural and political context of education;
  • develop a broad understanding of language acquisition that informs a critical evaluation of the use of language in teaching in the primary phase;
  • engage with a broad and balanced knowledge and understanding of the principle features of social inclusion within organisations in both national and international contexts;
  • acquire a breadth of pedagogical knowledge to inform an academically rigorous understanding of best practice for primary sector learning and teaching;
  • develop study related to literacy, numeracy, ICT and investigation.