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Higher and Degree Apprenticeships / Available Apprenticeships / Teacher Degree Apprenticeship in Primary Education

About the course

Apprentices will be employed two days a week by a school throughout the four years and 40% of their time will be spent studying for their degree at DMU.

In years 3 and 4 students will spend half their study time working towards their Education Studies BA Hons at DMU and the other half with The Mead Education Trust (TMET) on the Leicester and Leicestershire SCITT teacher training programme. Graduates will be eligible to apply directly for jobs as teachers in the primary sector.

For more information please visit:

*This course will run subject to validation

What you will study

Students will be taught in blocks of 6 weeks with one module studied at a time. Four modules will be studied in each year for the first two years of the course and the final four modules will be split evenly across years 3 and 4. Teaching consists of in-person lectures, workshops and seminars, and is supported by online material.

N.B The information below is a guideline only and course content is subject to validation.

For more information about the BA Education Studies programme please visit Education Studies BA Hons

Four modules including:

  • An introduction to Education: history and academic discipline (30 credits)
  • Perspectives in Education (30 credits)
  • Childhood, Social Justice and Education (30 credits)
  • Inclusion and Diversity (30 credits)

PLUS

  • School placement with 20% teaching

Four modules including:

  • Contemporary Issues in Education and Pedagogy: a problem-based learning approach (30 credits)
  • Researching Education (30 credits)
  • Cultural and Technological Transformations (15 credits) AND Music in the Life of the Primary School (15 credits)
  • SEND and Neurodiversity (30 credits)

PLUS

  • School placement with 40% teaching

Two modules including:

  • Education and Equality: Class, Race, Ethnicity (30 credits)
  • Gender and Education (30 credits) OR Collaborative Curriculum Design (30 credits)

PLUS

  • 14 weeks on the SCITT programme for primary education following the Initial Teacher Training Early Career Framework (ITTECF) AND
  • School placement with 70% teaching

Two modules including:

  • Reflection on Practice: teaching and learning (30 credits)
  • Dissertation (Fieldwork or Critical Review) (30 credits)

PLUS

  • 14 weeks on the SCITT programme following the SCITT programme for primary education and ITTECF
  • Final school placement and assessment of practice

Assessment

Each block or ‘module’ is assessed separately and there are no exams on this course. Instead, there is a wide range of assessment including portfolios, presentations, essays, reports, micro-teaches and creative artefacts.

The QTS portion of the degree apprenticeship is assessed through formal and informal observations of teaching practice and a portfolio of evidence compiled by the student against the apprenticeship standard (also known as the Teacher Standards). 

Accreditation

The Teacher Degree Apprenticeship at DMU is in partnership with Leicester and Leicestershire SCITT and The Mead Education Trust. TMET have been graded an Outstanding ITT provider by Ofsted (2023).

Entry Requirements

Teacher Degree Apprenticeships will be open to anyone who would like to gain a degree and become a qualified teacher. This includes, but is not limited to, teaching assistants, school leavers or people looking to change careers.

Following guidance from the DfE, on the website, eligibility to apply for a TDA will include being:

  • a resident of England for the last 3 years or more
  • at least 16 years old

To meet the academic requirements for the TDA, you must have:

  • GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above in English and maths and science
  • A levels - the number of A levels or equivalent qualifications required will be set by individual universities*

*For Education Studies BA Hons this is:

  • A minimum of 104 UCAS points from 2 or more A levels
  • T Levels - Merit
  • BTEC - BTEC National Diploma — Distinction/Merit/Merit or BTEC Extended Diploma — Distinction/Merit/Merit
  • Alternative qualifications include: Access to HE Diploma, Pass in QAA accredited Access to HE overall 104 UCAS tariff with at least 30 Level 3 credits at Merit.

However, due to aims and nature of the programme recognition of prior learning [RPL] will be considered when making offers.

Applicants will also be required to obtain an enhanced DBS certificate upon entry to the course

Ready to find out how this programme can benefit you?

Take your next steps

Programme Leaders

Dr Julie Summers (BA, PhD, PGCE)

Senior Lecturer in Education

Prior to becoming a university lecturer Julie worked for 18 years as a teacher. She has experience in both primary and secondary schools and as a lead mentor for trainee teachers. Julie has a wealth of practical experience in teaching and learning and has also been both a senior lead practitioner and a head of department. Her current research interests are around professional development and teacher training policy, and multilingualism in education. Julie teaches on a range of different undergraduate modules on the BA Education Studies programme and leads the level 6 Reflection on Practice component.

Talitha Bird (BA, MA, PGCE)

Associate Professor and Head of Division for Education

Talitha is a Social Scientist and educator with an academic focus on approaches to learning which empower learners to address inequality. Talitha currently leads Radical Education, a Level 6 module which explores alternative and progressive education through the lens of Critical pedagogy. She is also the Education for Sustainable Development [ESD] Faculty Representative for Health and Life Sciences, and a DMU SDG Fellow for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions [16]. Talitha's research background is primarily in Critical theory and Critical pedagogy, with a special interest in gender, marginalised motherhood, and lifelong learning. Talitha is also interested in creative and collaborative research approaches and methods, such as Participatory Action Research, photovoice, and the use of Forum Theatre.

Rachel Rouncefield (B.Ed, M.Ed Management of Community Education)

Senior Lecturer

Rachel comes from practice both in the classroom and in the community and she has experience of leading and managing. She has integrated professional teams in local authorities, community schools and specialist technology colleges.

Having joined DMU staff in 2020 Rachel is an enthusiastic advocate of academic research into professional and practice issues and, on the back of this research into co-creative methodology. She utilises collaborative and co-creative approaches wherever possible. Rachel teaches on the BA Education Studies programme ‘Learning and Wellbeing’ module.

Career pathways and employability

There is a national shortage of qualified teachers at every level. As a teacher apprentice you will be employed part time by a school during your degree.

This pathway will enable you to work immediately as a classroom teacher in any primary school upon graduation.

Teaching is a rewarding career with a number of potential opportunities for progression into specialist areas such as SEND, curriculum development, training, pastoral and leadership roles.

Fees and funding

The TDA will be fully funded as all tuition fees are paid for (IfATE, 2024).

In addition to this, apprentices will be employed two days a week in a school for which they will be paid on the unqualified teacher scale. Details of this can be found here: .

Take your next steps

If you are an employer

Offering apprenticeships is a great way to attract and retain employees, helping develop their skills and knowledge. If you’re interested in taking on a new apprentice or upskilling existing staff members, contact us to find out more: TDAadmin@dmu.ac.uk

If you are an aspiring apprentice

Considering a degree apprenticeship but already employed? Our degree apprenticeships are employer-led, meaning your company invests in your development. Discuss this exciting opportunity with your employer and once you’ve got the go-ahead, contact us to find out more: TDAadmin@dmu.ac.uk

If you’d like us to contact your employer on your behalf, just reach out with your employer’s details and permission to contact and we’ll take it from there.

We'll provide clear guidance to both you and your employer, walking you through the application process and everything that comes after.

To express your interest and find out more please email us at TDAadmin@dmu.ac.uk or come to our next open day.

Key facts

Course title

Teacher Degree Apprenticeship in Primary Education

Award

Level 6 BA Education Studies + Qualified Teacher Status

Duration

4 years

Entry requirements

104 UCAS points from at least 2 A levels, T levels (merit), BTEC (merit), GCSE grade 4 or above in Maths and English and Science