Edge Hill University, BA (Hons), Religious Education Key Stage 2/3 Education with QTS

The student studies in 6 areas across the 3 years of the course: specialist subject: religious education: developing the student’s interest and academic ability in their chosen subject area; subject application: designed to show the student how to apply what they have learnt about their subject in the classroom; the core curriculum: planning, teaching, learning and assessment in the 4 core subject areas for primary schools: English, mathematics, science and information and communication technology; personal and professional development: understanding the student’s own development as a trainee teacher through exploration of different perspectives and their own experiences of the relationship between education, learning and development of children and young adolescents, the curriculum and teaching and learning; foundation subject studies: studying the foundation subjects of history, geography, music, art, design and technology, physical education and religious education; professional practice: undertaking extensive and continuous school experience, moving from observer to teacher at Key Stages 2, 3 and 4; the student also works with pupils at Key Stage 1; in the final year of the degree, the student needs to pass the Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) Skills Test (numeracy, literacy and information and communication technology) and complete a career entry and development profile (CEDP) so they can move onto their induction year as a teacher; these are both useful as they provide a bridge between the student’s initial teacher training programme and their induction year as a newly qualified teacher; during the course, the student spends 27 weeks on placement in schools and other settings, putting their training into practice through assisting in and running classes, and working alongside mentors and peers to further their professional development; the student’s teaching timetable increases as their training progresses and they become more confident in the classroom; the student works with pupils from various areas, backgrounds and abilities, providing the student with experience in classroom management and the ability to teach individuals and groups at a range of levels.

This course is suitable for students who want to teach religious education in primary and secondary schools to pupils across the Key Stage 2 and 3 transition years (7-14 year age range); whilst the programme focuses on these key stages there is also substantial opportunity to teach Key Stage 4 pupils; the course provides the student with the opportunity to study religious education at degree level while training to become a professional teacher; successful completion of this programme leads to a recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).