Education Studies

Unlock your potential and make a difference in the fields of formal and informal education with our BA (Hons) Education Studies degree. Our dynamic course is your gateway to a rewarding career dedicated to shaping the lives of children aged 3 to 11.
You will:

• Obtain a diverse set of transferable skills highly sought after by employers, including communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital fluency

• Benefit from our series of guest lectures

• Undertake placements across all levels, allowing you to spend time in real-world settings, including schools, nurseries, and community organisations, to apply their learning and gain valuable experience

• Have the opportunity to engage in out-of-class events, such as student/staff quizzes and lunches

• Attend field trips in a variety of environments from Xplore to outdoor learning sessions

• Engage in collaborative projects with classmates on creative initiatives

• Be provided with a route into mainstream teaching via a PGCE (Primary Education) or PCET (Adult and Further Education) teaching qualifications

• Be able to network with professionals and potential employers, increasing your chances of securing employment upon graduation

• Have the option of flexibility, with full-time and part-time study routes. If you opt to work part-time, you can choose from on-campus or online study modes to help balance study, work and family commitments

Course Modules

YEAR 1 (LEVEL 4)
Level 4 offers you the opportunity to build strong foundations in the field of education studies. You will learn how to be a degree level student and prepare for and undertake your first 6 week placement.

MODULES
• Learning and Teaching in Primary Education
• Contemporary Debates in Childhood and Education
• Psychology of Childhood
• Professional Practice for Childhood and Education
• Skills for Study and Employability

YEAR 2 (LEVEL 5)
Level 5 builds on the skills and knowledge you developed at level 4 by further specialising in the field of education. At level 5, you are introduced to authentic work-based research and you will engage with your extended 8 week placement.

MODULES
• Additional Learning Needs and Neurodiversity
• Social Action – Supporting Children and Families in Society
• Children’s Rights and the Law
• Practice Informed Research

YEAR 3 (LEVEL 6)
At level 6 the aim is to successfully complete your degree and move into employment. You will explore the role of leadership in practice and plan for your own professional development whilst out on a three week placement. You will also further develop your independent study skills by completing your final year dissertation.

MODULES
• Comparative Education: International Perspectives
• Exploring Expressive Arts
• Leadership and Professional Development
• Dissertation

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

As a full-time student, you will attend campus for up to 3 days per week which will include a mixture of classroom and online based learning. Classroom sessions provide you with an opportunity to learn alongside your fellow students and are based in activity and discussion. Online materials are used to prepare you for the classroom sessions and to provide follow-on work/research for you to complete in your own time.

As a part-time student, you can use our flexible study mode to choose the right pathway through your studies for you. You may choose to study one day per week in the classroom alongside our full-time students, you may choose to study online using our Virtual Learning Environment (Moodle), or you can choose a combination of both. If you choose to study 100% online with us you will receive regular on-campus or online meetings with your tutors outside of work hours.

A range of assessment methods will be used throughout your studies and could include: case studies; handouts, posters, observations; portfolios; presentations, essays, reports and a dissertation at level 6. Our assignments are chosen to help you develop the skills and writing techniques you will need for future employment or study.

Placement in practice forms an important part of your degree studies. During your studies you will undertake 3 placements:

Level 4 - Professional Practice for Childhood and Education (40 credits). You will attend placement for 2 days per week for 6 weeks (84 hrs). At level 4 the purpose of the placement is for you to explore and experience professional competencies in practice.

Level 5 - Practice Informed Research (60 credits). You will attend placement 3 days a week for 8 weeks (168 hrs). At level 5 the purpose of the placement is for you to engage with authentic research ideas and to collect primary research data.

Level 6 - Leadership and Professional Development (40 credits). You will attend placement 3 days a week for 3 weeks (63 hrs). At level 6 the purpose of the placement is for you to observe leadership skills and to consider your own professional development in relation to future employment.

Our placements include (but are not limited to) schools; nursery settings; local authority settings, for example the Child Prevention and Support Service and Flying Start; third sector organisations, for example Home Start, Action for Children and Save the Family; and the private sector, for example Residential Homeless Support for Families and Residential Family Assessment Centres.

Part-time students will use their normal place of work to complete their placement hours.