January 2025

Primary Education 3-11 (with recommendation for QTS) BA (Hons) with Foundation Year

Honours Degree with Foundation Year, Undergraduate, January 2025

Key Details

  • X30F Course Code
  • 4 Years
  • 48 Typical UCAS Tariff
Teacher sat at desk with primary pupil pointing at workbook

Birmingham Newman University offers a foundation year to complement our undergraduate degrees. The Foundation Year is the first year of a four-year degree in Primary Education (3-11) with recommendation for QTS.

The foundation year provides an alternative route to studying Primary Education for those unable to meet the traditional entry requirements for this degree programme. Apply via UCAS for BA Primary Education (3-11) with recommendation for QTS (with Foundation Year) and after successfully completing the foundation year you will progress onto the remaining three years of the degree, dependent on meeting the progression requirements.

 

What is the Foundation Year?

The Foundation Year at Birmingham Newman University is the first year of a four year degree. It is designed for students who do not have the qualifications or experience for direct entry onto a three-year undergraduate programme.

If you’re thinking about returning to education after a break or if you’ve had some tough times in education before, the Foundation Year at Birmingham Newman University will support you and help you succeed.

 

Why should I study a Foundation Year?

Birmingham Newman’s Foundation Year will provide you with opportunities to:

  • Develop confidence in your skills and abilities
  • Develop an understanding of what is needed to be a successful undergraduate student
  • Gain knowledge of your academic discipline

 

What will I study during the Foundation Year?

The integrated foundation year focuses on helping you think critically and feel confident in your studies. It begins with an exploration of how you learn, and gives you the space to learn in your own way.

The goal of the Foundation Year is not just to get you ready for your next year of studies but to make sure you feel connected to your chosen subject and to the university community. You’ll explore interesting topics like identity, inequality, and think about what it means to be human in a digital world.

The combination of seminar discussions, active workshops, online activities and one-to-one support will enable you to develop the skills you’ll need to succeed in the rest of your degree.

 

Find out more about the Foundation Year here, or book a free consultation with a member of the academic team.

Choosing to become a Primary Teacher is your first step to inspiring children in learning about their world and here at Birmingham Newman University, we would love to support you on this journey. We understand that the Primary 3-11 age range is a crucial time for children’s development and learning. It is at this formative and particularly receptive stage of development that attitudes towards learning are formed, attitudes that will impact future life course development.

During your Initial Teacher Education (ITE) course with us you will undertake a range of modules, which will equip you to become an effective and creative teacher across the full age range in order to achieve the professional standards required for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). The first year of the programme provides a secure basis for practice across the full primary curriculum and age range. In the second and third year of the programme you will have the opportunity to develop expertise in either the 3-7, 5-11 or 7-11 age phase.

Visit our course page to find out more about the Primary Education 3-11 route, which you would continue on to following successful completion of the Foundation Year.

Birmingham Newman University is located in Britain’s second city – Birmingham. With one of the youngest city populations in Europe, it is a vibrant and dynamic place to study.

Studying at Birmingham Newman University, you have the advantage of being near to the city, but living in, or commuting to peaceful and comfortable surroundings on campus.

Dining out

Birmingham has lots of wonderful places to dine out with a range of different cuisines. Places where you can dine out include; Brindley Place, Mailbox and Hagley Road (just 10 minutes’ from Newman).

Entertainment

Whether you like to go to; the theatre, gigs or clubs, or enjoy: sports, shopping visiting art galleries or exhibitions – Birmingham will not disappoint and you will be spoilt for choice!

Location

Getting around Birmingham is easy via train, bus or by car. Birmingham has excellent transport links to the rest of Britain, making it easy for those weekend getaways!

Why not explore the city for yourself by visiting one of our Open Days?

Want to find out more about Birmingham? Then take a look at some Birmingham City Secrets.

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Entry Requirements

Students will ideally require 48 UCAS points to access the programme.

Prior to enrolment students also require:

  • GCSE English Language, at grade 4 (or C) or above (or recognised equivalent)*
  • GCSE Mathematics at grade 4 (or C) or above (or recognised equivalent)*
  • GCSE Science at grade 4 (or C) or above (or recognised equivalent)*
  • DBS Clearance through Newman University
  • Teacher Services Checklist
  • Fitness to Train to Teach clearance

*Those who do not have the above GCSEs will be given the opportunity to take our in-house equivalency tests

Candidates are required to attend an interview prior to starting the Foundation Year and an end of year interview in order to progress onto Year One. For further information about the Interview Process see our ITE Interview page.

Students will also be required to be assured against a set of fundamental Maths and English skills by the end of their initial teacher training degree.

If you require any further information or clarification of entry requirements please contact our friendly, helpful Admissions department, who will be happy to help.

International Students
The University is not licensed by the UK Government to sponsor migrant students under the Student route and is therefore unable to accept applications from international students at present.

Applying Direct Option

You can apply direct to Birmingham Newman University for this course if you have not previously applied to Newman University through UCAS and you are not applying to any other universities.

January 2025 Direct Application Link

N.B. will need to enter ‘New User’ account details when first accessing this portal.

Course Fees

Please note that the course fee for September 2024 start is £9,250 per year.

The University will review tuition fees and increase fees in line with any inflationary uplift as determined by the UK Government, if permitted by law or government policy, in subsequent years of your course. It is anticipated that such increases would be linked to RPI (the Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments).

Fees for the following three years are currently £9,250 per year. Please go to the corresponding 3 year undergraduate degree page for details.

Additional Costs

Find out more about the other additional costs associated with our undergraduate degrees. 

 

Modules

For details on the modules you may study in the second, third and fourth year of your studies, please see the course page for your chosen degree pathway.

*Please note that the modules offered for the BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance with Foundation Year and  BA (Hons) Business Management with Foundation Year routes will differ from the modules offered for our other Foundation Year routes, more information is available on those particular pages.

Please be aware that, as with any course, there may be changes to the modules delivered, for information view our Changes to Programmes or Module Changes page.

  1. Students will explore big ideas around higher education as they develop their academic skills and confidence through the first weeks. This module is designed to facilitate students critical engagement with context and concepts including ideas about childhood, life and old age in a digital world. Students will have the opportunity for the development of core academic skills as well as opportunities to reflect on their progress. The module will include opportunities for students to engage with the online learning environment and develop information literacy skills. 

  2. This module, delivered in whole or in part by subject-specific staff, will continue students’ introduction to the content of their chosen degree subject. Students will explore further the disciplinary conventions, core concepts and professional requirements of their degree. The themes under discussion will vary according to the degree the students are studying, but each degree group will enable students to examine the themes and approaches underpinning the chosen area of study. In the tutor group, students will complete a capstone assessment designed and marked by staff in their subject area. This capstone assessment will draw on the skills developed and practices in the core modules. 

  3. Students will explore big ideas around society and identity as they develop their academic skills and confidence. Students will be introduced to theory, examples of which include theories exploring race, class and gender. Students will be introduced to the context and development of these concepts over time, and from literary, social science and philosophic perspectives. The module will explicitly engage with digital literacy and will include opportunities for students to engage with the online learning environment and develop their digital skills. 

  4. This module will facilitate students’ exploration of their chosen degree subject. Students will undertake directed research on a topic related to their degree discipline to assist the further understanding of disciplinary conventions, core concepts and professional requirements of their degree. The project focus will vary according to the degree the students are studying, but each degree project will enable students to examine the themes and approaches underpinning the chosen area of study. Across the course of the module, students will develop a project related to their degree subject, drawing on the skills developed and practices in degree tutor group 2 (FOY014). 

Additional Information

To ensure that the course content is as up-to-date and relevant to current teaching theory and practice as possible, this course will be re-validated at least every five years or sooner, if external changes require it.

Work-related placements in school and visits to other education settings will require some travel. Placements may be 1 hour 30 minutes travel from a student’s term-time address.

If you are interested in working in Catholic schools or simply wish to keep options open for the future then why not consider the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies? Past students have found it extremely helpful regardless of religious belief. For more information please visit the webpage or contact course leader Eamonn Elliot directly e.w.elliott@newman.ac.uk

General Academic Regulations: Terms and Conditions for students attending our courses