Whilst our programme trains you to become a General Primary Practitioner, we are delighted also to offer specialisms in Art and Design, Early Years, English and the Performing Arts, English & Communication (SEND), Mathematics, Geography and History, PE and Science.
There is an expectation that candidates will have relevant prior study and attainment in at least one of these subjects/areas. This will relate to either a related A level, and element of your degree or appropriate prior experience in relation to your specialism.
Please note: Each of our specialisms have a minimum viable number of trainees and we reserve the right to withdraw any specialism if we do not recruit to the required level. If this is the case, we would ask you to choose your second specialism.
Art and Design
The Art and Design specialism with Keele and North Staffordshire Teacher Education alongside NSEAD (National Society for Education in Art and Design) ‘believes that a world class art, craft and design education provides and inspires personal expression, cultural understanding, creative and practical responses, promoting imaginative risk taking to provide solutions to our material, emotional, social and virtual worlds.
A world class, art, craft and design education will engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to participate in, experiment with, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. To enable our Trainee Teachers to fully engage with the Art and Design specialism, we use a mixture of discussion, practical opportunities within schools and gap tasks that fully support the knowledge and understanding required.
Please note: Each of our specialisms have a minimum viable number of trainees and we reserve the right to withdraw any specialism if we do not recruit to the required level. If this is the case, we would ask you to choose your second specialism.
Early Years
The Early Years Specialism is for you, if you are particularly interested in early learning and child development. The Early Years (EY) is a unique phase of education which involves framing first-hand learning opportunities both inside and outdoors in relation the curriculum and children’s prior experiences. Your sessions will enable you to become familiar with the requirements and expectations of both the Early Years phase and Key Stage 1. You will come to recognise that Key Stage 1 is also a distinctive and important part of a child's educational experience. This is the time when children develop a curiosity to learn more, including engaging with reading, applying their mathematical knowledge and making sense of how the world works. We will enable you to lead learning so that you can improve outcomes for children.
Please note: Each of our specialisms have a minimum viable number of trainees and we reserve the right to withdraw any specialism if we do not recruit to the required level. If this is the case, we would ask you to choose your second specialism.
English with Performing Arts
Our English with Performing Arts specialism enables you to draw on your passion for English and develops your capacity as a curriculum maker. You will be supported in carefully considering how through disciplined thinking you can connect English with other areas of the curriculum particularly focusing on performing arts. English is not only an essential National Curriculum subject but it also unlocks learning in all subjects whether that be through reading, writing, speaking or listening.
Please note: Each of our specialisms have a minimum viable number of trainees and we reserve the right to withdraw any specialism if we do not recruit to the required level. If this is the case, we would ask you to choose your second specialism.
SEND
Whether you want to work in special and inclusive education contexts, or progress your career in a mainstream school, this course could be for you.
This course enables you to develop the professional and intellectual capabilities to prepare you for working with children with a diverse range of abilities and needs. You will benefit from placements in both Key Stages 2 and 1, one practice will be in a SEND school and the other will be in a mainstream setting. This will allow you to explore and critically reflect on the opportunities of multi-disciplinary learning. You will be introduced to the expectations of the Primary Curriculum as well as inclusive practice and adaptive teaching.
The course will develop your appreciation of the significance of speech, language and communication in education. Verbal and non-verbal communication will be explored alongside alternative augmentative and technological strategies. The route will prepare you to evaluate what you as an individual can bring to the profession.
Please note: Each of our specialisms have a minimum viable number of trainees and we reserve the right to withdraw any specialism if we do not recruit to the required level. If this is the case, we would ask you to choose your second specialism.
Mathematics
Science
From September 2023, our Science and Maths specialists will join together to consider the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) in the primary curriculum. This will involve you in working together with the Lead Mentor and expert teachers to consider how to introduce young children to these essential subjects.
The mathematics element of this specialism will encourage you to consider how to harness children's curiosity about numbers, shapes and patterns. You will reflect on the significance of empowering your learners to reason and justify their solutions to mathematical dilemmas. Developing children's capabilities so that they can use and apply their mathematical reasoning skills is a key aspect of primary education. Through practice-based sessions that carefully consider both pedagogy and curriculum content, we will inspire you to think about the significance of mathematics in the primary phase. We will enable you to think carefully about mastery, progression, assessment and curriculum organisation. You will benefit from the expertise of practitioners currently working in our partnership schools.
Reflecting on how science influences our lives and the lives of others is a key aspect of primary children's learning in this discipline. The Science element of this specialism focuses on developing your understanding of how to develop scientific enquiry with young people. You will carefully consider how best to enable children to develop ideas from evidence by 'working scientifically'. You will reflect on how best to empower your learners to create, consider and evaluate evidence so that they can develop reasoned ideas from their data and findings. Through practice-based sessions that carefully consider both pedagogy and curriculum, we will inspire you to think about the significance of science in the primary phase. We will also enable you to think carefully about progression, assessment and curriculum organisation.
Please note: Each of our specialisms have a minimum viable number of trainees and we reserve the right to withdraw any specialism if we do not recruit to the required level. If this is the case, we would ask you to choose your second specialism.
Geography and History
This specialism focuses on developing your understandings of the purpose of geography and history in the primary curriculum. John Berger once suggested that 'time and space' are the two key concepts that underpin what it means to be human. We will explore further these key concepts, together with others associated with these subjects. Through practice-based sessions that carefully consider both pedagogy and curriculum, we will inspire you to think about the significance of these disciplines in the primary phase. You will enquire into how young people both become more knowledgeable and are able to understand their world in more meaningful ways. We will enable you to think carefully about progression, assessment and curriculum organisation. You will benefit from the expertise of practitioners currently working in our partnership schools.
Please note: Each of our specialisms have a minimum viable number of trainees and we reserve the right to withdraw any specialism if we do not recruit to the required level. If this is the case, we would ask you to choose your second specialism.
Modern Foreign Languages
Through our Modern Languages specialism we will enable you to develop your own passion for learning languages into one that enables children to both enjoy and benefit from the accomplishment of learning a foreign language. You will carefully consider different pedagogic approaches that help to nurture pupil’s self-confidence as they acquire both an understanding of relevant words and phrases, but also appreciate the culture associated with the languages that they learn. Through practice-based sessions you will consider the curriculum requirements associated with language learning in the primary phase. We will also enable you to think carefully about progression, assessment and curriculum organisation. You will benefit from the expertise of practitioners currently working in our partnership schools who will reflect on their day to day actions with you.
Please note: Each of our specialisms have a minimum viable number of trainees and we reserve the right to withdraw any specialism if we do not recruit to the required level. If this is the case, we would ask you to choose your second specialism.
Physical Education
We will nurture your own passion for physical exercise and sport by asking you to reflect on why it is important that all young people should benefit from a positive experience of physical education. You will appreciate why, from an early age children in the primary phase should experience both enjoyment and success through physical activity. You will develop a confidence in recognising pupils' capabilities and you will develop an expertise in selecting activities which match pupils' needs and interests. Through practice-based sessions that carefully consider both pedagogy and curriculum, we will inspire you to think about the significance of physical education in the primary phase. We will also enable you to think carefully about progression, assessment and curriculum organisation.
Please note: Each of our specialisms have a minimum viable number of trainees and we reserve the right to withdraw any specialism if we do not recruit to the required level. If this is the case, we would ask you to choose your second specialism.