Education Practice

Overview

This newly developed, strongly vocational degree is ideal for students seeking a fulfilling career in education, while not wishing to immediately gain qualified teacher status.

The only undergraduate course of its kind in London, BA Education Practice will appeal to those already working as a teaching assistant (TA), secondary or primary, and looking for career progression. It's equally ideal for college and sixth-form leavers seeking to explore the discipline of education, while benefiting from a hands-on, practical route into the sector and the many careers it offers.

The BA Education Practice programme offers a number of career paths, including:

• The opportunity, for those with TA experience, to become an accredited Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA), now formally recognised as a graduate level outcome.
• Progression to our one-year PGCE Primary following graduation, to achieve qualified teacher status (with a 20% alumni discount on the tuition fees).
• Progression to our one-year MA TESOL for students who may wish to work internationally in English speaking schools, teaching pupils with English as a second language (also with a 20% tuition fee reduction).

The course will also equip you to work in a wide range of educational settings, including government departments, community and voluntary organisations, social services, youth organisations, libraries and museums.

The course content of BA Education Practice offers students a deep understanding of working life in schools, the education system and the issues faced by classroom practitioners. Placement periods are arranged for students to gain hands-on experience. All teaching and learning is informed by Roehampton's unrivalled 180 year heritage in teaching, and by the work of education philosopher Friedrich Froebel, whose followers established Froebel College in the 1920s. Students also benefit from Roehampton's vast network of partner schools across London and the south east, and from the world-class reputation for special educational needs (SEN) specialism that our School of Education enjoys.

Timetabling has been designed with an unusual degree of flexibility, such that students who work or have other commitments can opt to attend university one day a week, with further online lectures and seminars on one evening from home. Students who are not working can opt for a more traditional university timetable spread across the week.

Please note: Prospective students wishing to qualify as a primary school teacher should apply to our BA Primary Education (QTS).

Schedule by year of study:

Year 1 is designed as an introduction to the academic discipline of education with topics such as child development and inclusivity. Students will also acquire the professional skill of reflecting on and evaluating aspects of learning and teaching from a personal perspective. Modules cover the fundamentals of how children learn, engaging learners in their learning and how adults support learning using a variety of approaches.

Year 2 includes a placement in a setting with a focus on education. This placement could be within a traditional school setting, an education setting in the voluntary or charity sector or could equally be within education settings such as museums or galleries. The compulsory modules in year two enable you to develop your understanding of and the implementation of the role of an education practitioner. Optional modules are geared towards aspects of education such as technology, creativity, literacy and inclusion.

Year 3 includes a practice-based enquiry project and a focus on learners’ wellbeing and holistic development. The optional modules enable you to focus on the step into employment and work within education (via HLTA accreditation), preparing for further study towards a teaching qualification (PGCE) or further academic study (via MA TESOL).

Foundation or GCE Advanced Level

Career Options

This degree will prepare you for a primary teacher training programme (with Qualified Teacher Status) or a career as a senior member of the teaching support staff in a school. If you are interested in a secondary teaching programme, this may be possible if you also have relevant subject-related level 3 qualifications.

You may also be interested in working in a wide range of educational settings, such as government departments, community and voluntary organisations, social services, policy and research settings. You could also work in youth organisations, libraries, museums, education publishers, and a host of other organisations where professional development and education is practised.
You will be well placed to go on to further study and complete postgraduate teacher training at University. You could go on to a MA in Education Studies, Education Leadership and Management, Inclusive Education: SEN and Disability or Educational Practice.

Our careers team is available to support you from the start of your studies until after you graduate. They will help you build your CV, prepare for interviews, and meet and learn from successful graduates working at the top of their careers. You’ll also have opportunities to work with our partners across London and beyond, and to attend a Roehampton jobs fair where you can find out about graduate opportunities and meet employers.