PGCE Primary School Direct 5-11 / Course details

PGCE Primary School Direct provides you with the practical training and theoretical knowledge required to become an outstanding primary school teacher.  

The course leads directly to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), with your progress audited against QTS Standards designed to ensure you graduate fully prepared to teach children aged 5 to 11 in the primary phase. The course offers high-quality training across the National Curriculum subjects, with support provided by University-based tutors and trained school-based tutors. 

Compared with non-School Direct teacher trainees, you will benefit from additional time in school. School Direct partners will deliver training on agreed National Curriculum subjects and aspects of professional studies. This content will be planned, organised and delivered by each School Direct alliance. 

School Direct alliances will also arrange your main teaching placements and most of the minor placements across the PGCE year. You will receive support and advice from a nominated School Direct representative during your two main teaching placements. The University will maintain a quality assurance and training role during your time on the course. 

We work with numerous schools in Greater Manchester, many of whom are longstanding partners with us, to offer the School Direct route into teaching. 

School Direct allows schools to recruit and select their own trainees, using the University's PGCE recruitment criteria and systems. 

Applicants apply directly to the nominated lead school and interviews will be arranged directly with the candidates. 

Many trainees gain employment in our School Direct partner schools, although this is not guaranteed, nor should it be expected. 

School Direct follows a PGCE course structure but on a modified timetable including the school-based learning content, known as alliance-led days.

• We work with five different School Direct alliance partners.
• Our leading experts in education have trained more than 5,000 teachers in the last 15 years.
• Our students come from all over the globe and are from a variety of backgrounds - from recent graduates to mature learners.

The course is taught by the Manchester Institute of Education (MIE) with most PGCE University days based in the Ellen Wilkinson building, centrally located on the University's Oxford Road campus, close to the Main Library, Alan Gilbert Learning Commons and the Students' Union.