Postgraduate Diploma in Primary School Education
Develop primary-phase pedagogy through critical study and practical teaching design.
About the course
Develop primary-phase pedagogy through critical study and practical teaching design. You will connect relevant degree-level subject knowledge with literacy, numeracy and inclusive classroom methods.
What you'll learn
Analyse a primary curriculum and its learning demands.
Design phase-appropriate lessons and resources.
Assess learner work with defensible criteria.
Adapt instruction for language and learning differences.
Reflect on teaching evidence to improve a learning sequence.
Requirements
A relevant degree and phase-appropriate subject knowledge are useful preparation. BMIT must confirm whether this is initial teacher preparation or further professional study and specify any prior teaching qualification required.
Course content
The complete subject sequence below moves from foundations to specialist application. Stages show learning progression. Practical work and the final project draw together the subjects studied.
2 learning stages 11 subjects
1Stage 1: Foundations8 subjects
2Stage 2: Core subjects3 subjects
Subjects in this programme
The complete subject sequence below moves from foundations to specialist application. Stages show learning progression. Practical work and the final project draw together the subjects studied.
11 subjects are listed below with a short description of each. The Subject descriptions tab contains the learning outcomes, topics, practical tasks and assessments.
Stage 1: Foundations
- Child Development. Examine development across early and middle childhood in context. You will examine physical development, language development, social relationships. Prepare an observation framework and developmental support activity.
- Curriculum Studies. Translate curriculum intentions into a coherent learning sequence. You will examine curriculum aims, knowledge selection, progression. Map outcomes, content and assessment for a learning unit.
- Language and Literacy Teaching. Plan language learning through purposeful speaking, reading and writing. You will examine oral language, phonics and word study, reading comprehension. Produce and teach a linked reading and writing sequence.
- Mathematics Teaching. Develop mathematical understanding through representations and reasoning. You will examine number concepts, operations, patterns. Plan a mathematics lesson with diagnostic questions and worked examples.
- Science Teaching. Develop enquiry through explanations and supervised investigations. You will examine scientific questions, models, observation. Plan a low-risk investigation and assess the resulting explanation.
- Social Studies Teaching. Connect place, time and society through classroom evidence. You will examine local history, geographical thinking, community institutions. Design a local-study unit using historical and geographical evidence.
- Educational Assessment. Design fair assessments and use results to guide teaching. You will examine assessment purpose, task design, marking criteria. Produce an assessment task, rubric and feedback plan.
- Inclusive Education. Identify participation barriers and plan accessible learning support. You will examine learning barriers, universal design, differentiation. Adapt a lesson and assessment for a specified access need.
Stage 2: Core subjects
- Research Methods and Evidence Analysis. Plan an enquiry suited to a specific social or organisational question. You will compare qualitative and quantitative approaches, prepare ethical data collection and assess evidence quality. The module connects research questions to sampling, analysis and clear reporting of uncertainty and limitations.
- Classroom Action Research. Investigate a teaching problem through an ethical enquiry cycle. You will examine problem identification, evidence review, action planning. Conduct an approved classroom enquiry using anonymised evidence.
- Teaching Practice III: Professional Integration. Integrate planning, teaching and assessment in an approved placement. You will examine independent planning, supervised delivery, learner support. Complete supervised teaching and defend a professional portfolio.
Assessment and practical learning
- Curriculum and lesson-design tasks.
- Microteaching and assessment moderation exercises.
- Observed teaching and a reflective portfolio.
Practical application
Undertake proposed supervised primary teaching after the intended qualification route is confirmed. Plan a coherent sequence, teach under mentorship and revise the sequence using learner responses.
Subject descriptions
Select a subject to read its learning outcomes, main topics, practical task and assessment.
Stage 1: Foundations
Child Development
Examine development across early and middle childhood in context. You will examine physical development, language development, social relationships. Prepare an observation framework and developmental support activity.
Learning outcomes
- Explain physical development in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between language development and social relationships.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing emotional regulation, play and family context.
Main topics
- Physical development
- Language development
- Social relationships
- Emotional regulation
- Play
- Family context
Practical task
Prepare an observation framework and developmental support activity.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Curriculum Studies
Translate curriculum intentions into a coherent learning sequence. You will examine curriculum aims, knowledge selection, progression. Map outcomes, content and assessment for a learning unit.
Learning outcomes
- Explain curriculum aims in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between knowledge selection and progression.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing integration, contextual adaptation and curriculum evaluation.
Main topics
- Curriculum aims
- Knowledge selection
- Progression
- Integration
- Contextual adaptation
- Curriculum evaluation
Practical task
Map outcomes, content and assessment for a learning unit.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Language and Literacy Teaching
Plan language learning through purposeful speaking, reading and writing. You will examine oral language, phonics and word study, reading comprehension. Produce and teach a linked reading and writing sequence.
Learning outcomes
- Explain oral language in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between phonics and word study and reading comprehension.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing writing development, multilingual support and literacy assessment.
Main topics
- Oral language
- Phonics and word study
- Reading comprehension
- Writing development
- Multilingual support
- Literacy assessment
Practical task
Produce and teach a linked reading and writing sequence.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Mathematics Teaching
Develop mathematical understanding through representations and reasoning. You will examine number concepts, operations, patterns. Plan a mathematics lesson with diagnostic questions and worked examples.
Learning outcomes
- Explain number concepts in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between operations and patterns.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing measurement, geometry and problem solving.
Main topics
- Number concepts
- Operations
- Patterns
- Measurement
- Geometry
- Problem solving
Practical task
Plan a mathematics lesson with diagnostic questions and worked examples.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Science Teaching
Develop enquiry through explanations and supervised investigations. You will examine scientific questions, models, observation. Plan a low-risk investigation and assess the resulting explanation.
Learning outcomes
- Explain scientific questions in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between models and observation.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing fair comparisons, data interpretation and practical safety.
Main topics
- Scientific questions
- Models
- Observation
- Fair comparisons
- Data interpretation
- Practical safety
Practical task
Plan a low-risk investigation and assess the resulting explanation.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Social Studies Teaching
Connect place, time and society through classroom evidence. You will examine local history, geographical thinking, community institutions. Design a local-study unit using historical and geographical evidence.
Learning outcomes
- Explain local history in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between geographical thinking and community institutions.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing citizenship, source interpretation and field learning.
Main topics
- Local history
- Geographical thinking
- Community institutions
- Citizenship
- Source interpretation
- Field learning
Practical task
Design a local-study unit using historical and geographical evidence.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Educational Assessment
Design fair assessments and use results to guide teaching. You will examine assessment purpose, task design, marking criteria. Produce an assessment task, rubric and feedback plan.
Learning outcomes
- Explain assessment purpose in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between task design and marking criteria.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing feedback, moderation and use of results.
Main topics
- Assessment purpose
- Task design
- Marking criteria
- Feedback
- Moderation
- Use of results
Practical task
Produce an assessment task, rubric and feedback plan.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Inclusive Education
Identify participation barriers and plan accessible learning support. You will examine learning barriers, universal design, differentiation. Adapt a lesson and assessment for a specified access need.
Learning outcomes
- Explain learning barriers in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between universal design and differentiation.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing assistive resources, referral and family collaboration.
Main topics
- Learning barriers
- Universal design
- Differentiation
- Assistive resources
- Referral
- Family collaboration
Practical task
Adapt a lesson and assessment for a specified access need.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Stage 2: Core subjects
Research Methods and Evidence Analysis
Plan an enquiry suited to a specific social or organisational question. You will compare qualitative and quantitative approaches, prepare ethical data collection and assess evidence quality. The module connects research questions to sampling, analysis and clear reporting of uncertainty and limitations.
Learning outcomes
- Formulate a research question
- Select a defensible research design
- Prepare an ethical data collection plan
Main topics
- Research questions
- Literature review
- Design choices
- Sampling
- Ethics
- Data analysis
Practical task
Submit a research proposal, instruments and a worked analysis of a pilot dataset.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Classroom Action Research
Investigate a teaching problem through an ethical enquiry cycle. You will examine problem identification, evidence review, action planning. Conduct an approved classroom enquiry using anonymised evidence.
Learning outcomes
- Explain problem identification in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between evidence review and action planning.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing classroom evidence, evaluation and revision.
Main topics
- Problem identification
- Evidence review
- Action planning
- Classroom evidence
- Evaluation
- Revision
Practical task
Conduct an approved classroom enquiry using anonymised evidence.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Teaching Practice III: Professional Integration
Integrate planning, teaching and assessment in an approved placement. You will examine independent planning, supervised delivery, learner support. Complete supervised teaching and defend a professional portfolio.
Learning outcomes
- Explain independent planning in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between supervised delivery and learner support.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing professional collaboration, evidence of learning and development planning.
Main topics
- Independent planning
- Supervised delivery
- Learner support
- Professional collaboration
- Evidence of learning
- Development planning
Practical task
Complete supervised teaching and defend a professional portfolio.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Instructors
