Primary Education 5-11 BA Welcome Pack
Welcome to BA (Hons) Primary Education 5-11 (QTS) – September 2026.
Welcome to the University of Northampton and the beginning of your journey to become a creative, dynamic and innovative primary school teacher.
Throughout the course, you will learn through a range of experiences both in University and School-based training. These are purposefully integrated to ensure you develop the required research-informed subject knowledge, professional skills, values and attitudes to secure high levels of children’s attainment, progress, and well-being, as well as gaining a degree.
Your modules are made up of Learning Events with a combination of face to face and online learning. Face-to-face sessions are timetabled, and you will be given this timetable in September once you have enrolled. Online learning can be completed on or offsite.
We pride ourselves on our supportive approach. During your study, you will be allocated a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) based at the University who is your first ‘go to person’ if you have any questions or need support. Plans for how you will meet you PAT will be shared in your first week. Additionally, during each School-based placement, you will be supported by a trained mentor and Moderation Tutor (MT).
Cheryl and I, and our enthusiastic and experienced team of tutors are looking forward to meeting you and if you would like to know more about what we get up to, then please do follow us on Instagram @teachertraining.uon.
See you at Waterside soon,
Simon and Cheryl.
Your Course Leader
Simon Chapman
Senior Lecturer in Education
Simon.chapman@northampton.ac.uk
As Course Leader, I have oversite of all aspects of the course. I work closely with the Module Leaders, Year Leaders and Personal Academic Tutors to ensure that you have a high-quality experience during your Initial Teacher Training.
Additional staff
- Julian Brown – Head of School
- Sarah Cave – Deputy Head of School
- Cheryl Buckle – Senior Lecturer in ITT and Year 1 Leader
Preparing for your course
As outlined in the application process, we have to check that you are compliant to be on this ITT course. Therefore, in preparation for the course, please arrange that you have original, physical copies of the following documentation:
- Your Enhanced DBS Certificate for the course
- Physical GCSE certificates for English, mathematics and science
- A completed Occupational Health Screening Questionnaire
When you arrive at the University of Northampton, there’s plenty to get involved with during Welcome Week. However, there are specific sessions taking place as part of your course induction that’ll help you settle in and prepare for teaching to start the following week and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Year 1 Leader, Cheryl Buckle, via email: cheryl.buckle@northampton.ac.uk
Monday 21 September
Session: Welcome to BA Primary Education
- Time: 10am – 12pm (BST)
- Location: LH017, Ground Floor, Learning Hub, Waterside campus
Bring a device that can connect to Wi-Fi to access resources
Session: Building a Sense of Belonging and Compliance
- Time: 1 – 3pm (BST)
- Location: LH017, Ground Floor, Learning Hub, Waterside campus
Bring a device that can connect to Wi-Fi to access resources, your Enhanced DBS Certificate for the course and your original copies of your GCSE certificates for English, mathematics and science.
Tuesday 22 September
Session: Team Building and Campus Orientation
- Time: 10am – 1pm (BST)
- Location: Sports Dome, Waterside campus
This session will involve a carousel of activities including a team building session, a campus trail and a library orientation task; please ensure you wear comfortable clothing for all weathers.
Session: Lunch and Quiz
- Time: 1.30 – 2.30pm (BST)
- Location: SN304, Third Floor, Senate, Waterside campus
After the morning session, go and get yourself some lunch and then join us for an optional quiz.
Wednesday 23 September
Session: Question and Answer Drop-in
- Time: 10am – 12pm (BST)
- Location: LH231, Second Floor, Learning Hub, Waterside campus
This session is not compulsory. If you have any questions based upon your first couple of days, Simon and Cheryl will be available on Waterside Campus and online so come and have a chat and have your questions answered.
Thursday 24 September or Friday 25 September
Session: Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) Welcome Tutorial
- Time: To be confirmed
- Location: To be confirmed, but will take place on Waterside Campus
This will be a group tutorial and the first opportunity for your PAT to meet you and other tutees. Your PAT will contact your directly via email to arrange the details of the meeting. Although these are scheduled for these two days, some PATs may choose to meet with you on the week beginning Monday 28 September.
Pre-Arrival tasks
There are two tasks that we would like to complete before you start:
Task 1 – What makes an effective teacher?
Think back to some of the teachers you have had in your own experiences. What were the professional qualities and the personal attributes they had that made them effective? Make a list of your ideas which will be discussed during your Professional Studies module.
Task 2 – Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 National Curriculum
You are going to learn to teach all aspects of the primary national curriculum for Key Stage One and Key Stage Two. Please familiarise yourself with the KS1 and KS2 curriculum.
Note down two subjects within the national curriculum that you would consider to be your own areas of strength. Similarly, consider one subject area that you feel would be an area for development moving forwards and why. You will discuss these with your PAT in your Welcome Tutorial.
Equipment
You will require general stationery, and you will be taught how to use a range of technological tools. These will be used to increase your own engagement with theory and practice, and you will be able to use these tools in your own teaching.
Reading Lists
For each module you will be provided with a reading list and many of our core texts are available electronically.
