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PGCE Primary Education with Special Educational Needs and Disability

Qualify as a primary school teacher and specialise in supporting pupils who have extra learning needs.

Teacher with young student

92% student satisfaction

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey, 2020

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Entry requirements

A degree at 2:2 or above

GCSE English, Mathematics and Science at grade 4 or grade C or above (or an equivalent qualification)

Candidates must meet the requirements for fitness to teach as detailed in ‘Fit to Teach’ by completing an online medical questionnaire

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and trainees. All trainees are expected to share this commitment and demonstrate consistently high standards of personal and professional conduct.

See full entry requirements


UCAS code M409

UCAS institution code P63

Duration One year full-time or two years part-time

Any questions about postgraduate study at Marjon?

Contact Rachel Bailey-Lewis, our Student Recruitment Officer (Postgraduate).

Course Summary

Do you want to be there for those children who need extra support with their learning? Our specialist PGCE Primary Education with Special Educational Needs and Disability (5-11) is for trainee teachers with an interest in special education and SEND pupils.

This course is a direct route to a career that helps pupils in mainstream and special schools to develop confidence and knowledge. The focus is on learning for all. Working in inclusive classrooms alongside expert teachers, you will develop depth of knowledge to support all learners and enhanced knowledge to promote learning for SEND pupils. You'll be trained in a range of teaching styles appropriate to mainstream schools but also specific approaches for the special schools sector.

The aim of PGCE Primary Education with SEND is to prepare trainee teachers for a first appointment as a teacher in a primary or special school. If you want to train to teach whilst having the university experience, then a PGCE is the right choice for you. On this course you’ll be supported as a trainee within the university, at the same time as going into classrooms in our huge range of partnership schools.

You will spend 24 weeks in placements at key stages one and two. Your classroom responsibilities will increase as your confidence and expertise grows. This experience will ensure you are comfortable with your skills and confident of what you are looking for when applying for your first role as an Early Career Teacher.

What is it really like to study PGCE Primary?

Melissa: I love the course. It's really inspiring. It's given me focus, drive. Marjon's as a whole, you just come here and the atmosphere is a buzz and gives you a want to learn and a want to achieve.

Thomas: The people on the course are really good, really nice. The lecturers have brilliant expertise. The teaching quality's amazing. And they're really supportive if you have any issues while you're on placement. So you're not at the uni, they're really good about communicating and keeping on top of everything, so that's good.

Charley: I quite enjoy the theory side of things before you out on placement. So you start off by getting the knowledge from the lectures, and then you go out onto placement and put theory into practice. Really enjoy the placement side of things because you get a real taste for the school environment and becoming a teacher.

Sam: And the fact that I've made some really good friends here and the tutors are all lovely.

How is Marjon helping you to develop as a teacher?

Thomas: By giving us loads of opportunities to go to conferences, training days, encouraging us to go to inset days while we're in school, telling us ways that we can improve our subject knowledge, basically up-to-date research, lots of things really.

Melissa: Aw, it's been amazing. It's given us the insights of theories and strategies in a class environment, but then going out on placement and actually putting that into practice and that's been really good. So it brings everything to life and makes it real.

Sam: Well, we get to go out on placements, which means that we get experience with the classrooms. And also, they give us advice on how to do your subject knowledge. And just, yeah, basically they're really supportive in whatever we get to do.

Charley: When we come back off placement, we have our UTs who give us a report of how we've done on placement, so that gives us time to come back, reflect on what we've done well, what we haven't done so well on. And then everyone here gives you lots and lots of support to make you a better all-rounded teacher.

What has been the highlight so far?

Thomas: Probably some of the lessons that I got to teach during placement A where you have a really good lesson and you encourage the kids to come out of their comfort zone and maybe take part in a lesson that's something they've never done before, to have really brilliant discussions. Knowing that you're facilitating, that's pretty cool.

Melissa: I think my personal highlight is just seeing the difference I made when I went in my first placement, and knowing that I actually made a difference to those children in that class, and some children particularly, that was absolutely amazing.

Sam: I would have to say it's my last day of placement when all the children brought me up in front of the whole school in assembly and presented a massive big card and presents and everything, and actually made me realize why I wanted to be a teacher.

Charley: Personal highlights so far is probably the cohort. We've got a really nice cohort here of other teachers. Everyone's in the same boat. Everyone's really nice and supportive. It's been a pleasure meeting everyone, and everyone really helps you strive for your placement and hopefully we'll get through the end with each other.

Thomas: Yeah, really good. So from the academic side, the tutors, you have your personal development tutor, who's there to help you, they help you with personal statements, CVs, work. There's student support to help you with you have an assignment, and then they also have great stuff like counseling, mentoring, if you're struggling with anything personally. So yeah, there's a lot around really.

Charley: Support's really good, not just for yourself, but for everyone. As I said, we do have a really good cohort here, so everyone supports each other through. Everyone's in the same boat. Lecture side of things, we have really good supportive lectures, open door policy. You go see them when and as you need them really, and that they offer you support on placement, assessment, normal subject knowledge, anything really. Really good.

Sam: Support is fantastic. So obviously you've got your PDT, which is your pastoral mentor. Obviously your cohort is very supportive as well. You've got student support, the hub, everybody's really supportive and, yeah, able to be with us the whole way through the cohort.

Melissa: Absolutely. I'd say if you want a university that is really supportive and cares, but on a greater level that you actually feel they're part of the family, the support on student support, from your lecturers, they know your names and they really do care. So you can give them as much or as little information about your own personal life, and that's just an amazing opportunity to have.

Thinking about your future in teaching, what are you most looking forward to?

Thomas: Basically having my own classroom that I can arrange how I want, treat it how I want and not having to obey rules that I might disagree with, structuring things in my own way that I think would be a good for the pupils.

Charley: Definitely enjoying having my own classroom. I think going in, having your own environment set up in your own class, it's something I'm really looking forward to working with.

Sam: Having my own classroom. No, yeah, it's basically seeing those light bulb moments in the children, especially when they haven't got something over that whole week, and then, bang, Friday, that's it. Boom. They've got it. And yeah, that's what I want to achieve.

Why this course at Marjon?

Our expertise covers many specialisms of education - you can explore special educational needs, disability, childhood development, early years, literacy and wellbeing

93.9 % of our graduates are in further study, sustained employment or both five years after graduating, compared to a sector average for England of 88.2% (LEO, 2019)

We have relationships with around 300 primary schools to give you a wide choice of learning experiences

Modules for this course

1st Year

Inclusion in the primary classroom
This module supports your understanding of the factors that contribute to an inclusive classroom, allowing you to recognise the impact of individual difference on teaching and learning. Placement A runs alongside this module.
Developing knowledge for planning, teaching and assessment
During this module you will learn how to critically assess and monitor progress to enhance children' s learning. You will also have opportunity to consider how children learn. Placement A runs alongside this module
Developing a philosophy of learning and teaching across the primary curriculum
During this module you will consider different approaches to teaching and discover your own philosophy of teaching. You'll also reflect on the type of teacher you want to be and consider your future career plan.
Current educational issues for the teaching professional
This module will enable you to develop your understanding of current education policy. You will explore a range of strategies teachers employ to support diversity in the classroom.
Teaching placement
Placement B (14 weeks) in which you will demonstrate progress against the Teachers’ Standards to meet Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

This course is perfect if you're curious about

Are all classrooms inclusive in today’s schools?

Do children really learn through play?

How do we create deep learning rather than surface learning?

What are the pros vs cons of testing seven year olds?

How do we address specific needs of learners?

Are teachers responsible for children’s wellbeing?

It was clear that all trainees felt very satisfied with the delivery of the programme and praised Marjon’s full support, clear information and excellent communication... Assessment is fair and consistent and tutors provide supportive and constructive feedback to develop students’ learning further... Processes are exemplary.
External examiner - 2020

What might you become?

You will develop the critical thinking that results in a reflective, flexible, caring, confident and knowledgeable approach to teaching, with outstanding results for pupils. Graduates from our PGCEs achieve extremely high rates of employment with fast progression to leadership roles. Most trainees start to apply for jobs from January ready for September start. Our Jobs Fair in late winter helps many trainees to get their first role.

Plymouth Marjon University is widely renowned for producing excellent teachers. We have superb links with over 300 partnership schools throughout the South West, London and overseas and our graduates teach in schools across the country. Our curriculum was praised by Ofsted for being "Designed to ensure you are well prepared for your wider professional responsibilities, including for pupils’ pastoral care. You will gain a secure understanding of how best to teach personal, social, health and citizenship education, in addition to your chosen subject specialism" (Ofsted, 2023).

We have a long established history of teacher education, we've got 180 years of experience in training teachers. A PGCE from Marjon represents a strong start to any teaching career. The Guardian University Guide 2024 ranked us Top 5 in the UK for education.

Working with:

Department for Education Logo

Dept for Education

Marjon is recognised as a teacher training provider by the Dept for Education.


How you’ll be taught and assessed?

How will you be taught?

Includes lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical workshops and 24 weeks of placement experiences, in two 12-week blocks (one at Key Stage 1 and one at Key Stage 2). Teaching is intensive and akin to being in a full time job (9 to 5 Monday to Friday).

How will you be assessed?

Based on the same way you will be assessed when you are a qualified teacher and includes: teaching portfolios, assignments, presentations, observed teaching and case studies.

Ruth-Benton

Ruth Benton

Course leader

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Ruth has been at Marjon for four years and teaches across the primary education programmes. She taught in primary schools in Devon for 14 years and was Head of School for 8 years.


Fees and funding

Fees UK students: £9,250


Fees for International students: £13,000


This fee covers your tuition and access to course-specific equipment and facilities, as well associated services including access to the library, study skills support, IT support, student support and wellbeing services and membership of the Student Union. There may be additional costs by course.

Funding available for this course

Our Student Funding Advisors offer confidential and impartial advice about your funding options.

Learn more

More information

For tips about every stage of the teacher training journey, from making your application shine to securing your first teaching role, see the how to get into teaching guide.

Apply now for this course

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