Primary Education Universities
University course discussion for undergraduate Education and Social Work.
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Primary Education Universities
Hi I'm new

I've recently been looking at the different universities that do courses for Primary Education and I've sort of narrowed it down to 5 that I am quite interested into looking further into. They are;
Leeds Metropolitan, Manchester Metropolitan, Nottingham Trent, Derby and Worcester.
I was wondering if anyone had any advice, whether they had done the course or if the university is good or not.
Thanks. -
Re: Primary Education Universities
Just now posted to a thread related to your question. My advice would be nottingham. It's actually a collective advice that I came up after researching for sometime. Goto all these univs, have a walk, feel the breeze. Find what you are suitable to. Get to that university. Keep on analyzing makes us a decision-paralytic. So it's better to go with public opinion at cases if we are really stuck up on choices
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Re: Primary Education UniversitiesJust now posted to a thread related to your question. My advice would be nottingham. It's actually a collective advice that I came up after researching for sometime. Goto all these univs, have a walk, feel the breeze. Find what you are suitable to. Get to that university. Keep on analyzing makes us a decision-paralytic. So it's better to go with public opinion at cases if we are really stuck up on choices(Original post by hallyy7)
Hi I'm new
I've recently been looking at the different universities that do courses for Primary Education and I've sort of narrowed it down to 5 that I am quite interested into looking further into. They are;
Leeds Metropolitan, Manchester Metropolitan, Nottingham Trent, Derby and Worcester.
I was wondering if anyone had any advice, whether they had done the course or if the university is good or not.
Thanks.
Last edited by nekha123; 16-07-2012 at 16:35. -
Re: Primary Education Universities
Hi

Have you looked into the University of Cumbria? I'm heading there in a few months. Its a nice campus atmosphere, plus its renowned for its primary education courses. Its okay if you have, and its not your thing...just a suggestion. x
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WHY THE BAD REP?Last edited by buildalegohouse; 09-07-2012 at 07:39. -
Re: Primary Education UniversitiesI haven't looked at Cumbria, I shall have a look into it(Original post by buildalegohouse)
Hi
Have you looked into the University of Cumbria? I'm heading there in a few months. Its a nice campus atmosphere, plus its renowned for its primary education courses. Its okay if you have, and its not your thing...just a suggestion. x
x
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Re: Primary Education UniversitiesManchester does look pretty good, I think I'll be going to an open day soon to have a look.(Original post by affinity89)
Man Met has a fantastic reputation for teacher training and has had for decades.
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Re: Primary Education UniversitiesHi, I will be starting at the University of Derby this September, and i would defiantly suggest applying there(Original post by hallyy7)
Hi I'm new
I've recently been looking at the different universities that do courses for Primary Education and I've sort of narrowed it down to 5 that I am quite interested into looking further into. They are;
Leeds Metropolitan, Manchester Metropolitan, Nottingham Trent, Derby and Worcester.
I was wondering if anyone had any advice, whether they had done the course or if the university is good or not.
Thanks.
What i have seen from Derby so far is BRILLIANT, i LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! So, i would suggest them to you, but i guess i am a little bias :L They do have great records etc. and the National Student Survey rated them as the top Uni in the country to study Primary Ed. (amongst other great stats like 99% employment rate once you leave! etc. etc. (therefore hard to get into). Also, the facilities are brand new and they have recently built primary teaching classrooms etc. so you really get a feel for the atmosphere of a classroom
The Uni itself is also great with lots of newly built facilities like a library, stocked with all the latest education books
The University of Derby Students Union also looks good, with loads of clubs and societies to join, as well as offering students fantastic deals.... They have one now for a ticket to Altern Towers for £22 saving you £21! There is also an Academy bar (also newly built) which has hosted great bands including Girls Aloud, Pendulum, Scouting for Girls and the Sugababes to name a few.
So, as well as being a great course, with a great reputation it is an overall fantastic uni
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Re: Primary Education Universitiesi really agree with this post(Original post by beccamxx)
Hi, I will be starting at the University of Derby this September, and i would defiantly suggest applying there
What i have seen from Derby so far is BRILLIANT, i LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! So, i would suggest them to you, but i guess i am a little bias :L They do have great records etc. and the National Student Survey rated them as the top Uni in the country to study Primary Ed. (amongst other great stats like 99% employment rate once you leave! etc. etc. (therefore hard to get into). Also, the facilities are brand new and they have recently built primary teaching classrooms etc. so you really get a feel for the atmosphere of a classroom
The Uni itself is also great with lots of newly built facilities like a library, stocked with all the latest education books
The University of Derby Students Union also looks good, with loads of clubs and societies to join, as well as offering students fantastic deals.... They have one now for a ticket to Altern Towers for £22 saving you £21! There is also an Academy bar (also newly built) which has hosted great bands including Girls Aloud, Pendulum, Scouting for Girls and the Sugababes to name a few.
So, as well as being a great course, with a great reputation it is an overall fantastic uni
Derby is a Fantastic university
i would also like to add that the lecturers are really supportive and down-to-earth! they will really help you with anything and help you get the most out of the course
The thing i really enjoy is the fact that they have a range of opportunities and things to get involved in.... it isn't just lectures and assignments like some universities. Therefore you get real hands on experience 
P.S Why the hell has this post/person received a negative rating! I think that will be from some jealous person who A. either applied to Derby and didn't get an offer, or, B. someone who is studying Primary Ed. already and is jealous that they are on a worse course.
I honestly do think that it is unfair and childish! If this is not the reason please enlighten me! Oh, and then give me a negative rating to... for questioning your pathetic/childish behavior! -
Re: Primary Education UniversitiesI'm not quite sure I would call them pathetic :L but I would agree that yes, they are childish. However, I have never met said person and so, I could be wrong, but in this instance their actions do suggest a hint of jealously and just a childish attitude given that I was only responding to the question in which the thread was set up for...('I was wondering if anyone had any advice, whether they had done the course or if the university is good or not')(Original post by mizzmegg)
i really agree with this post
Derby is a Fantastic university
i would also like to add that the lecturers are really supportive and down-to-earth! they will really help you with anything and help you get the most out of the course
The thing i really enjoy is the fact that they have a range of opportunities and things to get involved in.... it isn't just lectures and assignments like some universities. Therefore you get real hands on experience 
P.S Why the hell has this post/person received a negative rating! I think that will be from some jealous person who A. either applied to Derby and didn't get an offer, or, B. someone who is studying Primary Ed. already and is jealous that they are on a worse course.
I honestly do think that it is unfair and childish! If this is not the reason please enlighten me! Oh, and then give me a negative rating to... for questioning your pathetic/childish behavior!
Since I am (very nearly) a student of Derby, which was one of the prospective universities that 'hallyy7' is considering i felt is would be useful to share my knowledge and opinion on this uni! So, as 'mizzmegg' asked earlier why have I received a negative rating? -
Re: Primary Education Universities
okay yes, maybe this part was a TINY bit harsh
to be fair, its not entirely false...(Original post by mizzmegg)
your pathetic/childish behavior!
the UOD is a fantastic uni with lots to offer. It's 14th on the league tables for education:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/...uide-education
Which is better than all the unis listed below!
And so giving informed responses to the above question should not result in negatively..... surely you all agree?(Original post by hallyy7)
Hi I'm new
Leeds Metropolitan, Manchester Metropolitan, Nottingham Trent, Derby and Worcester.
I was wondering if anyone had any advice, whether they had done the course or if the university is good or not.
Thanks. -
Re: Primary Education UniversitiesNot arguing over Derby [not least because my friend has recently finished her pgce there and loved it], but I don't think league tables are the way to go. Depending on the table, places vary massively. Eg, Derby is 47 on the Complete Uni Guide for education: http://www.thecompleteuniversityguid...gs?s=Education. And, really, you want to look at things like Ofsted for teacher training and the partnership links they have established.(Original post by mizzmegg)
okay yes, maybe this part was a TINY bit harsh
to be fair, its not entirely false...
the UOD is a fantastic uni with lots to offer. It's 14th on the league tables for education:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/...uide-education
Which is better than all the unis listed below!
And so giving informed responses to the above question should not result in negatively..... surely you all agree?
Perhaps someone negged because the thread had been lying dead for over a month? Who knows...
OP - look at the structures of the courses, the partnership links, funding packages etc. Things vary a great deal. I had 3/4 times as much tuition for the foundation subjects as my friend at Derby, for example. Similarly, we had approximately 20 hours more in each of the core subjects than the other universities nearby. When you are paying a lot, you might has well have as much guidance as possible.
Last edited by affinity89; 07-07-2012 at 18:43. -
Re: Primary Education UniversitiesI see what you mean and I do agree, but looking at all aspects of the BEd at Derby, just highlights how good it is for this course.(Original post by affinity89)
but I don't think league tables are the way to go. Depending on the table, places vary massively. Eg, Derby is 47 on the Complete Uni Guide for education: http://www.thecompleteuniversityguid...gs?s=Education. And, really, you want to look at things like Ofsted for teacher training and the partnership links they have establish.
Over the past few years it has been rated as 'outstanding' by ofsted, which is obviously the highest award that can be given. As for partnership links in sure it has lots (but cant be sure of the exact amount). Last year the university got a 99% employment rate with students, and over 50% of these were in partnership schools.
I did lots of research before choosing my firm choice, and idk but derby just seemed a cut above the rest
I do suggest that anyone who is hoping to become a primary school teacher, or any other course for that matter, should defiantly consider Derby
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Re: Primary Education Universities
Again i agree with all that is said above

As for this
I don't know how you would draw that conclusion from Derby, there are lots of teaching hours, so unless you are being overworked, or the course you firend was on didn't require a lot of teaching, I'm not really sure where you are drawing your conclusions from.(Original post by affinity89)
OP - I had 3/4 times as much tuition for the foundation subjects as my friend at Derby, for example. Similarly, we had approximately 20 hours more in each of the core subjects than the other universities nearby.
The university of derby's BEd course is a 9-5 course for 4 days a week (full-time) and 1 half day only for first years. I'm sure that most regular degrees are like 2 1/2 days per week only? Plus Derby starts and finishes (relating to term time) later than other courses i know. Some people will obviously see this as a negative, however, any teaching course will be the same, as not only are you studying a degree, you are also studying for a professional qualification (QTS)!
So, furthermore, i 100% agree that you should consider tuition etc. but 100% disagree with you, in that Derby's tuition doesn't stand well compared to others!
Also, as i have mentioned the lecturers at Derby are sooo supportive, and give you more of their time if and when you need it, unlike a lot of other unis i know. -
Re: Primary Education UniversitiesMy comment regarding the hours spent on the given subjects was related to the pgce course [admittedly] not the undergraduate course, as I didn't spot that this thread was in the undergrad forum. Regarding my point, however, it does stand for the pgce. My friend received 1 or 2 sessions on each foundation subject. On my course, we had 6-8 sessions - not because we were "overworked" but because they wanted us to have a range of practical ideas and hands-on experience. After all, a lot of people on the course had not been in an art lesson since high school etc.(Original post by mizzmegg)
Again i agree with all that is said above
As for this
I don't know how you would draw that conclusion from Derby, there are lots of teaching hours, so unless you are being overworked, or the course you firend was on didn't require a lot of teaching, I'm not really sure where you are drawing your conclusions from.
The university of derby's BEd course is a 9-5 course for 4 days a week (full-time) and 1 half day only for first years. I'm sure that most regular degrees are like 2 1/2 days per week only? Plus Derby starts and finishes (relating to term time) later than other courses i know. Some people will obviously see this as a negative, however, any teaching course will be the same, as not only are you studying a degree, you are also studying for a professional qualification (QTS)!
So, furthermore, i 100% agree that you should consider tuition etc. but 100% disagree with you, in that Derby's tuition doesn't stand well compared to others!
Also, as i have mentioned the lecturers at Derby are sooo supportive, and give you more of their time if and when you need it, unlike a lot of other unis i know.
It is wonderful that you and beccamxx are so enthusiastic about Derby. I hope that enthusiasm remains once you get started lol!
It is obviously good to encourage others to look into the course you are on, but I don't think you are in a position to really suggest the course is better than elsewhere. None of us are. We only have experience of the course we ourselves are on, after all.
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Re: Primary Education UniversitiesI don't think i can say that at any point i have ever said 'Derby is better than XXX university so go there instead' :/ I am simply making the point that when you are going to be studying somewhere for 3, possibly 4 years you want it to be the right choice, right? Y So, how do you make such an important decision? By COMPARING it to other universities, speaking to other current/prospective students, and looking at the facilities etc.(Original post by affinity89)
It is obviously good to encourage others to look into the course you are on, but I don't think you are in a position to really suggest the course is better than elsewhere. None of us are. We only have experience of the course we ourselves are on, after all.
IDK, i think you can easily say if you think a course it good, whether you have been on it or not, by researching the issue well, which tells you a lot
Like i have been on taster days, been in actual sessions of other universities, or just looked around, or researched online, and have come away thinking that is 100% not the place for me! Ok, so this is harsh but i never studied at their university but in my eyes, the uni was rubbish. On the other hand with derby i got the opposite feeling, therefore, drawing the conclusion that it is better than other schools. Maybe that's just me however?


