PGCE Primary (5-11) with SENDI (PGCE)

About the Course

*PGCE Primary Education with QTS (5-11) with SENDI is Subject to Approval for 2027

We aim to offer successful applicants an interview within 2-4 weeks.

Apply via the GOV.UK website

The PGCE Primary Education (5–11) SENDI gives you the knowledge, skills and classroom experience to become a confident and effective primary teacher. A distinctive feature of the course is its strong focus on inclusive practice and SENDI (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and Inclusion). 

In the 2026 National Student Survey, Liverpool Hope was ranked above all regional competitors in categories including Academic Support, Mental Wellbeing Services, and Assessment and Feedback. Additionally, Liverpool Hope's 2026 Ofsted report highlighted that: "Studying as a trainee primary teacher at Liverpool Hope University means being welcomed, valued, and supported as a professional. Difference and diversity are celebrated at this provider." 

The programme is delivered by experienced and approachable staff who are highly regarded in their field and maintain strong links with schools, offering a supportive and professional learning community. 

A key feature of the course is 20 days of intensive training and practice (ITaPs), providing structured opportunities to accelerate your professional growth. Alongside this, you will develop subject expertise and engage in Professional Studies, ensuring your practice is rooted in theory, research and practical classroom application. 

Trainees are assessed against the Liverpool Hope ITE Curriculum at four review points across the year, ensuring progress towards the Teachers’ Standards by the end of the course. Alongside this, trainees complete two master’s-level assignments, designed to deepen subject knowledge, strengthen pedagogy and encourage critical reflection linked to classroom practice

Safer Recruitment Statement.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and/or vulnerable adults, and we expect all trainees to share this commitment. All successful applicants onto our ITE programmes will be subject to appropriate pre-course checks in line with DfE requirements, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, verification of identity, and references.

Curriculum Overview

*Please note the full curriculum for PGCE Primary Education with QTS (5-11) with SENDI will be available soon.

The full-time course is particularly intensive. Students are timetabled for study across a number of areas including Professional Studies (covering principles of education) and curriculum areas such as English, Mathematics, Science, ICT, History, Geography, Art, Music, P.E and R.E all with a focus on SENDI and adaptive teaching.

As part of the course, students are expected to engage, on a variety of levels, with the course content and materials. Many of the sessions require active participation through, for example, dance and games in P.E. sessions, songs, games and practical activities in English, maths and science, and exploration of the local environment in R.E, history and geography. In contrast to this, you will be expected to have some familiarity with accessing library and online resources to support your research into different aspects of primary education in preparation for the completion of the assignments.

Formal assessment of the course takes place through observations of students' teaching, and their successful completion of assignments based on assessment and curriculum design. Linking theory and practice is a key feature of the course. Students also undertake a number of curriculum and wider professional-based tasks.

Professional Studies

This part of the programme covers general aspects of becoming a teacher. It is largely lecture-based supported by discussion-based seminars with an assigned personal academic tutor (PAT). Professional Studies develops the student teacher's knowledge and understanding of a range of key issues in education.

Enhancement Opportunities

Work Placement Opportunities Approximately half of the course is spent in school where the training continues and students are given opportunities to develop and extend their skills, meet with SENDCOs and work with SEND children. Both within university and in school, time is built in for students to meet with their tutors on a one-to-one basis to discuss their professional development.

School experience covers block placements in both key stages one and two. In addition, students with complete enhancement days in an alternative key stage. 

Enhancement Opportunities

Work Placement Opportunities

Approximately half of the course is spent in school where the training continues and students are given opportunities to develop and extend their skills. Both within university and in school, time is built in for students to meet with their tutors on a one-to-one basis to discuss their professional development.

School experience covers block placements in both key stages one and two. In addition, students are expected to complete a placement in an Early Years class and a Special Educational Needs setting.

Entry Requirements

PGCE applications available here

A minimum of a Second-Class Honours degree in a relevant discipline awarded by a UK university, or an equivalent higher education qualification.

Applicants should highlight how their degree subject relates to the primary National Curriculum.

GCSE Grade C or above in English, Mathematics and Science (Grade 4 or above in the new grading system). These can be pending but required before enrolment.

Alternative equivalency tests or assessments for English, mathematics and science (where required) may be considered to meet the GCSE requirements.  Please contact us for further information if you hold, or intend to apply for, an equivalency test or assessment.

Relevant experience in a school setting is beneficial for your application, but not essential.

Offers will be subject to a successful interview, as well as a Health Check Statement and an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (formally the Criminal Records Bureau – CRB).

International Entry Requirements

Non-UK applicants should achieve a minimum score of 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each sub-skill in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) assessment or an equivalent assessment.

Home Fees

Tuition fees for Home students for 2027/28 are £10,050*.

*Tuition fees are subject to inflation-linked increases in line with government policy. Updated fees will be confirmed in line with the maximum fee cap set by the Government or the Office for Students (OfS) for each academic year. This means your fee may increase for each academic year of study, but only up to the maximum amount permitted for that year.

Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest-rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.

International Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for International students for 2027/28 are £17,325

Additional Costs

You may be expected to cover the cost of travelling to and from your placement. Costs vary depending on location.

Funding your studies

Loans

Funding is available to help you train to teach. You can apply for a:

• Tuition fee loan of up to £9,790 to cover your teacher training, so you do not need to pay course fees upfront
• Maintenance loan of up to £12,345 to help with living costs

You can still apply for a tuition fee and a maintenance loan if you already have a student loan, and regardless of whether you get a teaching bursary or scholarship.

You will only have to make loan repayments once you’re earning. Your repayments will not increase if you already have a student loan and take an additional loan for teacher training.

Scholarships & Bursaries

You may be eligible for a teaching bursary or scholarship when training to teach.

These are tax-free amounts of money you receive to train in certain subjects. You do not need to pay them back.

You’ll need a first, 2:1, 2:2 degree or a PhD or master’s degree to be eligible for a bursary, as well as meeting the bursary scheme’s individual terms and conditions.

Find out more about your eligibility for teacher training bursaries here

Careers

We aim to promote your understanding of the nature and theories of learning as well as of child development. We will challenge you to become a creative classroom practitioner in all subject areas and give you the skills to respond to the challenges of being a primary teacher.

The Teachers’ Standards support the training, assessment and award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Qualified Teacher Status is awarded to graduates who have been judged to have met all of the Teachers’ Standards in practice in the primary age phase.