Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: See fees section below
International/EU: £17,725 for the course -
How long will I study?
1 Year
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Where will I study?
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What is the UCAS code?
2MZY
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When do I start?
August 2025
Course summary
- Complete your Primary PE Specialist PGCE in just one year.
- Help children to lead active, healthy and fulfilling lives.
- Put learning into practice with a blend of on-campus, remote and school-based training.
- Complete a diverse range of placements to gain experience, and potentially employment.
- Apply theory, research and evidence to design and deliver engaging learning experiences.
This PGCE Primary Education course is for those who want to specialise in physical education and/or be a curriculum leader for PE in primary schools. Because we’re rated ‘Outstanding’ for our primary teacher status (Ofsted, 2017), you’ll get the highest standard of teaching. You’ll also gain 60 credits towards a Masters qualification.
How you learn
What it's like to study a PGCE course
What it's like to study a PGCE course at the Sheffield Hallam University
We have been rated outstanding by Ofsted across all initial teacher education courses (March 2024). We offer sector leading initial teacher training in early years, primary, secondary and post-16 and we are rated outstanding in all four areas by Ofsted. Inspectors said that ‘trainees access training that is highly ambitious in its vision’ and that ‘trainees feel very well prepared to become future teachers. They show a passion to improve life chances for pupils they teach.’
You’ll join our dynamic community of students, researchers and academics at the Sheffield Institute of Education. We’re one of the UK’s largest providers of teacher training, supporting 1,000 new teachers every year.
Because we partner with more than 600 schools and colleges in the region, you’ll have every opportunity to gain experience and network with leading educational providers.
You learn through:
- School-based learning
- A blended approach to teaching
- Collaboration with other students
- Research-informed practice
- Innovative teaching approaches
Key themes
In addition to a focus on primary PE, our course is designed to provide you with a rich training and teaching experience in the full range of subjects that make up the national curriculum.
You’ll study the core subjects of English, mathematics and science – plus the full range of foundation subjects for Key Stages 1 and 2. Particular emphasis is placed on creative and explorative approaches to teaching.
A large proportion of your studies will be spent in school-based placements where you’ll benefit from working alongside skilled practitioners and PE subject leaders who value collaboration, creativity and inclusive practice.
Course support
You’ll be taught by a close-knit community of qualified and highly experienced teaching staff who take the time to get to know you.
Throughout your time, you’ll receive personalised support, such as:
- Specialist Hallam tutors and school-based mentors.
- Access to specialist support services to help with your personal, academic and career development.
- Access to our Skills Centre with one-to-ones, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments.
- Career support for up to five years after qualifying.
Course leaders and tutors
Sarah Gordon
Senior Lecturer in Primary Education and Early Years, Course leader PGCE in Early Years / Primary EducationLecturer at Sheffield Hallam University
Applied learning
We champion applied learning and have partnered with over 600 schools and colleges so that you can put your learning into practice.
Placements
A large proportion of your studies will be spent in school-based placements where you’ll benefit from working alongside skilled practitioners – who place value on collaboration, creativity and inclusive practice.
You’ll gain experience in a number of settings across Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 environments. To make sure you gain classroom confidence, you’ll have the opportunity to spend at least 120 days in school over the course of your PGCE year.
The PE Specialist course also includes a compulsory two-week summer school module which focuses on developing practice and subject knowledge in primary PE.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in:
- Teaching in primary schools
- Teaching PE as a specialist in primary schools
- Teaching primary PE in international settings
You could also progress to further study at Masters level.
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries, modern cafes and study spaces designed by our students.
Most of our teaching is conducted in person at our City Campus, right in the heart of Sheffield.
Entry requirements
All students
Normally you need:
• GCSE grade C or Grade 4 in English Language and mathematics and science, or equivalent. Where applicants have achieved a GCSE grade 4 or above in English literature only, we will look for further evidence of a breadth of achievement in English.
• A 2.2 degree or above.
• Complete a declaration of criminal convictions and health check forms.
Candidates who are successful will demonstrate a sound understanding of teaching and how children learn, where possible within a school setting. We encourage all candidates to evidence their understanding by drawing on related examples or experiences, such as time spent in schools or other learning settings. Demonstrating an ability to make links between experience and knowledge, and their proposed career would be desirable.
If you are shortlisted, we will invite you to a selection event and you should present a passport or photo driving license. You can present other forms of photo ID for the selection event, but if you do, you will still need to present valid identity documents required by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) prior to starting your course.
If English is not your first language, you must have an IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in all skills or equivalent. For equivalents see our English language entry requirements.
We welcome applications from people seeking a career change into primary teaching. We actively encourage applications from those groups under-represented in teacher education to ensure the teaching profession represents the diverse nature of present-day UK society.
Selection event
If you are shortlisted, we will invite you to a selection event and you should present a passport or photo driving license. You can present other forms of photo ID for the selection event, but if you do, you will still need to present valid identity documents required by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) prior to starting your course.
See our selection event guidance for this course.
If English is not your first language, you must have an IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in all skills or equivalent. For equivalents see our English language entry requirements.
We welcome applications from people seeking a career change into primary teaching. We actively encourage applications from those groups under-represented in teacher education to ensure the teaching profession represents the diverse nature of present-day UK society.
Course enrolment - professional requirements
Before enrolling you must complete all the professional checks that are required as part of entry for the course:
Suitability Declaration
You must fully declare the following information on the pre-admission suitability declaration form provided during the admissions process:
- Unfiltered criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. For further information on unfiltered offences please see the Disclosure and Barring Service website.
- Involvement in disciplinary proceedings during paid or voluntary employment or education establishments.
- Involvement with safeguarding proceedings, social services or related organisations.
- If you have ever been removed from a teacher training programme as a result of your behaviour, or would have been removed if you had not left the programme.
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Criminal Record Check
- You will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal record check prior to or during the enrolment week of your course. This will be provided by the University free of charge.
- You will need to present valid identity documents (PDF) as part of the DBS application process.
- If you have lived outside of the UK for more than six consecutive months in the last five years you must provide an overseas criminal record check. Further information on obtaining an overseas criminal record check.
- Where your DBS Enhanced Disclosure certificate contains any recorded information you must present this to the Academic Administration Team within ten working days of receipt of the certificate.
- In addition to this all those who are made an offer of a place will be checked against the DfE children’s barred list.
Occupational Health Screening
You will need to undertake occupational health screening to determine your suitability to undertake the course. This will be provided by the University free of charge. As part of this assessment you are expected to provide all relevant, truthful and accurate information to ensure a safe environment for yourself and service users.
Other background checks
All applicants that have accepted an offer will also be checked against the prohibition list to ensure you are not:
- Subject to a prohibition order issued by the Secretary of State.
- Prohibited to teach in another country of the European Economic Area (EEA).
If your personal circumstances change in relation to any of the professional requirements, from when you apply to the end of your course, please notify the Academic Administration team immediately by emailing professionalchecks@shu.ac.uk.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
Final year
Compulsory modules
Exploring And Developing Pedagogical Practice In Early Years And/Or Primary Education
Professional Practice In Primary And Physical Education
Reflecting On Professional Practice And Development In Early Years And/Or Primary Education
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fees for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 are regulated by the UK government and are yet to be confirmed. For an indication, our tuition fee for UK students starting this course in 2024/25 is £9,250 for the course.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,725 for the course.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Sheffield Institute of Education (PDF, 255.8KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
