Our Clearing phone lines are now closed for the weekend - click here to request a call back.

Why study this course

Earn while you learn on this work-based programme

National Student Survey for 2021 showed 91% overall satisfaction with the Professional Studies programme

Study with the support from a research active academic team who have relevant practice experience

Progressing into Teaching? FREE pre-teaching course and guaranteed interview for PGCE

Course summary

Are you ready to develop a better understanding of the complex factors that can prevent children from reaching their potential? Our BA (Hons) Education in Practice course is designed for you if you are working and supporting children in primary, secondary and special schools, or learners in further education colleges, and have a suitable Foundation Degree or diploma. It is one of the natural top up degrees from our Education in Practice Foundation Degree.

Key facts


Award

BA (Hons)

UCAS code

X302

Duration

1 year

Mode of study

Full-time

Start date

September

Awarding institution

Bishop Grosseteste University

Institution code

B38

Course details

About this course

This programme is the natural progression for applicants who have obtained BGU’s Foundation Degree Education in Practice. It is also open to applicants with other, similar qualifications from BGU and other institutions. It will enable you to gain a Bachelor’s Degree whilst you continue to work or volunteer regularly, in an Education setting. This work-based degree programme offers a combination of practice-based learning and weekly, campus-based teaching sessions. Throughout the one-year programme, you will integrate your previous study and experience of working in an education context, to develop a deeper understanding of current issues, education practice and practitioner research. This programme welcomes applicants from primary and secondary education, as well as the lifelong learning sector, with the emphasis on formal education.

Whilst studying for this undergraduate degree you will remain in employment, or as a volunteer in a relevant setting, such as a school.

This course offers opportunities to critically evaluate practice through a detailed analysis of the systems, procedures and changes in your field of work and study. The modules will promote your professional formation as a reflective practitioner, and cover topics such as leading people and teams, contemporary issues (such as current political and social trends) and critical approaches to pedagogy. In addition, you will undertake an independent research study. This will support your continuing development toward becoming a graduate practitioner in the Education sector.

The BA (Hons) Education in Practice is aimed at applicants who are employed (or volunteering) as Teaching Assistants or have other support roles in schools or colleges. They usually work alongside qualified teachers, to support learning and teaching for children, young people or adults, including learners who have additional needs. Where possible, Education in Practice students might collaborate with students from other, related degree courses who work in a variety of contexts such as early childhood and youth services. This helps to broaden their perspectives of the wider education landscape, in which they work.

Entry requirements

Applicants will typically have 240 HE credits from a Foundation degree or a HE Diploma in a relevant field of study.

Applicants are expected have a current (or prospective) voluntary or paid employment in a relevant setting for a minimum of 360 hours per academic year equating to 12 hours per week of study.

Typically, applicants are expected to have three years of experience in a voluntary or paid role working with children.

Students must complete and submit a workplace agreement that sets out the tripartite partnership between the student, the setting and the BGU and clearly identifies the student holds a current DBS as a condition of enrolment.

Applicants with alternative qualifications can contact our Admissions team for advice as BGU is committed to widening access and participation and adheres to a strict policy of non-discrimination.

Further information

Click here for important information about this course including additional costs, resources and key policies.

In accordance with University conditions, students are entitled to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning, RP(C)L, based on relevant credit at another HE institution or credit Awarded for Experiential Learning, (RP(E)L). If you’ve recently completed or studied a particular module as part of a previous qualification, this may mean that you’re not required to undertake a particular module of your BGU course. However, this must be agreed in writing and you must apply for this.

How you will be taught

This course allows you to study and continue to work. It is a flexible qualification covering the issues in Foundation, Primary, Secondary and the Lifelong Learning sector with the emphasis on formal education. Students undertaking the course remain in employment, or as volunteers, over the academic year in the same manner as the Foundation Degree.

The Top Up Degree offers opportunities to critically evaluate practice through a detailed analysis of the systems, procedures and changes that contribute to your field of study. This course will promote your professional formation as a reflective practitioner and modules will cover topics such as leading people and teams, promoting quality, new models of practice and contemporary issues such as current political and social trends.

In addition, the undertaking of an independent research study will support your continuing development as a leading practitioner.

Assessment

A variety of assessment methods are used including presentations, discussions, debates, poster presentations, essays, portfolios of work, case studies and reflections. All assessments allow you to reflect on your practice and theory as you evidence your learning, building on your personal strengths to develop clear communication skills to share your knowledge and understanding.

Careers & Further study

Graduate opportunities have enabled our students to attain managerial positions within their sector, to lead practice with their setting. Many go on to further study to become teachers through our PGCE routes, or gain a professional status. Others take on professional roles in areas such as special educational needs, mentoring, subject support, school, family and welfare liaison roles in the wider educational community and with local authorities working with the full range of age groups and sectors.

The completion of the BA (Hons) Education in Practice degree can lead to teacher training, advanced support roles and team leadership in Education settings, or further study at Master's Degree level.

What Our Students Say

Discover what life is like at Bishop Grosseteste University from our students.

Support

Studying at BGU is a student-centred experience. Staff and students work together in a friendly and supportive atmosphere as part of an intimate campus community. You will know every member of staff personally and feel confident approaching them for help and advice, and staff members will recognise you, not just by sight, but as an individual with unique talents and interests.

We will be there to support you, personally and academically, from induction to graduation.

Free Sports and Fitness membership

Fees & Finance

A lot of student finance information is available from numerous sources, but it is sometimes confusing and contradictory. That’s why at BGU we try to give you all the information and support we can to help to throughout the process. Our Student Advice team are experts in helping you sort out the funding arrangements for your studies, offering a range of services to guide you through all aspects of student finance step by step.

Click here to find information about fees, loans and support which will help to make the whole process a little easier to understand.

Undergraduate course applicants must apply via UCAS using the relevant UCAS code. For 2023 entry, the application fee is £27, and you can make a maximum of 6 choices. For 2024 entry the application fee is £27.50.
For all applicants, there are full instructions at UCAS to make it as easy as possible for you to fill in your online application, plus help text where appropriate.

Ethical considerations of doctoral methodologies Podcast

Dr Nyree Nicholson is a Programme Leader on our work-based Foundation Degree programmes. The title of her doctoral research was “Supporting children with identified speech, language and communication needs at two-years-old: voices of early years practitioners”. Nyree utilised a narrative hermeneutic methodology with conversational interviews to explore the lived experiences of fifteen early years practitioners.

Samantha Hoyes is a senior lecturer in Early Childhood Studies and is currently part way through her PhD. Her focus is on working motherhood in the 21st Century and how working mothers make sense of their identities. Applying a post-structuralist feminist approach, Sam has utilised photo elicitation interviews to explore working mothers lived experiences. Sam's sample will consist of 10-15 working mothers living in Lincolnshire with a child/ children aged 0-5 years at the time of data collection. She is currently around halfway through her initial data collection.

In this podcast, Nyree and Sam discuss the methodological approaches taken in the research process and share the ethical considerations they encountered throughout the research process.

For any more question or queries please contact Samantha.hoyes@bishopg.ac.uk and nyree-anne.nicholson@bishopg.ac.uk