BA (Hons) Education Studies

Program Overview

Wrexham University's BA (Hons) Education Studies program equips students with the knowledge and skills to work with children aged 3-11 years in formal and informal education settings. Through a blend of classroom and online learning, students gain practical experience through placements, develop transferable skills, and contribute to the field through work-based research. The program prepares graduates for careers in teaching, supporting children and families, and working with children with additional learning needs.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Objectives: Unlock potential and make a difference in the fields of formal and informal education.
Gain the knowledge and skills to work with children aged 3-11 years.
• Description: A dynamic and forward-thinking program that offers a gateway to a rewarding career in education.
It focuses on shaping the lives of children aged 3 to 11 years.

Outline:

• Year 1 (Level 4):
• Modules:
• Learning and Teaching in Primary Education (Core):
Introduction to the primary education sector, exploring educational theories, the primary curriculum, holistic needs of children, and reflective practice.
• Contemporary Debates in Childhood and Education (Core): Exploring societal and environmental influences on childhood and education, including topics like mental health, technology, sustainability, race, gender, and poverty.
• Psychology of Childhood (Core): Developing a psychological understanding of child development and considering how adults influence children's thinking, feelings, and interactions with the world.
• Professional Practice for Childhood and Education (Core): Preparation for placement by exploring workplace expectations, conduct, attitudes, health and safety, safeguarding, and ethics of working with children.
Focus on future career goals. Includes a 6-week placement in practice.
• Skills for Study and Employability (Core): Building study and employability skills.
Developing digital technology skills for studies and employment.
• Year 2 (Level 5):
• Social Action – Supporting Children and Families in Society (Core): Exploring informal education, the role of society in supporting children and families, volunteering, and various voluntary organizations like Children's University and HomeStart.
• Children’s Rights and the Law (Core): Understanding the legal framework underpinning children's rights, critical debates around the UNCRC, and practical support for children's rights in various settings.
• Practice Informed Research (Core): Exploring the meaning and purpose of practice-informed research.
Choosing a research topic, obtaining ethical approval, and collecting primary research data for the dissertation.
• Year 3 (Level 6):
• Modules:
• Comparative Education: International Perspectives (Core):
Exploring international education and the economic, political, social, and historical forces shaping education globally.
• Exploring Expressive Arts (Core): Exploring the role of expressive arts in education and childhood, including cultural and historical contexts, and their role in promoting social justice and equality for all children.
• Leadership and Professional Development (Core): Exploring leadership in practice, shadowing a practitioner with leadership responsibility during a 3-week placement.
Focusing on personal professional development in relation to future employment.
• Dissertation (Core): Completing a research dissertation based on primary research data collected in Year 2.

Assessment:

• Methods: A range of assessment methods are used, including case studies, handouts, posters, observations, portfolios, presentations, essays, reports, and a dissertation at Level 6.
• Criteria: Assignments are designed to develop skills and writing techniques relevant for future employment or study.

Teaching:

• Methods: A blend of classroom and online learning.
Classroom sessions include activity, discussion, and group work. Online materials are used for preparation, follow-up work, and research.
• Part-time Study: Flexible study mode options for part-time students, including classroom study, online learning through Moodle, or a combination of both.
Regular on-campus or online meetings with tutors outside of work hours for 100% online students.

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths: The program prepares students for a variety of careers in the education sector, including:
• Working with children aged 3-11 years
• Teaching (through PGCE or PcET qualifications)
• Supporting children and families
• Working in early childhood settings
• Supporting children with additional learning needs
• Opportunities: The program provides opportunities for students to:
• Gain practical experience through placements
• Develop transferable skills sought after by employers
• Network with professionals and potential employers

Other:

• Placement Experience: Students undertake three placements:
• Level 4:
6 weeks, 2 days per week (84 hours) - Focus on exploring and experiencing professional competencies in practice.
• Level 5: 8 weeks, 3 days per week (168 hours) - Focus on engaging with authentic research ideas and collecting primary research data.
• Level 6: 3 weeks, 3 days per week (63 hours) - Focus on observing leadership skills and considering personal professional development in relation to future employment.
• Placement Settings: Placements can include schools, nurseries, local authorities (e.g., Child Prevention and Support Service and Flying Start), third sector organizations (e.g., Home Start, Action for Children, Save the Family), and the private sector (e.g., Residential Homeless Support for Families and Residential Family Assessment Centres).
• Part-time Placement: Part-time students will use their normal place of work to complete their placement hours.
• Additional Training: Opportunities for additional training and qualifications to enhance CVs, such as Outdoor Learning, Makaton, and Paediatric First Aid.
• Flexible Learning Environment: The program emphasizes an inclusive and flexible learning environment, supported by friendly and experienced staff committed to student growth and success.
• Work-based Research: Students conduct authentic work-based research on a topic of their choice over two years of study, contributing uniquely to the field of education.