School of Education and Continuing Studies (SECS)

Employability skills and our degrees

Professional degrees

Our professional programmes, from Foundation Degrees in Education Administration, Learning Support, and Early Years; the BA (Hons) Education and Training Studies; and the Early Years Professional Status, have been shaped to fit the needs of employers, current employees and prospective applicants. Often they can be studied alongside a job, and they are taught by lecturers who understand the sectors you want to progress in through their research and experience.  For example, for each of the foundation degrees the course leaders are undertaking doctoral studies in which will enhance their professional practice in relation to current thinking in their areas of expertise, which will in turn help the students on the courses.  For all these part-time courses, the majority of students are already in full or part-time employment.

PGCE training

Our PGCEs provide the skills and knowledge necessary to teach in the UK, with over 80% of our graduates going into teaching work soon after completing their course. We place our trainees in two different schools as part of their training to become a school teacher, and for those who wish to teach in the post-compulsory sector, one placement in a college is provided,  with mentorship schemes and university support as you begin to teach. Even if you choose not to teach, the skills you learn in this process, such as communication and group leadership,   managing your own time and projects efficiently and  development of  excellent written and oral presentation skills,  are highly valued in the employment market.  

Childhood and Youth Studies and Early Childhood Studies

Employability is an integral thread to our BA courses in Childhood and Youth Studies; and Early Childhood Studies, ensuring that you consider the ways in which the knowledge and the skills that you gain while studying here can be framed in terms of the skills employers seek.   Many students are opting to take the LiFE unit as part of their course where they are placed in a setting of their choice, this could be nursery, primary or secondary school, college or youth work to enable them to gain the employability skills they require.  For others on the course, employability skills are gained through the Careers’ unit and through the expertise of the practitioners who are teaching on the courses. You will have developed excellent written and oral presentation skills and you will have managed your own time and projects efficiently which are essential qualities in a graduate and these are transferable skills which can be used in a wide range of career opportunities across the private, public and voluntary sectors.

Graduates from our Childhood and Youth Studies course and the Early Childhood Studies course pursue careers in a wide variety of professions, including early years professions, primary school teachers, social work, and youth offending teams.