PRIMARY PGCE 2024-25

Pre- course reading list

Required pre-reading

We would like you to read the following texts before the start of the Primary PGCE in September 2024. These are all documents that will be referred to early in the course. They are all easily accessible – just click on the links to get started.

DfE (2013) The National Curriculum in England Key Stages 1 and 2 framework document (Click the link below).

Primary National Curriculum

Cambridge Assessment International Education (nd.) Getting Started with Reflective Practice. Available at: Getting Started With Reflective Practice

Newmark, B. (2018) What is a professional teacher? Available at: What Is A Professional teacher?

Rosenshine, B. (2012) Principles of Instruction: research-based strategies that all teachers should know. American Educator Available at: Principles of Instruction

Core text

If you are able to invest in one book to support your studies during the Primary PGCE, we would recommend this excellent text. Second hand copies can be bought through Amazon and other booksellers.

Cremin, T. & Burnett, C. (2018) Learning to Teach in the Primary School, 4th ed. Abingdon: Routledge ISBN 1138211060

Further reading

The Primary PGCE course will include opportunities for you to revise your subject knowledge but many trainees find it is helpful to spend some time reading before our course starts. Your local public library is likely to have a good selection of books you could use for revision, especially in English, mathematics and science. The following books are suggestions from us; all of these can also be used for reference during the PGCE course.

Please note that it is not a requirement that you read all of these texts. However, we recommend you choose a variety of texts which will support your own interests and emerging needs.

Primary PGCE 2024-25 Summer Reading

Every primary teacher will benefit from reading a wide range of children’s literature, and we’ve chosen some of our favourite books for you to sample before the course starts. 

Most are children’s books, covering the age range 3 to 12. The majority would be good books to use in the primary classroom, but some would be too challenging for this age range. All of them have been chosen because we feel they will help you think about the reality of some children’s lives, or they will broaden your general knowledge. Some can be read in a few minutes, some will take you several days, and some are for dipping into (the number of pages gives you some idea). There are stories, poems and ideas from every continent, and they should all be available from your local library. 

Please read as many books as you can. This will help you develop an understanding of the wide range of children’s literature to begin to be able to promote a love of literature to children. During the primary course you will have the opportunity to discuss the books you have read. You may like to set up an account with GoodReads, to help with building your subject knowledge of children’s literature. 

We would love to know about your favourite children’s books – fact, fiction, picture book, poetry, graphic novel – whatever!  Do start thinking about texts you loved as a child and maybe still do.  How would you encourage children to read for pleasure?

We Animals Would Like a Word with You  By John Agard.   (64 pages)  My Name is Mina   by David Almond.   (320 pages)  Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke. (96 pages) Window (A wordless book) By Jeanne Baker. (32 pages) Handa’s Surprise   by Eileen Browne.   (32 pages)  Fair’s Fair   by Leon Garfield.   (48 pages)  Out of India by Jamila Gavin.   (120 pages)  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon.   (272 pages)   The Abominables   by Eva Ibbotson. (272 pages) Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. (217 pages) Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zainib Mian. (224 pages)

We All Went on Safari  by Laurie Krebs and Julia Cairns.   (32 pages)  Pip & Egg By Alex Latimer & David Litchfield (32 pages) The Story Tree   by Hugh Lupton.   (64 pages) The Nowhere Emporium By Ross MacKenzie (278 pages) Wonder  By R.J.Palacio (313 pages) The Firework-Maker’s Daughter by Philip Pullman. (128 pages)  Michael Rosen’s A – Z: The Best children’s poetry from Agard to Zephaniah. The Arrival by Shaun Tan. (132 pages) Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry   by Mildred D. Taylor.   (220 pages)  The Suitcase Kid   by Jacqueline Wilson.   (160 pages)  Refugee Boy   by Benjamin Zephaniah.   (294 pages)

As well as the titles listed on the previous page, please read some traditional tales such as:

Cinderella, The Gingerbread Man, The Hare and the Tortoise, Hansel and Gretel. Also, please read some stories/poems from at some of these authors:           

John Agard	Oliver Jeffers
Anthony Browne	Geraldine McCaughrean
Lauren Child	Michael Morpurgo
Joseph Coelho	Grace Nicolls
Cressida Cowell	Dav Pilkey
Julia Donaldson	Philip Pullman
Anne Fine	Onjali Q Rauf
Jamila Gavin	Philip Reeve
Mini Grey	Michael Rosen
Shirley Hughes	Marcus Sedgwick
Ted Hughes	Jeremy Strong
Eva Ibbotson	Jacqueline Wilson
Rose Impey	Benjamin Zephaniah

English

Bearne, E., & Reedy, D. (2018) Teaching Primary English – Subject Knowledge and Classroom

Practice, Routledge ISBN 9781138681569

CPG Books, (2020) KS2 English: Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling Study Book (for the 2022 tests) ISBN: 978-1847621658

Medwell, J., Wray, D., Moore, G.E., Griffiths, V. (2021) Primary English: Knowledge and

Understanding (9th Ed. Achieving QTS Series). Learning Matters ISBN: 978-1529709780

Waugh, D., Jolliffe, W. and Allott, K. (2020) Primary English for Trainee Teachers, 3rd Ed. London, Sage ISBN: 978-1526491619

Mathematics

Griffiths, R., Back, J. and Gifford, S. (2016) Making numbers: Using manipulatives to teach arithmetic. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press ISBN 978-0198375616

Haylock, D. & Manning, R. (2019) Mathematics Explained for primary teachers (6th ed.) Sage ISBN 9781526423207 [NB We have requested this book to be digitised. It may be available electronically through the library at the start of the course but this is not yet confirmed.]

Mooney, C., Hansen, A., Ferrie, L., Fox, S. & Wrathmell, R. (2021) Primary Mathematics: Knowledge and Understanding Learning Matters (9th ed.) ISBN 9781526440525

Mooney, C., Briggs, M., Hansen, A., McCullough, J. & Fletcher, M., (2021) Primary Mathematics: Teaching Theory and Practice Learning Matters (9th ed.) ISBN 9781526439154

Science

Teaching primary science

Harlen, W. (2018) The teaching of science in primary schools (7th ed.) Fulton. ISBN: 978-1138225725

Cross, B. & Bowden, A. (2014) Essential Primary Science: A toolkit. McGraw-Hill Education. ISBN: 0335263348

Relevant science subject knowledge

Devereux, J. (2007) Science for Primary and Early Years: Developing Subject Knowledge (2nd ed.) SAGE. ISBN: 9781412946124

Farrow, S. (2017) The Really Useful Science Book: A Framework of Knowledge for Primary Teachers (4th ed.) Routledge. ISBN: 978-1138192089

Academic

Graham-Matheson, L. (2015) Essential Theory for Primary Teachers: An introduction for busy trainees. London: Routledge.

Wyse, D. & Cowan, K. (2017) The Good Writing Guide for Education Students. 4th ed. London: Sage.