BA (Hons) Education and Pastoral Practice
BA (Hons) Education and Pastoral Practice
Award
BA (Hons)
Start Date
To be confirmed
Duration
3 years
Mode
Full-time
Location
University of Greater Manchester
UCAS Code
X390
Our BA (Hons) in Education and Pastoral Practice develops undergraduate skills and knowledge in the essential areas of behavioural management, pastoral care, educational coaching, inclusive practice, and safeguarding.
Course Overview
Pastoral support roles in schools are at their highest levels since records began. The new category of non-teaching pastoral leadership roles was recently added to the DfE census, indicating that schools see pastoral leadership and student well-being as increasingly important.The University of Greater Manchester's BA (Hons) Education and Pastoral Practice degree course is the country's first undergraduate pastoral practice degree course. It offers you a unique opportunity to develop the essential skills for graduates wishing to work in education as an alternative route to training to teach.
In addition, if you wish to go on to teacher training, you will have highly valued degree-level skills and knowledge in key areas such as behaviour management, pastoral care and safeguarding.
Highlights
- Our Education courses are first in the North West of England for student satisfaction and graduate prospects, according to the Complete University Guide 2026.
- This is the first education degree course in the UK to specialise in pastoral practice.
- Small class sizes mean a more keenly focused attention on your learning needs and strategies for success.
- You'll be studying at a university known for its friendly atmosphere and get to learn alongside students from a variety of backgrounds, each with an individual and unique perspective on education.
- Our professional and approachable tutors will guide and support you throughout your course, offering attentive one-to-one support.
Key Features
- You'll engage in developing skills and knowledge in pastoral care and the wider educational environment.
- The programme is also designed to help you gain some of the knowledge and experience required for direct entry to initial teacher education courses (QTS) or entry-level employment.
- You'll have the chance to take on a systematic and reflective study of pastoral leadership in schools and create your own action research project.
- You'll be able to take at least one placement opportunity in an educational setting, where you'll observe pastoral leadership, learning and teaching in progress and talk to teachers and students about their roles and experiences.
- You will have the opportunity to take part in exciting research partnerships focused on improving mental health in children.
- By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Manchester, one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, is less than 20 minutes away by train. Not forgetting, the North West of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline and heritage. This makes the University of Greater Manchester an ideal base from which to explore some of the best cultural and outdoor activities the UK offers.
Entry Requirements
- Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3. Subjects relevant to the study of education are preferred.
- You should also have five GCSEs at grade 4/C or above (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.
- Please note that if you intend to progress to an initial teacher education qualification (PGCE) in Primary teaching after completing this degree, you'll need GCSEs at grade 4/C or above in English Language, Mathematics and Science. If you don't have these qualifications on entry to the BA (Hons) Education and Pastoral Practice, you'll need to achieve these qualifications independently while you study towards the degree. Please be aware that the following Level 2 qualifications are not accepted for entry to a Primary PGCE: Adult Literacy, Adult Numeracy, Functional Skills, Key Skills in Application of Number, and Key Skills in Communication.
- If you don't possess A-levels and/or GCSEs and intend to progress to an initial teacher education qualification (PGCE), especially Primary, after completing this degree, we would strongly recommend contacting individual PGCE course providers to clarify what their entry requirements will be.
- We’d love to have an informal chat with you about this course, either over the phone or in person. If you wish to meet in person, please contact the programme leader to arrange a mutually convenient time. Our open days are an especially good time to visit us and find out more. (While we reserve the right to interview you or ask you to undergo other forms of assessment to determine your suitability for study, it's not our usual practice for this course.)
- This course involves working unsupervised with children and/or vulnerable young people and adults and you must gain an Enhanced Disclosure certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before starting your studies. Charges are payable to cover the cost of the DBS Enhanced Disclosure application and annual registration with the online Update Service.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
On the BA (Hons) Education and Pastoral Practice you'll have the chance to develop specific knowledge and skills surrounding pastoral leadership, educational issues, theories and practice of behaviour management, inclusion, equality and diversity, creativity in education, and a general understanding of pastoral leadership in education within different social, political and economic contexts.
In addition, as a graduate of this degree, you'll possess generic skills that are highly sought-after in a wide range of sectors. These can include communication skills, providing evidence-based written and spoken arguments, ICT, research and analytical skills, problem-solving and self-management.
What can I do with this qualification?
Achieving Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) through completion of a PGCE or equivalent postgraduate qualification is a popular route for education graduates. Or you may prefer to develop a deeper understanding with a master's course in education or a related social science in subjects such as educational management or educational leadership. Ultimately, you might consider a PhD in an education-related subject.
Alternative career options
Graduates can also use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Some of these careers include:
- Education officer
- Family liaison
- Educational psychology
- Educational administration
- Educational writing
- Careers guidance
- Training and development
- Quality standards
- Community engagement
- Youth work
- Social work
- Play therapy
- Human resources
- Publishing
- Market and policy research
- Librarianship
Fees & Funding
Home/EU Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Greater Manchester’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@greatermanchester.ac.uk for more information.
International Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Greater Manchester’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@greatermanchester.ac.uk for more information.
Bursaries
Important note regarding tuition fees: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
Home Undergraduate Tuition Fee Adjustment
The tuition fee applicable to the first year of your programme of study is confirmed in your offer letter. The tuition fee set is based on the regulations and guidance in force at the time of offer but remains subject to adjustment in accordance with any government-approved inflationary increase. The University reserves the right to amend tuition fees for all years of study, including the first year, by no more than the maximum increase permitted under legislation and regulatory guidance issued by the UK Government and the Office for Students.
Where such increases are approved, they will not exceed the rate of inflation, as measured by an appropriate index such as the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), or any successor measure specified by government. The University will apply any adjustment consistently across affected student cohorts and will give reasonable notice to students of any confirmed change to the published fee before the start of the relevant academic year.
This approach ensures that tuition fees remain compliant with applicable legislation, proportionate to inflationary changes, and consistent with government policy linking permitted fee uplifts to the maintenance of high-quality education and outcomes. For more information, please refer to the government guidance at: gov.uk – Universities to deliver better outcomes in return for full fees.
Postgraduate and International Tuition Fee Adjustment
The tuition fee applicable to the first year of your programme of study is confirmed in your offer letter. The University reserves the right to amend tuition fees for subsequent years of study in accordance with its Course Fees Policy. Where such increases are approved, they will not exceed the rate of inflation, as measured by an appropriate index such as the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), or any successor measure specified by government. The University will apply any adjustment consistently across affected student cohorts and will give reasonable notice to students of any confirmed change to the published fee before the start of the relevant academic year.
How to apply
Home Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
International Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
Partner Organisation Applicants
Option currently unavailable.
Teaching & Assessment
Learning and teaching for this course are supported by blended learning using a combination of face-to-face sessions and online resources. We'll help you develop your research skills while you mould your own approach to individual learning and independent research. You'll also have lectures, seminars and group work to help you progress successfully.
Assessment tasks are linked to each module's intended learning outcomes, while course assignments are based on coursework – varying from academic written pieces to e-discussions, presentations and seminars. Assessment tasks involve research exercises and may require you to submit reflective journals and case studies. There are also reflective activities, such as Personal Development Planning (PDP), where using relevant theories and reflective tools will help you relate theory to practice.
All the while, we'll provide feedback on your assignments during tutorials and following presentations. We encourage presentations in some modules so you can familiarise yourself with this important experience.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Developing Skills for Learning
- Theories of Development and Learning
- Creativity Critical Thinking and Culture
- Inclusive Practice and Safeguarding
- Learning Spaces
- Lifelong Core Skills
- Research Proposal
- Placement 1
- Learners with Additional Needs
- Educational Issues, Developments and Policies
- Placement 2
- Behaviour and Attendance
- Working with Multi Agencies and Parents
- Pastoral Leadership
- Skills for the 21st Century
- Professional Project
- Professional Project 2
- Illusion of Inclusion
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 100% |
| Level 2 | Coursework 100% |
| Level 3 | Coursework 100% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 55% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 47% |
| Level 2 | Guided independent study 15% Placement/study abroad 30% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 55% |
| Level 3 | Guided independent study 55% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 45% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
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Programme Contacts
Disclaimer: The “Greater Manchester Way” represents our preferred teaching and learning approach; however, not all courses follow a block-teaching model. While course structures and delivery patterns may vary to meet Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirements, all courses benefit from the GM Way approach to curriculum design and assessment. Applicants and students should refer to individual course specifications for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
