Learning to become a teacher isn’t just about what happens in lectures and seminars. At Edge Hill, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to put your learning into practice in real educational settings, building your skills and confidence as you go.
Our Professional Practice placements are an important part of becoming an Edge Hill Education Professional.
You’ll gradually take on more responsibility as you progress, giving you the chance to see what teaching is really like, work with children and young people, and put the ideas you’ve explored at university into practice.
You’ll experience different educational settings and communities, helping you understand that no two classrooms are exactly the same. And while you’re developing your skills, you’ll have experts around you to offer advice, feedback and support.
What happens during Professional Practice?
Your placements are designed to build as you progress through your training. You’ll draw on what you’ve already learned, while developing new skills and taking on greater responsibility.
You might begin by observing experienced teachers and getting to know the routines, values and expectations of your placement setting. As your confidence grows, you’ll have opportunities to work more directly with children and young people and develop your own teaching practice.
You’ll also have the chance to reflect on what you’ve experienced and think about what worked, what you could do differently and what you’d like to try next. This helps you connect your university learning with what you’re seeing and doing in practice.
And you won’t be left to work it all out alone. You’ll have a dedicated mentor in your placement setting, alongside a university link tutor. They’ll provide guidance, feedback and support throughout your Professional Practice experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed my placements. I fully immersed myself when starting at my placement schools. I wanted to continually develop and better my teaching so asked lots of questions and worked hard to get the most out of my placement experience. My last placement school offered me a teaching job!
– Lydia Wakeham, PGCE Primary Education with QTS
Where could I complete my placement?
Edge Hill has an extensive partnership network of schools and other educational settings, giving you the opportunity to experience different environments and communities during your training.
Your placements are selected to support your development and build on your previous experience, helping you see how teaching and learning can look different depending on the setting and the needs of the children and young people you’re working with.
This variety can be one of the most valuable parts of your training. It gives you the opportunity to develop your adaptability, broaden your experience and discover more about the kind of educator you want to become.
Explore education beyond the classroom
Your experience doesn’t have to stop at mainstream school settings. Through Education Enhancement Opportunities, including initiatives such as the Widening Opportunities Enhancement Programme, you can meet professionals working across a range of educational settings.
Depending on the opportunities available, these could include museums, children’s homes, hospital schools, special schools, community organisations and alternative provision.
These experiences can help you understand more about the different circumstances, experiences and needs that can affect children’s learning and wellbeing. They also give you the chance to meet professionals working in different parts of the education sector and learn from their experience.
There may also be opportunities to take part in international education experiences, giving you the chance to see different approaches to education and broaden your understanding of learning beyond the UK.
My placement played a significant role in preparing me for employment. It gave me practical experience and allowed me to demonstrate my teaching ability, professionalism and commitment in a real school environment.
– Delasi Hottor, PGCE Secondary Education with QTS
Learn from experienced teachers through Intensive Training and Practice (ITaP)
Alongside your Professional Practice placements, you’ll take part in Intensive Training and Practice (ITaP). Through ITaP, you’ll develop the knowledge and practical skills you need to become an Edge Hill Education Professional.
ITaP gives you focused opportunities to work on specific aspects of teaching alongside expert mentors, university tutors and experienced practitioners.
You’ll have the chance to observe, practise, receive feedback and try again – helping you build confidence in important areas of teaching and understand how different approaches work in real educational settings.
It’s a chance to learn from people who have experience of teaching, ask questions and explore some of the challenges you might encounter in the classroom.
Most importantly, you can take what you learn from these experiences back into your training, continuing to develop your teaching practice as you progress.
How much support will I get?
Starting a placement can feel exciting, but it’s understandable if you feel nervous too. You’re taking what you’ve learned at university and putting it into practice with real children and young people.
That’s why support is such an important part of Professional Practice.
You’ll have an experienced mentor in your placement setting, as well as a university link tutor and personal academic tutor who can help you throughout your training. You’ll receive feedback on your progress and have opportunities to talk through your experiences, ask questions and work out what you want to focus on next.
As you become more confident, you’ll gradually take on more responsibility. The aim is to help you develop your skills while knowing that there are people around you who can support you along the way.
My placement experience was invaluable in preparing me for my teaching career. The support and guidance I received from experienced colleagues helped me grow as a teacher and refine my skills in planning, behaviour management, and adapting lessons to meet pupils’ needs.
– Melissa Tindall, PGCE Primary Education with QTS
Could a placement help me get a job?
Your Professional Practice experiences aren’t just about completing your training. They’re also an opportunity to build relationships with schools and other educational settings and start developing your professional network.
Many trainees build strong relationships with their placement settings, and some go on to secure employment there after graduation.
Whether you eventually work in a school, another educational setting or somewhere else in the sector, the experience you gain during your training can help you feel more prepared for the next step in your career.
Ready to put your learning into practice?
From your first experiences observing teaching to taking on more responsibility yourself, Professional Practice gives you the opportunity to experience life in education for yourself.
You’ll learn from experienced professionals, try things out, reflect on your experiences and build your confidence along the way – all helping you develop into the Edge Hill Education Professional you’re working towards becoming.
Because becoming a great teacher isn’t just about learning what to do. It’s about having the opportunity to practise, ask questions, learn from others and find your own way of making a difference.
October 14, 2026
