What does education really look like beyond your own school experience? This module opens new perspectives on how education works, with a particular focus on secondary schools.

Starting with your own experiences, you’ll explore what education means, how it differs from schooling, and how its purpose has evolved over time. You’ll examine how education is shaped locally, nationally, and globally- through the English National Curriculum and a range of alternative approaches, including SEND provision, Montessori, and other progressive models.

With regular school visits, you’ll see secondary education in action, exploring how teachers plan, support diverse learners, and respond to issues such as inclusion, safeguarding, and sustainability. You’ll also consider education from different viewpoints - including students, teachers, families, and wider society.

Broaden your perspective, build your academic skills, and take your first step towards a career in secondary education.

How does microbiology govern our world? In this module you will learn the basic principles of microbiology, before exploring the interplay between microbes, ourselves, and the wider environment.

Explore the fascinating inner workings of cells, giving you a foundation in areas such as cell biology, molecular biology and biochemistry.

This module explores the “Big Questions” in Education, drawing on key thinkers and theorists from across many periods of history and diverse locations across the globe. It will prepare you for undertaking your own research later in the degree, and provide broad horizons to challenge some of your preconceptions and expectations about education.

Why did sex evolve? Why do we die? What is a species? How can evolutionary medicine help us? This module will provide you with an understanding of how life on earth came to be what it is, from genes to species. Without evolution, nothing in biology makes sense.

Following focused input from your lecturers, this module provides the opportunity to explore a particular topic of interest to you, supported by a tutor. Whether you want to learn more about child development, pedagogy, approaches to behavior management or an aspect of the school curriculum, you will be supported to develop critical insights into real life practice.

What if you could gain real classroom experience while developing the skills to become a reflective educator? This module gives you the opportunity to take part in an extended paid or voluntary work placement and bring your learning to life.

Whether you choose a local school, an alternative setting, or even an international experience, you’ll immerse yourself in environments that support children’s learning and development. Along the way, you’ll observe teaching in action and explore how theory, policy, and pedagogy shape real educational practice.

A key focus of the module is reflection. You’ll learn how to use professional reflective models to critically evaluate your experiences, developing the mindset and skills needed to grow as a thoughtful, adaptable practitioner.

Gain valuable experience, think like a professional, and take a confident step towards your future in teaching.

In this module you will hone your skills in reflective practice, reflecting on contributions from a variety of speakers and experts in addition to visits to a range of learning settings for children of different ages. This will include both formal and informal learning settings.

How do scientists uncover the secrets hidden within our genes? This module explores the powerful tools and ideas behind modern molecular genetics and genomics.

Using a problem-based approach, you’ll investigate current debates in genetics while learning how researchers analyse genetic data and study gene function in the laboratory. The module focuses on eukaryotic systems and builds on the genetic foundations introduced earlier in the programme.

A week-long immersive laboratory project gives you hands-on experience of modern molecular techniques – such as using RNA interference to alter gene expression – mirroring the way real research is conducted.

Step into the molecular laboratory and discover how genetic science is used to understand, and change, the living world.