Education
Meet the Dean
Learn about studying an Education degree. Our Dean Barnaby Lenon taught at Eton for 12 years, was the deputy head of Highgate School, head of Trinity School Croydon and head of Harrow. He helped establish the London Academy of Excellence in East London, where he is also chairman of governors. He is also chairman of the Independent Schools Council and has been a governor of 16 state and independent schools. He is also a director of the New Schools Network. He was a member of the board of Ofqual during the implementation of the Gove reforms to GCSEs and A-levels and is now on their Standards Advisory Committee.
He has written six books including, recently, Much Promise about high-achieving state schools and Other People’s Children about the least academic 50% in England.
Education degrees
The University of Buckingham Education degrees and teacher training courses are amongst the most successful and accessible in the country. With over 1,000 teachers and school leaders studying with us this year, we are one of the country’s leading providers of teacher training and professional development.
Our primary aim in all of our Education degrees and courses is to improve teaching and leadership in schools. The frameworks and assessments for each course weave into your day-to-day school lives, so that study and practice are relevant to your role and aspirations.
Many of our courses are online. For those that are not, courses are held at the university or a hotel nearby. Students have use of the university library which has a huge bank of online publications.
We work with trainees in the UK and overseas; we have an office in China.
Featured Education courses
Education news and views
Student feedback
Semele, PGCE
“The residential was was very clear and had a lot of thought had put into finding a good range of speakers to interest people from all backgrounds. I’ve returned back to school today full of ideas (and I’m sure annoying my colleagues!). It was also really nice to meet the other PGCE students finally and our subject day was very well thought out too.“
Meet our lecturers
Stephen Cook, Senior Tutor and Director of SCITTS and Overseas Programmes
Stephen started his teaching career in 1999 and taught Geography and Business Studies in three schools in Essex as a teacher, a middle leader and senior leader between 2000 & 2010. During this time, he also completed a Masters in Educational Leadership. In 2010 he left full time teaching and started educational consultancy work and in 2013 he moved to West Africa where he spent one year as Headteacher of a football academy in Sierra Leone. Upon his return to UK, Stephen started working in Initial Teacher Education for Canterbury Christ Church University, then joined the team of tutors at University of Buckingham.
Dr Bethany Kelly, Director of Programmes
Dr Kelly has worked in education for over twenty years with all but the first three years in leadership roles. This led first to a Masters in Educational Leadership and then to her doctorate looking at Leadership, Identity and Gender. As well as overseeing the academic programmes for the department, Bethany continues to write and speak in the UK and internationally on a range of educational topics including her own research interests.
Laura Barritt, Head of Secondary School Teacher Training
Laura is an experienced PGCE lecturer, teacher and assessor who has taught in a variety of schools from independent to state, across both England and Wales. She has also taught on an Outreach programme as an arts tutor at university to help engage students and help them gain a more in-depth comprehension of the arts and the opportunities they can provide. She is currently studying for a PhD (part-time) and her research interests include perception and cognition in children and adolescents, the developing life worlds of adolescents and the influence of digital media on the developing mind during adolescence.
Amanda Parker-Jones, Course Developer
Amanda has taught for over 20 years. Her work in education has also involved working for a leading exam board for over 15 years, in her role as Principal Examiner she helped write and implement the new A Level courses. She brings to the School of Education to share her experience of teaching in single-sex and mixed schools, of day and boarding environments and her interest in supporting teachers and in all things education to develop new courses for the department.
Tracey Smith, Senior Lecturer
Tracey started working with the University of Buckingham in 2020 after completing her Masters in Education with us. Tracey was a successful Headteacher of three primary schools in Oxfordshire, after teaching across all age groups as a Primary Teacher over many years. Tracey has also been a National Leader of Education, a Pupil Premium Reviewer and a School Improvement Consultant at Oxfordshire Local Authority.
Mark Attenburrow, Head of Physical Education
Mark has 37 years teaching experience in schools to Deputy Head and Director of Centre level. He has led both a Physical Education Department and a Sports Faculty. His involvement in teacher training started in 2015 at the University of Buckingham where he subsequently became a lead tutor for Physical Education. Mark also has experience of leading a PGCE programme for the UEA. Mark’s sporting background includes competing for GB in Kayak Slalom and playing rugby for his county.
Laura Purser, Head of Primary, Prep & EYFS Initial Teacher Training
Laura started working with Buckingham as Assistant Director of Teacher Training in 2016 and has since led both the Primary and Prep PGCE courses and designed/led the NASENCO course, training Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators. She delivers a wide range of teaching pedagogy as well as focusing on inclusive practice, mental health, balancing stress/workload, trauma/attachment informed practice and increasing self-esteem and efficacy in schools. With a background in Psychology and Counselling, she is also the point of contact for trainees who need emotional support, providing advice on developing positive mental health and well-being. Prior to this she worked in both the independent and state sectors across both primary and secondary ranges from teaching to SEND leadership.
Your future career
Our School of Education degrees and courses range from introductory day courses, to the PGCE, tailored master’s programmes or doctorates. We believe good teacher training focuses on the practice of classroom management and apply what good research and experience tells us works best.
Graduating from the School of Education will equip you with the knowledge and practices to be a major influence for good on people’s lives. It can be a hugely fulfilling career, with progression available in a variety of routes, from teaching assistant to head of school.
School links and partners
We have many partners that we work with at the School of Education including: National Mathematics and Physics SCITT; Council of British International Schools (COBIS); The Anglo Institute of Education; Beds SCITT; Chiltern Learning Trust; Oceanova; Premier Pathways; Parents and Teachers for Excellence; Boarding Schools Association (BSA); Duke’s Education; Inclusion Education; St. Edward’s School Oxford; Bourton Meadow SCITT; Shire Foundation; Equalitas; STEP Academies; Dubai LearnEd.
We also have a number of connections with professional bodies such as CPHC and BCS.