EDUCATION

PostgraduateOccasional

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.

WHY EDUCATION

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, we have become 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.

The School is based in the Whittlebury Hall, a hotel about 15 minutes from Buckingham, which offers the advantage of accommodation and multiple meeting rooms for residential courses. Students also have use of the university library and online resources.

WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY

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. “

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.

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, Head of Primary School Teacher Training

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.

SCHOOL LINKS

We have a variety of 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 Teachers for Excellence; Boarding Schools Association (BSA); and more.

We also have a number of connections with professional bodies such as CPHC and BCS.

*Teaching Excellence Framework: The Times Higher Education metrics rankings, 2017