About the School of Education

With a long history of working in the education and training of teachers and other professionals in the education sector, we are an established and dynamic School committed to developing excellence and confidence in teaching, learning and professional practice for individuals in a variety of contexts.

Our underpinning values are:

• the importance of scholarship, research and critical reflection.
• respect and challenge for all learners including ourselves.
• the significance of personal and professional development.
• a shared commitment to quality.

These values enable us to:

• challenge students to realise their potential in a positive and supportive environment.
• provide leadership in the process of academic and professional growth.

Programmes are cutting-edge, reflecting the many social, political and technological changes taking place in education.

Our students leave us with the confidence to make a difference in contemporary learning and teaching, and the School has an excellent graduate employability record.

Sharing our expertise with local authorities and other educational settings enhances professional practice across the sector.

We maintain high professional training standards through excellence in scholarship and research, alongside an emphasis on reflective practice. Innovative work in research and consultancy adds to our local, national and international credentials.

Learning environment

The School is based at the University’s de Havilland campus.

Over 70 academic staff, administrative and technical support staff are involved in delivering programmes to around 2000 students.

We are a friendly and diverse community and share a keen interest in learning and teaching best practice for a range of educational settings.

Our comprehensive portfolio of full and part-time courses covers:

• courses for professionals in a range of educational settings
• foundation and undergraduate degrees
• postgraduate and doctoral qualifications

Working with the community

Partnership with schools

The School of Education is in partnership with several hundred early years, primary and secondary settings in eleven different local authorities.

For initial teacher education students our strong partnership links allow us to offer a range of features, in addition to teaching placements, that enrich trainees’ knowledge, experience and opportunities.

We share knowledge and resources with teaching practitioners and the wider community in a number of ways - from research and consultancy to delivering specialist training in schools.

We work with our partners to:

• develop bespoke activities that will meet their needs.
• enable accreditation for individuals at Master's level.
• support the learning experience of everyone involved.

Research

Research is an important element in in the School's success.

Our academic staff are currently involved in projects at all levels of education and in professional learning in public and private sector organisations.

Our work has contributed to developments at local, regional and national levels.

Research interests in Education range across:

• early years
• primary
• secondary
• post-compulsory
• higher education

A strong feature of the research ethos is the link between research and development of practice for teachers, lecturers and other professional groups with an interest in education and training.

International focus

Both teaching and research benefit from our international perspective. We are involved in projects of international scope, and have active links with institutions in Malaysia, Egypt and China.

Find out more about our work with International education partners.