Education and Sport Newsletter - Autumn 2014

FACULTY UPDATE at Education and Sport Autumn 2014

Excellent results for Faculty Over the Summer the results of the 2014 National Student Survey were released, the major barometer of undergraduate student satisfaction. The Faculty had some outstanding results with overall satisfaction with its courses increasing by 9% over 2013, the largest Faculty increase in the University.

Three of the

Faculty’s four departments increased their position with respect to the sector, with English Language and Communication being amongst the top ten; Initial Teacher Training courses leaping to the top 20 in the country and Education Studies rising to be amongst the top 25.

A focus on enhancing assessment and course organisation in 2013-14 has paid dividends, with scores in this aspect of student satisfaction now exceeding the sector upper quartile. Furthermore the Faculty and the University has sustained its strong sector position in its score on supporting students’ personal

development.

Overall

these

results

demonstrate the Faculty’s continued commitment to enhancing the student experience and those efforts thus far have brought about a significant rise in student satisfaction.

Leadership and Influence award Angie Newton received an award for "Leadership and Influence" at the AfPE annual conference held at St George’s Park, the National Football Centre.

Angie

was in good company receiving the award along with four others: Dr Ashley Casey a former senior lecturer at the university; Val Sabin, former Bedford student and lecturer, author and consultant; Roger Davies, the

The

award

was

recognition

of

Angie’s

lifetime

English Football Association’s National Coaching in

achievement in the field of physical education. Angie

Education Manager and Martin Preston the Football

was thrilled to receive it, but modestly said she was

Association Tesco Skills Programme Manager. Awards

only one small part of a great tradition of leaders in

were presented at the pre-conference dinner by guest

physical education at the University whose PE heritage

speaker Stephen Drew, Headteacher from ‘Educating

dates back to the Bedford PE College founded more

Essex’ and ‘Mr Drew’s School for Boys’.

than a hundred years ago.

Faculty Update Autumn 2014

Faculty of Education and Sport

Tempus: International development project in Kosovo Several members of the faculty are involved in a three-

We are very proud to be involved in this development

year TEMPUS international development project in

work. The University of Bedfordshire was invited to take

Kosovo to help the country establish research-informed

part

teacher education Masters programmes aligned to the

undergraduate and postgraduate courses for aspiring

new school curriculum.

and experienced teachers. Additionally, our reputation

Education in Kosovo is going through major reform.

The current school curriculum is still very text-book

because

of

its

long

tradition

of

providing

for leading a successful Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice was a determining factor.

based and didactic in approach. Although there has

Colleagues in the Faculty, including Jenny Gilbert

been significant investment from European agencies

(project lead), Sarah Cousins, Andrea Raiker and

since the war in 1999, this small, newly formed nation

Cathal Butler have been supported by the European

state is still in need of support.

Tempus fund to work with academics from Italy, Slovenia and Finland to support the University of Prishtina to develop quality, fit-for-purpose educational courses. Early in the year the Faculty hosted a delegation from the Kosovar ministry of Education, Science and Technology to discuss our respective educational systems. In Spring 2015 the Faculty will host a delegation from the University of Prishtina.

Genuine thanks Many staff receive emails like this at the end of the

Let’s take a moment to savour them.

academic year.

Subject: Dissertation Dear Uvanney, I have finally completed the dissertation and submitted it through Turnitin. I have tried to include and amend the paper as best as I could based on your suggested feedback.

I am so grateful for the support you have given me and I have been truly blessed to have had you as my supervisor. I have never had such high quality academic support in my life. I will be in touch.

Many Thanks D

Launch of Bedford Philosophy of Education Society This year we have launched the first Bedford Branch of

Contact

Neil

for

a

programme

of

events.

the Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain.

Dr Neil Hopkins, Senior Lecturer in the Department of

Twitter: @pesgbbedford

Teacher Education, is the branch secretary. Events attract colleagues from across the University and across

our

extensive

school

Email: neil.hopkins@beds.ac.uk

partnership.

Update Autumn 2014

Faculty of Education and Sport

Commonwealth Games for former student Former Bedford PGCE PE student was selected for the commonwealth games in the triathlon.

Eimear Mullan graduated in 2007 and is part of the Northern Ireland team. She is actually a treble Ironman champion, having given up teaching to be a full time athlete based overseas. http://www.eimearmullan.com

Growth in Teacher Education The Department of Teacher Education was delighted to

Leadership, a fact reinforced by our successful bid to

receive additional trainee allocations in both primary

run the new Early Years Initial Teacher Training

and PE undergraduate courses last month, bringing the

programme from September 2014. Always looking to

number of potential year 1 trainees on the courses to

expand, we are currently also planning new courses in

100 and 52 respectively. This is strong evidence of the

Maths

regard in which teacher training at the University is

Education (non QTS) for a September 2015 start.

and

Education

(with

QTS)

and

Primary

held by the National College for Teaching and

Graduation VIPs We were pleased that Tom Watermouth (below photo), Principal at All Saints Academy, was our graduation guest of honour in July 2014 who inspired graduates

with

his

experience

and

insights.

At our October graduation in Milton Keynes, we were pleased to give Dr Ann Limb (above photo) an honorary doctorate.

Ann has been Principal of two

local FE Colleges and held many non-executive directorships for education and community-related national organisations such as Learn Direct.

Graduate success Two former students have been playing in the IRB

Maggie Alphonsi played for England, and Kerri-Ann

Women's world cup semi-final between England and

Craddock (BA PE (with QTS) 2006) played for Ireland

Ireland.

in August. England won the match 40 - 7.

Update Autumn 2014

Faculty of Education and Sport

Lifetime achievement award for ground-breaking research Professor

Randy

Jirtle

was

honoured

with

the

prestigious Linus Pauling Functional Medicine Award at the Institute for Functional Medicine’s (IFM) 2014 Annual International Conference in San Francisco. Prof

influence the phenotypic outcome of the offspring.”

Prof. Jirtle has dedicated his life’s work to refuting the previously held belief that genes are only stagnant parameters

Jirtle previously headed the epigenetics and

imprinting

laboratory

at

unyielding

Duke

making to

up

external

each stimuli

life, or

deprivation. Jirtle’s work in the field of

University, and is now a Professor of

epigenetics illuminates the dichotomy of

Epigenetics at the Department of Sport

nature versus nurture, while allowing for

Science and Physical Activity here at

the empowerment of the individual to

Bedfordshire.

recognize and optimize functionality of

IFM’s Chairman Emeritus had this to say

their distinct genes. Jirtle was honoured

about Dr. Jirtle’s selection as the 2014

in

Linus

Achievement Award from the College of

Pauling

Functional

Medicine

2006

with at

the the

Distinguished

Award recipient: “He is an extraordinary

Engineering

University

of

discoverer who crossed the boundaries

Wisconsin-Madison. In 2007, Professor

of disciplinary myopia to become the father of

Jirtle was nominated for TIME Magazine’s “Person of

environmental epigenomics. I also call him the father of

the Year.” He was the inaugural recipient of the

nutritional

important

Epigenetic Medicine Award in 2008, and received the

observation he has made as to the role that nutrients

STARS Lecture Award in Nutrition and Cancer from the

play in developmental biology and modulating the

National Cancer Institute in 2009. He has published

epigenome’s expression into the phenotype. In his work

over 190 peer-reviewed articles, was a featured

at Duke, with his post-doctoral student Dr. Robert

scientist

Waterland, they made what I would consider one of

epigenetics entitled Ghost in Your Genes, and this year

those frame-shifting, epic, seismic discoveries that the

published two books on Environmental Epigenomics in

nutritional environment of the pregnant animal will

Health and Disease.

epigenetics

because

of

the

on

the

NOVA

television

program

on

Vice-Chancellor’s Student Experience Awards Kay Brown won the Faculty Inspirational Teacher

Rammell, and actor and honorary graduate Colin

Award at the recent Student Experience Awards

Salmon.

Evening. This award, unlike the others, was voted for by students making this an excellent achievement for Kay in her first year at the University. Other nominees for the award were: James Shea and Lisa Gallimore from the Department of Teacher Education.

The English Language courses won the Faculty’s NSS award for its outstanding NSS results once again. The awards were presented by the Vice-Chancellor, Bill

Update Autumn 2014

Faculty of Education and Sport

Annual Special Educational Needs Conference to support the needs of children such as

Professor Janice Wearmouth led what has

become

a

regular

annual

conference for alumni of the National

“A very successful

her son, and what a difference it makes

conference”

to children’s and families’ lives when professionals really do understand their

Award for Special Educational Needs Co-ordination that has been running at the University for the past five years.

Held on June 4th, the speakers were Jane McConnell, the Chief Executive Officer of IPSEA, the Independent Parental

Special

Education

Advice

charity; ‘Mary’, the mother of an autistic

“What a fab day!

With an excellent, well-balanced choice of speakers. Lots to talk about back at school.”

who specialises in difficulties in maths acquisition. The feedback speaks for itself.

Jane, who is a barrister specialising in education law, particularly as it pertains to special educational needs, gave an update on the new legislation contained

“Excellent session

by Jane, very interesting and very topical. I felt much more informed and empowered to help children.”

schools and local authorities in meeting the statutory requirements in the new draft Special Educational Needs Code of Practice for 0 to 25 years (DfE, 2014).

Her

presentation

was

challenging, informative and very well received, as the feedback from the SENCos indicated.

to

“What a star!

Great talk by Mary. Very informative, very useful, wish more teachers could see it. Made me think about how I will treat parents.”

‘Mary’s’

presentation

were all also very positive.

Marziyah’s presentation in the afternoon was very practical and related to her own experiences of what can help children

with

difficulties

in

maths

to improve in their maths

learning and achievement. She talked about

the

importance

acquiring

a

understanding

of

of

children

well-developed number-ness

and

patterns, and of teachers working from the concrete to the abstract at a pace suited to individual children’s needs.

The

SENCos’

presentation

within the Children and Families Act, 2014, and discussed the issues facing

Responses

acquisition

boy, and Marziyah Panju, a learning and teaching consultant from Luton

pupils and are prepared to listen.

comments were

all

on

her very

complimentary.

The Faculty has been very fortunate in working with such a strong, committed group of SENCos over the past five years. We hope to organise further conferences at regular intervals in the future.

‘Mary’ (real name withheld) spoke about her personal experiences in, firstly, the shock of being suddenly informed that her son might be autistic with no prior discussion or preparation; the fight she has had in accessing appropriate supportive provision for him; what teachers and schools can do

“Fabulous session

by Marziyah, inspirational. So much information shared. Great ideas for numeracy support.”

Update Autumn 2014

Faculty of Education and Sport

HEA International Scholarship 2013/14: Dr Jenny Gilbert Work-based learning in schools: innovative

problem situation, generally focused on a central

practice within the practicum

metaphor.

This research has been undertaken in England, in New

Pre-service teachers’ (students) views ranged along a

South Wales, Australia and in Ontario, Canada. In all

continuum based on the level of control and autonomy

three jurisdictions initial teacher education is in a state

they perceived.

of flux.

experience as a matter of luck and at the other they are

The research has identified the factors that

At one extreme they see their

impact on the development of pre-service teachers

‘learning to fly’.

Below are two of the redrawn images

during the practicum. A critical aspect of the study is

following analysis of the data.

the commitment to use Soft Systems Methodology, an approach that considers the systemic effects within a problem situation, recognizing that components within a system

can

interact

to

Data

has

consequences. pre-service

teachers,

produce

unintended

been

collected

from

supervising

teachers

and

teaching faculty across the three jurisdictions. Focus groups

were

convened

and

following

extensive

discussion each group devised a ‘rich picture’ of the

Old Possum University Pre-service teachers’ perceptions Transformation

required

(root

definition):

A

University

responsibility to work with schools to convert the practicum from the ‘luck of the draw’ to a consistently organised experience in order to benefit pre-service teachers in an environment where reality accords more closely with the documented system.

Australian Koala University Pre-service teachers’ perceptions Transformation

required

(root

definition):

A

University

responsibility to work with schools to convert a naïve pre-service teacher

to one who has ‘nailed the craft’,

support and

by delivering both

the freedom to choose in an environment where

schools and their students vary considerably.

Update Autumn 2014

Faculty of Education and Sport

HEA Funding for employability initiative

Dr Paul Beedie and Christine Smith wrote and

consultancy support from a HEA specialist and,

submitted a proposal to HEA in September seeking

hopefully, HEA funding support from January 2015. The

support for a project concerned with embedding

project will run for a year in the first instance and

employability in our curricula. The outcome is very

Christine and Paul have already identified next

positive and we are now part of this HEA led initiative

summer’s University Conference as one of several

that will support our Faculty ambition of vocationally

conduits

sensitising our degrees. The benefits for us are network

disseminated.

through

which

the

findings

can

be

connections to other HEIs included in the initiative,

Links with the Congo - the Olympic legacy The Democratic Republic of Congo Track and Field

Coordinator Pre Olympic Games Training Camp,

team were based at Bedford Campus prior to the 2012

Bedford, 2012, met Dr Andrew Mitchell, Dr Iain

Olympics and one of its leading researchers paid a

Fletcher, Dr Jenny Cann and Professor Michael Welsch

return visit to talk to research staff. Professor Betty

to discuss interesting and fertile opportunities for

Miangindula from the University of Kinshasa in the

collaboration in research and staff/student exchange.

Democratic Republic of Congo and Howard Darbon,

Items for the next newsletter If you have any bits of news or things to celebrate do drop Sally Bentley a note as and when they happen and she will include them in the next edition: sally.bentley@beds.ac.uk Update Autumn 2014