Members of the Department of Teacher Education

Frances is Head of the Department of Teacher Education in the School of Education where she teaches on the PGDipEd (QTS) Modern Languages programmes, supervises MA Teaching Studies students and contributes to mentor development.

Frances chairs the Teacher Education Strategy Group, working with head teachers, MAT CEOs and the Birmingham Education Partnership to ensure a strategic response to ...

Tracy Whatmore joined the School of Education in September 2012. She is a Senior Lecturer, Primary Link Tutor for MA Education and Deputy Head of the Department of Teacher Education. Previous roles have included Partnership Co-ordinator, Primary Lead for School Direct, Acting Head of Primary English and Admissions Tutor. Tracy currently teaches Professional Studies and Primary ...

Tom is an education researcher, lecturer and former school teacher working to foster research- and evidence-informed policy and practice in education. His research and teaching centres on school improvement and educational leadership, equipping school and system leaders at all levels to use research and evidence for school improvement. Tom is a nationally-recognised expert in ...

Kalsoom has worked across several primary schools, in England and abroad. She has a strong background in Mathematics Education and has worked in leadership roles as well as supporting roles.

She is currently Lecturer in Primary Education (Mathematics), specifically teaching on the PGDipEd course in the School of Education. She is also personal tutor to students who are completing their Masters ...

Following a successful career in 11-19 teaching within the UK and Internationally, Noshaba is now a member of Flying Facultyfor the University of Birmingham Dubai. As PGCE Secondary Science Education Lead, Noshaba is passionate in supporting PGCE students in becoming innovative, reflective and dynamic teachers of Science. She endeavours to find creative ways to support students in critically ...

Ben worked in maintained nursery schools and primary schools in Wolverhampton and Shropshire before becoming lecturer in Higher Education on ITE programmes. Prior to teaching, Ben had obtained a BSc, MSc and PhD in Zoology, Conservation Biology and Evolutionary Theory respectively. His PhD thesis investigated the evolution of complex social phenotypes and the genomic architecture of complex ...

Alison is Director of Primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) at the University of Birmingham. She also heads up the science and computing modules on the primary ITE programmes.

Karen Brodie is the Primary Education Lecturer for the PGCE Primary Course and has worked in the education sector in the U.A.E., as a teacher trainer, for many years.

A qualified and experienced practitioner, with extensive Primary teaching practice, Karen is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in the U.K

Joanne Cliffe is Programme Leader for the following: Post Graduate Diploma in Physical Education (QTS) for Secondary Education, PGDip Teaching Studies and MA Teaching Studies. Joanne’s previous experience in higher education included contributions to the PGCE Physical Education course at Loughborough University. Her background is in teaching in secondary education and her posts have ...

Gemma has worked in teacher educator since 2010 and is currently Lecturer of Geography Education, specifically teaching on the PGDipEd (QTS) Geography course in the School of Education. She also supervises on the MA Teaching Studies course.

Before joining the University, Gemma held a number of teaching and leadership posts in Birmingham schools She is an active member of the ...

Adam completed his PGCE in modern languages at the University of Birmingham before beginning his career as a language teacher at a large 11-18 comprehensive in Hertfordshire. He has subsequently held a number of positions in secondary state schools. He has been a head of department, a senior leader, an assistant headteacher, a deputy headteacher and a head of sixth form. For ten years he was the ...

After reading Physics at the University of Birmingham and training to be a Science teacher at Sheffield Hallam University, Dan has taught Physics in a range of schools for 15 years. Until recently Head of Science at King Edward VI Five Ways School, Dan is a Chartered Physicist, an Ogden Trust Teacher Fellow and Teacher Network Coordinator for the Institute of Physics. He is particularly ...

Ian completed his PhD in psychology in 1987; then taught in secondary schools in various roles including ICT co-ordinator, head of science and senior teacher. He is currently a Lecturer and leads the Education for Health Professionals programme. In addition he teaches quantitative methods including factor analysis and provides a statistical advice service for the school. 

Donna has had varied career experiences which have led to her current position at the University of Birmingham. From research scientist via industry to secondary school teaching and currently teaching in Higher Education (HE).

She has taught Science and Biology to A-level in Birmingham secondary schools, most recently at the University of Birmingham school where she was a Teaching Fellow ...

Colin Diamond has worked in the field of educational leadership for many years in England. He has been a Head of Faculty, Associate Headteacher, Local Education Authority Adviser, Assistant Director and Director of Education/Children’s Services.

He led improvements in two local authorities taking them from government intervention to strong performance. He has also worked for the Department ...

Maddy is a lecturer and researcher in educational leadership with a background in early years education and TESOL. She is currently teaching on several MA modules within the Department of Teacher Education and has a key role in supporting the apprentices and mentors on the new Educational Leadership MEd Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship. Her research interests focus on leadership in early years ...

Celia Greenway is Director of Student Engagement in the University responsible for the personal academic tutor system and the enhancement of student engagement. She is a Reader in Education who leads Early Years Education and Child Development.

Initially as a practitioner Celia taught in schools and nurseries across Worcestershire. Prior to joining the University, she was responsible for ...

Sarah is passionate about the role that outstanding Religious Education has in shaping young people lives and equipping them for the modern world as reflective and tolerant thinkers. She has an extensive vocabulary of teaching and learning strategies which inspire teacher trainees and pupils in school to enquire and respond to religion in a creative and reflective way whilst developing religious ...

Sally joined the university as a teacher educator in 2013 and is currently Lecturer of English Education, specifically teaching on  the PGDipEd (QTS) Secondary English course in the School of Education. She also supervises on the MA Teaching Studies course and is currently the Department of Teacher Education lead for Quality Assurance and Enhancement.

Before joining the ...

Beth Marley is a lecturer in Primary Education on the PGDipEd and School Direct Primary courses. She is also Assistant Head at a primary school in Sandwell and a Specialist Leader in Education for mentoring NQTs and students. As a practitioner, Beth has taught in all phases in primary schools across Sandwell and Birmingham.

Mary joined the School of Education as a Lecturer in Mathematics Education in September 2012. She taught Mathematics for many years in local schools in the West Midlands and has 15 years’ experience as a Head of Department in 3 different secondary schools. She has also been a Lead Mathematics Teacher and a Head of Sixth Form.

She has experience of teaching overseas at a Leading ...

Dr Anne Raynor is Director of Education Programmes in Dubai.

An experienced educationalist, Anne has been a senior leader in secondary schools for many years, as well as Head teacher of a number of special schools and a school’s inspector.

Anne’s work encompasses SEN and inclusive education, second language acquisition and educational leadership, both in the UK and internationally. ...

Nicola worked in primary schools in Worcestershire and Birmingham before becoming an adult education tutor and then a Higher Education lecturer on childhood studies and ITE programmes. Her research interests include children and families with EAL, children as researchers and parental involvement in early years education.

Sandy taught Science and Chemistry to A-level in secondary schools for 14 years. This included a secondment to the Royal Society of Chemistry as a School Teacher Fellow as part of the ‘Chemistry for Our Future’ project looking at strategies to overcome secondary to higher education transition issues. Prior to his appointment by the University of Birmingham Sandy was a Secondary ...

Kirsty works part time, and leads the PGDipEd Primary Mathematics Specialist course.  Since joining the university in 2006, Kirsty has established and taught the General Primary and Early Years mathematics courses and the Primary Mathematics Specialist course. Prior to this, she was Research Officer on the ESRC funded project ‘Purposeful Algebraic Activity’ at the ...

A UK Qualified Teacher, Executive Coach and Mentor, Sanam has been working within the Middle East for over 12 years. With extensive knowledge and 20 years of teaching and leadership experience working within the UK and UAE Education sectors, Sanam brings a wealth of experience to her role as School Partnerships Strategies Manager to the University of Birmingham, Dubai.

As the first recruit from ...

Hywel Thomas is Emeritus Professor of the Economics of Education and he was the Director of the Centre for Research in Medical and Dental Education at the University of Birmingham (now the Health Professional Education and Research Unit (HPERU)). He was Head of the School of Education for 10 years, from 1993 -2003. His work on GP education was recognised with an Honorary ...