Education Studies with a Foundation Year - BA (Hons)

The focus of this module is to explore the complex topic of human cognition and the learning process. You will gain an understanding of the various perspectives on how people think and learn, and you will be able to apply these insights to your own learning journey, as well as examples from educational case studies. These perspectives will include global views, as well as Western views which have governed educational practice and provision for many years, and we will start to unpick some complexities associated with this.

This core module introduces you to Education Studies. It will encouraged you to see yourself as a researcher, asking questions and testing assumptions about your own experiences of education. We all think we know about schools and education but how much do we really know and how far is our knowledge affected for better or worse by our personal experiences?

For example, what does it mean to be an educated person? The module will introduce you to a range of theories and practices that relate to education, learning development and teaching across a range of educational setting. You will be expected to reflect upon these educational experiences of learning through a number of interactive practical activities involving peer learning and peer support, sharing educational experiences and exploring how and why learning happens in different educational spaces. There will be an emphasis throughout the module on developing appropriate study skills and academic writing practices for study in higher education.

This module recognises that transitioning into higher education represents a significant milestone in a student's academic journey, signifying a period of personal growth. However, it can also present challenges, as students must adapt to a range of increased academic demands and expectations. The module is specifically designed to support students through this transition by equipping them with essential academic skills and strategies necessary for success in their undergraduate studies. Its primary objective is to provide new students with the necessary tools to effectively manage their studies, enhance their academic writing and research skills, and cultivate their critical thinking abilities.

This module introduces students to some of the key concepts, ideas, and debates in the philosophy of education field. You will explore answers to important philosophical questions regarding the nature of education, its aims, and methods, considering the role played by the teacher, learner, and curriculum.

This module introduces you to the concept of social justice and by focusing on equity and diversity you will consider the relationship between education and social justice. You will learn about different forms of discrimination and inequity in education and in society and will consider how educational experiences and outcomes differ for people with different characteristics and how this could impact the lives of individuals as well as have consequences for wider society.

In this optional module, you will learn to think deeply and critically about the concept of ‘creativity’ in relation to education. You will reflect on creative pedagogical approaches, to understand how teachers support learners’ creativity, and how teachers themselves can utilise their own creativity to develop teaching and learning activities. You will consider how creativity is framed and taught in different educational contexts.

You will be introduced to key theories and debates relating to creativity in education and be invited to critically reflect on your own experiences of being creative throughout your educational trajectory, applying these ideas you have explored in this module to your own learning. You will help to build a creative community of learning through your work with others.

• How do children learn in the early years?
• What are the curricular expectations for the Early Years Foundation Stage?
• How and why does child-initiated play contribute to children’s learning and development?
• What is the role of the adult in supporting children’s learning?
• How can we create an enabling learning environment?

In this optional module you will explore the early years curriculum and its expectations for children from birth to 5 years. The emphasis is on learning through free play and exploration, and the development of children’s ‘characteristics of effective learning’ which include playing and exploring, active learning and thinking creatively and critically

The starting point for this module is the idea that education is a pursuit that can bring tangible benefits to people throughout their lives. In this module, we will focus on how education continues beyond the mainstream into a meaningful lifelong learning experience.

During the module, you will explore the theories underpinning post-compulsory learning and how they differ from pedagogies in mainstream settings. Together, we will look at some of the key issues in post-compulsory learning including: the different types of further education and its challenges, the diverse options for higher education in the UK and some of the challenges in the sector, as well as work-based learning. Throughout this module, you will consider the challenges of working in these settings to prepare you for a potential career in post-compulsory learning.

This module is designed to encourage you to start thinking about your own professional practice, and your intentions for your career after you graduate. In this module, you will be prepared for your placement experience through the completion of safeguarding training to help you understand your role as an educational professional in supporting the safeguarding of young and vulnerable people, as well how to safeguard yourself whilst on placement. You will evaluate some pertinent examples of safeguarding concerns and consider appropriate responses.

This module builds on Professional Practice, Placement and Safeguarding 1 in Semester 1, and the key focus of this module is a placement experience of around 120 hours, organised into a block placement of approx. 5 weeks. You will have begun to develop relationships with your placement setting in semester 1, and these will continue into semester 2, where you will be given specific tasks to complete on placement related to your other modules to guide your placement experience and to allow you to reflect on how educational theory translates to practical placement experience.

The focus of this core module is to help you develop a deep understanding of the relationship between educational policy and educational practice. Throughout the module, we will investigate how and why educational reform is initiated and implemented considering some of the reasons why we have seen much change to education, particularly since 1988, making links to relevant theories and perspectives.

You will learn about the influence of governmental ideologies on educational changes and will be supported to evaluate some examples of educational policy and how these policies have influenced the educational experiences and outcomes of different groups of learners.

This module offers an introduction to inclusion, diversity, and Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) in education. It explores various theoretical frameworks, policies, and practices that may be used to understand how inclusive education may work across diverse settings.

It aids understanding of how to organise effective inclusive learning environments and how to personalise learning for different groups of learners with diverse needs. It considers how exclusionary practices may be present in educational settings and how they can be challenged and resisted.

This module is an introduction to carrying out research projects. As well as developing your understanding of key aspects of research in education, this module will also prepare you for your final research project at Level 6. The module will support you to engage in a critical analysis of contemporary issues and debates in research, policy and practice related to your field of study. You will identify and design a small-scale study, in readiness for your research project module at Level 6.

This optional module gives you an opportunity to investigate alternative forms of education as they differ from mainstream, and traditional educational environments. At times, we will position some of the alternative education provision against mainstream education, and attempt to understand why, in recent years, there has been a rise in the use of alternative education.

Throughout the module, you will investigate and evaluate the role of alternative education providers, from pupil referral units and special schools to support those learners for whom mainstream education is ineffective, to how prison education is organised and delivered.

You will consider some settings that operate with alternative philosophies of education, such as Montessori and Steiner-Waldorf schools, and evaluate these for their affordances and challenges. You will do so by considering how these forms of education can support equity, diversity, social justice, and sustainability, and will investigate established perspectives on these forms of education to form your own value position relating to them.

This module explores how curriculum development is not carried out in isolation from other educational activities but is part of an iterative, developmental implementation and review cycle in all educational settings. The module will encourage you to explore aspects of curriculum development, including content, objectives, processes and assessment. You will also review a number of case studies such as the large-scale curricular reform required to implement the National Curriculum for state education in England and Wales, and the history around alternative educational curriculum approaches such as Steiner or Montessori in Early Years.

This module focuses on understanding and addressing mental health issues specifically related to children, young people, and families. This module aims to equip students with knowledge and practical skills to promote positive mental health and wellbeing in these populations. It explores various factors that influence mental health during different developmental stages, effective intervention strategies, and the importance of collaboration with families and other professionals. Students will gain an understanding of ethical considerations, cultural sensitivity, and relevant legal frameworks when working with children, young people, and families.

This module enables and supports you to conceive, plan, and conduct a small-scale research project that attends and adheres to key ethical principles, in an area relevant to your programme of study. This module encourages you to engage in independent and collaborative critical analysis of contemporary issues and debates in your research focus area, in policy and in practice.

You will be provided with an opportunity to clarify your understanding of key research terms, as well as to consider the link between epistemology, methodology and methods, and the impact that your own personal philosophies have upon the design of your study.

The starting point for this module is the acknowledgement of the importance of digital technology in contemporary education, not just in the UK but worldwide. Therefore, this module aims to take you on a journey of understanding how digital education can be used as a force for good within the classroom and beyond.

This module will focus on transitions in the context of career development. You will learn about different theories of career and transition, and how they apply to educational professionals. We will examine established concepts of transitions that focus on decision learning, opportunity awareness, transition learning and self-awareness, commonly known as DOTS.

This module is designed to provide students with a critical understanding of a range of challenges and debates that shape the current educational landscape. Students will explore diverse perspectives regarding complex issues impacting on education in contemporary society.

Throughout the module, students will examine a range of contemporary issues affecting education at local, national, and global levels. The module aims to be responsive to changing educational contexts, so issues covered will vary depending on what trends and debates are currently prominent. However, these may relate to topics such as educational policy reforms, educational systems and structures, equity and social justice in education, diversity and inclusion, technological advancement and integration, educational curricula and assessment practices, student health and wellbeing and the role of education in addressing societal challenges.

This optional module introduces comparative education and global issues related to education, for students interested in learning more about education in an international context. You will consider why it is important to look beyond the nation state in the current context of globalisation and learn more about issues related to comparative education through exploring knowledge about different school systems and studying concepts related to global and comparative education.

Education assessment has been a key subject of debate for many years, and this optional module recognises the importance of assessment in influencing, and sometimes determining, educational provision and practice, giving you an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the underlying principles of assessment.

Throughout the module, you will investigate and critique different forms of educational assessment, evaluating formative, summative, and assessment for learning for their affordances and limitations, as well as their validity and reliability in different contexts. Using key theory and literature we will investigate how assessment operates in different phases of education, and the different purposes of assessment for different educational stakeholders.

This module will explore the theoretical and practical aspects of anti-racist practice within the context of childhood, youth, and community work. The module will examine the impact of systemic racism on young people and communities, and critically evaluate the role of practitioners in promoting social justice and equality.

Students will develop a critical understanding of the complexities of race and racism and will explore strategies for addressing racism in their practice. The module will also focus on the development of inclusive and anti-oppressive practice and will examine the challenges of working with diverse communities.