Education and Teacher Training staff
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Suzanne Swan
Senior Lecturer
Suzanne is a Senior Lecturer in Primary and Early Years Education. She is a passionate teacher and early career researcher. At BCU she teaches both the PGCE Primary & Early Years and BA (QTS) courses. She is also a Personal Development Tutor supporting students in university and on placement. Suzanne was a primary school...
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Dr. Val Sylvester
Senior Lecturer/SWPET Programme Lead
Val has been working with Birmingham City University since 1995. She is currently a Senior Lecturer/Deputy Director of the BSc (Hons) Social Work programme and Programme Director for the Postgraduate Social Work Practice Educator training programme. Previous experience: Shelter National Organisation (1977-81) Val worked...
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Khadija Tai
Lecturer, Placement Coordinator and First Placement Module Lead
Khadija qualified in 2006 and first practised as a children and families social worker in Birmingham before moving on to management in 2012. In 2020, she delivered strategic services in Sandwell as a service manager within safeguarding and court work, before joining Birmingham City University social work department in May 2023...
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Kerry Taylor
Senior Lecturer
Kerry is currently leading the PGCE Science routes teaching on both the Professional Studies module and Subject Pedagogy module where she specialises in biology education. Professional Studies aim to prepare trainees for the wider role of the teacher, considering aspects of the profession concerned with safeguarding and prevent...
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Gemma Taylor
Course Leader for Secondary Education with QTS and Senior Lecturer in Physical Education
Gemma joined BCU in September 2021 as a Senior Lecturer in Physical Education (PE) after teaching PE in Secondary Schools in the Worcestershire area. Gemma has recently been appointed Course Leader for the Secondary Physical Education with QTS course, with responsibility for both University- and School-Based Teaching for...
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Helen Thomas BSc, PGCE, PGCert(HE), MA Ed, CPhys, MInstP, FHEA
PGCE Subject Route Leader for the Sciences and Senior Lecturer in Science Education
Helen taught science and physics in particular for 17 years in schools, 6th form college and FE before joining Birmingham City University. Responsibilities included GCSE Science Course Leader and Head of Physics. Helen's move to the University led from catching the research bug whilst completing a Master's degree combined with...
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Liz Titley
Course Leader – BA Education Studies
Liz Titley graduated with a BA (Hons) in English Literature and Education Studies from Aberystwyth University and went on to continue with PhD study.
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Paul Trimble
Senior English Lecturer
Paul works on the PGCE and SKE programmes for English as well as supervising students at Master's level. He also worked for 10 years on the Teach First PGDE programme - a work-based route into teaching. His subject specialism is English and he works exclusively with training English teachers. He has also got experience of...
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Dr Alex Wade
Senior Research Fellow
Alex's work is at its best where videogames meet society. Using theory to explore these intersections he looks to the histories of games to explore the formation of society during the Cold War and beyond. Of particular interest in his work are concepts of space, time, consumption as a function of production and the role of...
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Jessica Wagner
Senior Lecturer in Social Work
After qualifying from the University of Wales in 2003, Jessica has spent the majority of her professional experience within statutory children’s services, where she held posts both as a practitioner and manager in safeguarding teams. This allowed her to gain experience of working in child protection and child in need services...