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ARCH Blogs – Transition to Higher Education -
Alison Taylor
Alison joined Bishop Grosseteste in 2018 and is currently teaching on the undergraduate programme in Special Educational Needs, Disability and Inclusion (SENDI). She delivers modules which cover such topics as complex needs; social, emotional and mental health; the professional context; barriers to learning. Her career has included ten years of primary class teaching, advisory work for the autism team of the Specialist Advisory Service (Herts) and five years as a special educational needs coordinator (SENCO). Alison has written and delivered a variety of SEND and safeguarding presentations, with a particular passion for autism education. She has contributed to the Lincolnshire Autism Partnership Board since 2015. Alongside this professional practice, Alison has gained a post graduate diploma in autism (University of Birmingham), the National Award for SEND Coordination (NASENCO) and a master’s qualification in Special Education and Inclusion (Northampton University). She is recognised as a fellow by the higher education academy (FHEA). -
BGU deliver inclusive learning training in the Caribbean
Bishop Grosseteste University is supporting the Skills for Youth Employment (SkYE) programme in the Caribbean which aims to improve the occupational skills and employability for disadvantaged young people, including those challenged by disability. -
Dr Sunny Dhillon
Prior to joining the Education Studies team in November 2021, Sunny spent five years as a learning developer at the University of Leeds, as well as at BGU, where he also worked as a Visiting Tutor in the Theology, Ethics and Society department. Sunny conducted his doctoral research through the Philosophy department at Cardiff University, focussing on the concept of utopia through the works of Friedrich W. Nietzsche, Ernst Bloch and Theodor W. Adorno. Sunny’s research interests include Critical Theory (The Frankfurt School), Nietzsche, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Utopia and Philosophy of Education. His current research projects critically explore education as ontotheological principle, and student engagement from the perspective of academics in the social sciences who often experience a ‘disclosure dilemma’ when deciding what perspectives to share with students across levels of HE. Office number: Skinner 119 ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6632-701X Blog: https://dsdhillon.medium.com/ -
BGU lecturer’s children’s book translated into Ukrainian to support incoming refugees
The dual language English-Ukrainian eBook will be available for schools and host families free of charge to help to support the acclimatisation of refugee children. -
BGU tutor goes stateside for convention
A Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) tutor recently delivered a paper at an international conference held in San Francisco. Dr Amy Webster was invited to attend the Modern Language Association's (MLA) convention as a speaker and spent four days meeting with fellow academics and exploring the city. Her paper about British series of children's classics was part of a panel with American Professors on children's literature and culture in the modern city. The paper drew upon Dr Webster's PhD, which was completed at the University of Cambridge. Dr Webster, who teaches on the Education Studies undergraduate programme and the MA in Children’s Literature and Literacies, was able to attend the convention thanks to MLA's travel grant and BGU's research fund. As one of few speakers at the conference from the UK, she was excited to present her research and explore the topic in a different context and culture. She said: "It was my first time attending this annual convention and it was lovely to be involved. I made some good connections with other academics which I hope will lead to collaborations in the future. "It was a great opportunity to identify where my researched overlapped and interconnected with that of other attendees, and we were able to enjoy some lively debate." A copy of Dr Webster's presentation can be found here. -
Rebecca Fielden
Rebecca Fielden teaches on Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes in Special Educational Needs Disabilities and Inclusion (SENDI) at BGU. She teaches on a wide variety of modules drawing upon her knowledge, understanding and extensive experience of SENDI. She joined BGU in January 2023, having previously taught and led in mainstream and alternative educational settings. She originally trained as a teacher in Special Educational Needs and English, with a focus on the secondary age range, beginning her career teaching in a mainstream secondary school in London. She has held posts in Brighton and Lincolnshire as a Special Educational Needs and Disability Coordinator (SENDCo), in both mainstream and alternative settings, and went on to hold a senior leadership position, being responsible for Inclusion, SEND and Safeguarding in a mainstream secondary school. During this time, Rebecca trained teachers and educational support staff in issues around SENDI, supporting the learning of the communities she taught in. Rebecca completed her Masters in Special Educational Needs and Inclusion at the Institute of Education, UCL, with a particular focus on teacher attitudes to inclusion. Her current research interests centre around pedagogical approaches in Alternative Provision settings, with a specific focus on children and young people who experience ‘Emotionally-based School Avoidance’, and she is currently working on her PhD in this area. -
Teaching Internationally: student reflection on BGU
Friederike Vährmann was one of Bishop Grosseteste University's (BGU) Teaching Internationally students on placement with the University for an entire semester. Spending almost five months at BGU, Friederike took a Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) module that helped her connect with students more than she would have if taking the placement back home in Germany. "The PGDE module was linked closely to the placement and offered support through weekly classes. This led to the experience feeling more structured and organised, as expectations were communicated clearly and the weekly sessions allowed me to consciously reflect on my experience." The placement was part of the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) department and Friederike was involved in teaching English to people from foreign countries at various language levels. She found the idea of staff being divided into several separate departments and being given an office space was drastically different from schools in Germany."In my opinion this encourages collaboration and creates an incredibly supportive atmosphere between teachers of the same subject." The department also encouraged Friederike and other staff members to continuously ask questions and learn from each other. She noticed that a collaborative approach was taken when planning for certain activities and lessons that deviated from the lessons that had been developed over previous years. She was able to discuss student questions, teaching experiences, and concrete teaching methods with multiple, more experienced teachers - this helped Friederike improve her own practice."Another aspect that I found incredibly helpful was that I got detailed feedback from my mentor every single time I taught, which is a lot more than I have ever received during any placement or practical session." Overall, the PGDE module and the placement have been an invaluable experience in improving Friederike's teaching practice, developing her own style of teaching and becoming more confident in her abilities. The continued support, theories in how to approach planning, facilitating and assessing learning have helped Friederike gain experience and provided a clear guideline for future development. "I now know what I want to work on and have been given the tools to do so in an effective way. I have gained a different perspective with which to look at the educational system as the one in the UK is so different to the one in Germany and have adopted practices to better support and encourage students to reach their learning goals." Article on teaching Post-16 learners by Stefan Fusenich (Programme Leader -Initial Teacher Education (Post 16 and Further Education) published in InTuitonIf you're thinking of studying a PGDE please see the link to the course page below. -
Guernsey placement success for pGDE trainees
Bishop Grosseteste University students on pGDE courses (Professional Graduate Diploma in Education) in Sport, Performing Arts, Plumbing, Health and Social Care, Childcare, English and Engineering undertook a placement for a week at the Guernsey College of Further Education. All trainees on the programme have one main placement and the Guernsey visit was to enable them to see another setting beyond their own and also to show them different education system to BGU's. Guernsey was an experience that we would not of missed - it gave us an insight into the lifestyle of another teaching environment. We were made very welcome and as such were able to enjoy the culture and social experience. As a group it gave us the opportunity to bond and engage with fellow teacher trainers. Roger, pGDE student Guernsey College staff will be coming to the UK in the future for a reciprocal visit, where staff have arranged for them to spend some time in Further Education colleges where our trainees are based and a day at BGU. Input was provided to the colleges Continuing Professional Development (CPD) during the time trainees were with them on placement. This gave Guernsey an opportunity to develop relationships with trainees to fill any potential vacancies they have. This opportunity has allowed me to develop my skills as a facilitator. Working with the performing arts department in an environment that's so different from my current placement gave me great inspiration for carrying on my teaching practice. Keira, pGDE student What an amazing opportunity! Spending time with the staff at Guernsey Institute and gaining valuable insight into creativity within the English classroom was a treasurable experience. Thank you so much. Shelley, pGDE student Programme Leader Stefan Fusenich would like to give a shout out to the Guernsey colleagues... Jennette Heart Deputy Principal who supported me with the inception of the ideas, Lucy Mallet who co-ordinated the visit, and Venessa Mee, who arranged for me to deliver and trainees to attend the college's CPD day. -
MA student awarded scholarship
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) student Daniel Kuu-Erah who is studying an MA in Education and TESOL, recently received a GREAT Scholarship funded by the British Council and the UK Government’s GREAT British Campaign to study at BGU! When Daniel returned from a network event held in Birmingham (Edgbaston Stadium) for all GREAT scholars, he couldn't wait to tell everyone about it. It was an amazing programme, and an opportunity for me to meet great personalities from the UK and other parts of the world! Daniel Kuu-Erah Sophie Hadfield who is the BGU International Support Officer said: He showed me his GREAT Scholarship certificate and told me about the inspiring former GREAT scholars he met, as well as several dignitaries. As he progresses his dissertation, Daniel continues to consider his future next steps – he has been applying to undertake a PhD specialising in linguistic discourse analysis. Daniel is keen to see further promotion of BGU in Ghana as he would like other potential students benefit from the same positive educational experience he has received so far from BGU.
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