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Using Shared Reading to explore the ‘telling’ of death
Earlier this year, at the 2020 Death and Dying conference, attendees came together to discuss how shared reading could explore the ‘telling’ of death. One of the goals of the workshop was to use art to capture a ‘live’ response that included something of the personal and transitory nature of the event. Aimee Quickfall, Head of Programmes for Primary Education and Early Years at BGU, Dr Clare Lawrence, Senior Lecturer in Teacher Development, and Dr John Rimmer, Senior Lecturer PGCE secondary (art and design), share their feedback on the unique and engaging experience. Using Shared Reading to explore the ‘telling’ of death Academic and Creative Responses to Death and Dying Conference, BGU 2020 Dr Clare Lawrence, Aimee Quickfall, Dr John Rimmer Shared Reading is an approach pioneered and developed by Jane Davis to use the read-aloud experience of literary texts to explore group participants’ reflections, thoughts and memories, where the text is presented as a live presence, not as something pre-read or an object of study. This Shared Reading workshop was part of a conference that had as its theme, How to tell the children, and as such used texts that explored the ‘telling’ of death, and the experience of parents’ death as understood by the (adult) child of those parents. The text chosen were Gertrude’s description of Ophelia’s death in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Act IV sc. v and Charles Causley’s poem Eden Rock. Throughout the workshop Aimee Quickfall took notes visually, sketching and drawing as the participants talked. These sketches sought to capture something of the perspectives and experiences of those who took part, less to create a factual record and more to produce a live response that included something of the personal and transitory nature of the event. This method builds on the work of Heath and Chapman (2018), who believe that ‘a sketch does something different to, say, a photograph or a written field note’ (Heath and Chapman, 2018 p. 715). Back and Puwar (2012) suggest that the nature of data that is generated through sketching is different from that generated through other methods, not least because of what drawing, of necessity, leaves out. The artist must choose what to record, so that the record is always synthesised and personalised in a way that a mechanical record is not. Midgley (2011) believes that this means that drawing can capture passions and tensions in a way that other means of recording do not. The discussions during the workshop were then further synthesised by John Rimmer, who worked what was discussed into a piece of highly abstract animated art, reflecting his interpretation of the themes that were explored. These academic and Creative responses to the workshop will be shared in due course through published output. If you’d like to explore a future as part of diverse learning community, speak to a member of our Enquiries Team, or book onto an Open Event to find out how to take your first steps. References: Back, L., & Puwar, N. (2012). A manifesto for live methods: provocations and capacities. The sociological review, 60, 6-17. Heath, S., Chapman, L., & Centre Sketchers, T. M. (2018). Observational sketching as method. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 21(6), 713-728. Midgley, J. (2011). Drawing Lives-Reportage at Work. Studies in Material Thinking, (4). Retrieved, 5. -
Guidance for ECTs (Early Career Teachers) - Beyond ITE (BITE)
We recognise that your early career induction matters – as your professional development continues during this two- year period. This section of BGU’s website has been designed to support early career teachers. It offers guidance, together with useful links to sites and documents. Below are key sections to support your development as a teacher covering: Early Career Teacher Advice and SupportUseful Resources and WebsitesNational Teaching PrioritiesContinued Professional Development and Further Study As stressed in BGU teaching sessions, we are not qualified to support you with legal matters and would strongly advise that you join a Teachers’ Union. BGU is committed to supporting you as you transition to the school workplace; we want to continue to work with you during these formative years. Your school mentor and tutor will provide guidance and support, including coaching and mentoring, for your professional development. However, remember that as early career teachers, BGU is still here to support you with aspects of your teaching activity. For example, advice on behaviour management or subject knowledge and pedagogy. The recently developed Early Career Framework offers a structured programme of development, support, and professional dialogue. This programme provides a set of materials which cover the five core areas of the ECF. These are Behaviour Management, Pedagogy, Curriculum, Assessment and Professional Behaviours. Please email us at beyondite@bishopg.ac.uk. Your communication will be forwarded to the appropriate member of staff. -
Dr Erik Grigg
Lecturer in History erik.grigg@bishopg.ac.uk I have a wide background in teaching both academically and in the heritage sector (in museums and castles). My primary focus is early medieval Britain, but I also take an interest in the Home Guard, Magna Carta, the Cornish language, the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Vikings, Forest Law and warfare in history. I give regular talks to history groups throughout the East Midlands. Related courses: HistoryMilitary HistoryArchaeology & History -
History of German PoWs in Britain explored in new book by BGU Historian
Alan Malpass, recently appointed Lecturer in Military History at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), has had his book 'British Character and the Treatment of German Prisoners of War, 1939-48' published by Palgrave Macmillan. The book examines attitudes towards German prisoners of war held captive in Britain, drawing on original archival material including newspaper and newsreel content, diaries, sociological surveys and opinion polls, as well as official documentation and the archives of pressure groups and protest movements. Moving beyond conventional assessments of POW treatment which have focused on the development of policy, diplomatic relations, and the experience of the POWs themselves, this study refocuses the debate onto the attitude of the British public towards the standard of treatment of German POWs. In so doing, it reveals that the issue of POW treatment intersected with discussions of state power, human rights, gender relations, civility, and national character. Speaking following publication, Alan discussed what drew him to the study and how it feeds back into the Military History course at BGU: “Having been brought up watching films of British POWs in Germany and the Far East, the captivity of hundreds of thousands of German POWs in Britain instantly interested me when I was told of them having worked on the land collecting in the harvest. If asked about the fate of POWs during WWII, I think most people would immediately think of Steve McQueen attempting to jump the barbed-wire fence on his Triumph motorcycle in The Great Escape and Alex Guinness collapsing on the plunger at the end of The Bridge on the River Kwai. Certainly, I was very surprised when I first learned of the German military cemetery in Cannock Chase and that German POWs were held at a camp just down the road from my parents’ house in Staffordshire during the war. Hopefully the book will help shed further light on this marginalised episode in British memory of the conflict. Given the prominence of Colditz Castle and the Great Escapers in our popular understanding of the Second World War, I wanted to investigate the debates, concerns, and memories the British had concerning the enemy prisoners who were held across the UK in wartime and post-war Britain”. “Prisoners of war might be ‘out of the fight’ when captured, nevertheless their experiences and roles, especially as workers for their captors, are important to consider when studying war and warfare. The history of POWs is as long as that of warfare itself and the codification of international laws to help protect them from abuse is intricately bound up with the development of ethical thought towards conflict. While combat and the ‘face of battle’ are central elements in the study of warfare, our BA (Hons) Military History Course also emphasises the wider social, ethical, and cultural impacts of war and its aftermath”. The BA (Hons) Military History degree course at BGU explores the county’s rich aviation and military heritage, from the medieval period through to the present day, alongside a global coverage of the history of war and its broader impact. If you are interested in joining these discussions, visit our website or contact our Enquiries Team for more information. You can also connect directly with our Military History team on Twitter -
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Religion’s Impact on Racial Equality Explored as Winner Announced for 2020 Robert Grosseteste Essay Prize
Daniel Hole, of Burgate Sixth Form, has been announced as the winner of Bishop Grosseteste University’s (BGU) Robert Grosseteste Essay Prize 2020. The competition, in honour of Robert Grosseteste (1167-1253), namesake of BGU, bishop, philosopher, scientist and translator and the first chancellor of Oxford University, challenges entrants to apply the study of Theology and Philosophy relevant to the issues of our age. Entrants were invited to submit papers exploring ‘Is Religion a help or a hinderance when it comes to the issue of racial equality?’ with particular reference to the Black Lives Matter movement. Daniel’s paper, titled ‘God is my Judge’, proposed that rather than a hindrance, Religion could serve as a cure for racial inequality and was picked by judging panel out of a wide selection of entries. As winner Daniel will receive a £250 cash prize as well as a hardback signed copy of Robert Grosseteste and Theories of Education; the Ordered Human, eds Jack P. Cunningham & Steven Puttick. Speaking after the announcement, Daniel explained what drew him to the competition and discussed his plans for the future: “Ever since I was young I have had a passion for problem solving and at the age of 15 this flourished for me in my dive into Philosophy and Theology. Since then I have been on a relentless development of my intellect. I am a current student at Burgate Sixth Form and I am studying A Levels in Philosophy, Religious Studies, Sociology and Politics with an EPQ in the subject of 'Sola Scriptura. My aspirations for the future are to write books on the subject from thoughts I have accumulated over the years and to next year begin a Bachelors in Philosophy, with subsequent plans of earning Master's and Doctorates in Theology and Religion.” You can read Daniel’s essay in full by clicking here. The judges also gave special recognition to runner up Alys Evans, of Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg, who argued that, due to existence and impact of religious extremism, religion could not be defined as a help in racial equality. Alys also shared her plans for the future: “I am applying for a degree in Law and hope to attend Bristol University next year. In future, I would love to become a lawyer and possibly spend a year in New Zealand after University.” You can read Alys’ essay in full by clicking here. If you would like to become a part of these exciting and unique explorations, visit our website, speak to a member of Enquiries Team or join us on one of our Open Days to find out how to take your first steps. -
Christmas Tomfoolery
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Telling it Like it Is Teaching Resource Group (TILIIs)
TILIIs is an interest group that discusses and shares education resources addressing the long-standing corrosive effects of inequality and the legacies of other Post-Colonial issues on our contemporary society.
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