Search results
-
Dr Helen Bushell-Thornalley
Helen has oversight of Secondary PGCE for Physical Education and Dance, leadership in secondary mentor training and Educational Ethnography research in the Education Master's programme team. Helen had an International career of fourteen years, playing Hockey for England and Great Britain and coaching professionally within this sport. During the 2018 Helen was part of the former Women’s International group during the Hockey World Cup. Helen’s first degree is in Sports Science and her subsequent qualification as a secondary Physical Education teacher at Brunel University. Throughout her school career, she was Head of Department of Physical Education department and then as Head of Sixth Form in an outstanding school of over 1200 pupils in London. Helen then moved from her role in leadership to work with undergraduate, PGCE, GT, OTT and Master's in Education degree students at St Mary’s University. Helen took on a leading role within mentoring and coaching Secondary Physical Education Specials at St Mary’s University for four-years QTS degrees and PGCE programmes. During ten years at that institution, Helen held leadership roles in Education at Academic, and Programme Director levels and course leads and completed her Master’s degree from Surrey University. This research developed an institutional Academic Tutoring System ATS, focusing on tutor support for degree classifications and target setting for undergraduate QTS students through Action Research. In 2012 Helen embarked on her Doctorate in Education at Bishop Grosseteste University. The focus of Helen’s research is in Physical Education and School Sport and how the Olympic movement has politically influenced practices in the UK, from its origin in Victorian Britain and then during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. -
Janet Atkinson
Janet joined BGU in September 2016 from Bath Spa University where she was a Senior Lecturer. She worked with the PGCE students in Maths and Professional Studies alongside being an Academic Tutor for a group of teacher trainees. Her introduction to Higher Education was as an Associate Lecturer at the University of the West England teaching on both their undergraduate ITT and PGCE courses. She worked within the primary and early years teams supporting the 3rd Year students and PE Subject Specialists. Janet had previously been a Primary School Teacher in Lancashire for over 15 years, teaching across the Primary age range. She held a number of leadership and subject responsibilities, including supporting colleagues in both primary and secondary school settings. Teaching Janet teaches on the BA (Hons) Primary Education Course and contributes to the Primary PGCE and PTS programmes. Her teaching interests include Maths, PE and computing. -
Dr Mary-Louise Maynes
Louise has been teaching at Bishop Grosseteste University since 2008, initially as a visiting tutor and as a full-time member of staff from 2012. Prior to working at BGU Louise worked as a primary teacher in Kent and Lincolnshire and for a Schools Library Service, where she advised teachers on how to set up and manage school libraries. She has also had a career as a museum educator, working with children and young people in a variety of museums including the Apprentice House at Quarry Bank Mill in Cheshire and the Natural History Museum in London where she managed their hands-on ‘discovery centre’. Teaching Louise teaches on the undergraduate Early Childhood Studies programme. Her teaching interests include the history of childhood, early literacy and working with babies and children under three. She has a particular interest in Children’s Literature and in developing ways to encourage students and practitioners to extend their knowledge and use of books with babies and young children. She has also contributed sessions on informal learning for the Education Studies programme. -
Paul Brenham-Foster
Paul is a graduate of the University of North Wales, Bangor and has taught in Primary Education for over 20 years, specialising in Early Years Education. Before becoming a full time member of the Academic Staff at BGU, he was seconded to the University from Derbyshire’s largest Nursery and Infant School, where he was a member of the Senior Management Team, Foundation Co-ordinator and Nursery Teacher, overseeing a department of 16 teaching staff and teaching assistants and over 200 foundation stage children. In February 2014, Paul was identified by OFSTED as an outstanding teacher, leader and manager. Previously, Paul was Assistant Headteacher of a Derby City School which became one of the first full service extended schools and part of the pilot of Sure Start Children’s Centres which was purpose built onto the school. Paul played a lead management role in setting up the provision including breakfast and after school clubs, daycare and holiday playschemes and this lead to involvement with Derby Children’s University and Paul was one of the original staff who set this up, allowing children to gain accreditation for their Out of Hours Learning, writing and delivering custom course content. Paul was involved in developing the role of Teaching Assistants as remodelling the workforce was introduced as part of his role as a School Governor. He has been involved with delivering training seminars and conferences for local authorities on Out of Hours Learning, Ensuring Outstanding Early Years Provision, Computing and New Technologies and was part of the Inner London Whiteboard Project in 2004. Although Paul has taught throughout the primary phase as a specialist in computing and new technologies, his passion is within Early Years, working with aspects such as physical literacy, drama and developing early imagination skills. As part of his management role within Early Years, Paul has been involved in moderation and training events as part of a cluster of Nursery and Infant schools and a Foundation Stage External Moderator. Paul has a long history of ITT, previously being on the Academic Board of Derby University for its Graduate Teacher Program and being a School Based Mentor for both Derby and Nottingham Trent Universities. Paul holds the Level 3 Award for Forest Schools and teaches this across the Primary Programmes and completed his MA dissertation on The Forest School Approach and Children’s Progress, Mental Health and Wellbeing. This is an area Paul would like to take further as part of his EdD journey. The MA research has been presented at local and national conference events and also as part of Masterclasses as a visiting tutor to some of the University partner 6th form colleges. Teaching Paul is the Cohort Leader for the PCGE 3-7 programme and teaches across the range of Primary Programmes at BGU for Early Years, Computing, Phonics, Drama, Design and Technology and he is the University Forest School Guru! He also supervises students on school placements as a University Based Mentor. Paul is a member of the following Academic Subject Specialist Teams: Early YearsEarly Years AssessmentEnglish – DramaEnglish - PhonicsComputing and New TechnologiesPaul is the lead for the Primary Assessment Only route for candidates who can demonstrate they are meeting the Teacher’s Standards in order to be awarded QTS. He also delivers part of the Mentoring and Coaching Training Days for school based mentors in the University Partnership and this has recently been adapted as part of the University and Armed Forces Covenant seeing the training delivered to the RAF and Officers of Lincolnshire based Red Arrows Team. -
Professor Chris Atkin
Programme Leader MA in EducationProfessor Chris Atkin’s education qualifications include Certificate in Education (Further Education), Bachelor of Education (Hons.), Master of Arts in Learning and Teaching, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Chris’ main research expertise lies in the policy and practice of post-school education and training; with a particular focus on rural communities. He has completed a range of research projects funded by the UK funding councils (ESRC, EPSRC, NERC), the Higher Education Academy (HEA), the British Academy, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the National Research and Development Centre for adult literacy and numeracy (NRDC), Local Authorities and the Learning and Skills Council. His research has included both national and international comparative studies including ‘practitioner based’ enquiry with a range of educational stakeholders. He currently teaches on master's and doctoral programmes. Chris has held academic posts at De Montfort University (1994-99), the University of Nottingham (1999-2010) and Liverpool Hope University (2010-12). Chris joined Bishop Grosseteste University in September 2012. -
Ruth Pearson
Ruth taught in Doncaster schools for twenty five years across the Foundation Stage, Key Stage One and Key Stage Two. She was responsible for many areas of the curriculum including the Early Years, English, Art, ICT, MFL, SEN and EAL. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, she led all Key Stage Teams during her long and very happy teaching career. Ruth joined Bishop Grosseteste University as a Lecturer after being a School Based Mentor to many of our trainees in January 2015 on a secondment from her role in school as Assistant Headteacher. She became the Cohort Leader for the PGCE (EYTS) and took up a full time permanent role in 2017. Teaching Ruth is the Cohort Leader for School Direct (Primary) and as a Senior Lecturer, currently teaches on the PGCE Primary programme. Her particular areas of specialism are English, Phonics and the Early Years. -
Dr Sheine Peart
Dr Sheine Peart joined Bishop Grosseteste University in April 2019 from Nottingham Trent University. She is an Associate Professor in Access, Equality and Inclusion and is based within the Research Team at BGU. She is Programme Leader for Education based PhDs and the Education Doctorate as well as contributing to other education courses. She has had a diverse career in education working as a secondary school teacher, youth worker and education adviser before moving into higher education (HE) in 2006. Immediately before teaching in HE she worked in the further education (FE) sector for 15 years teaching numeracy to learners on a wide variety of vocational programmes and managing teacher education programmes. She has wide knowledge of practical classroom issues, extensive experience of working with learners who present challenging behaviour and an outstanding track record in supporting students, helping them to identify and achieve their goals. Her outstanding doctoral research on the experience of Black male learners in the post-compulsory sector which privileged the voices of marginalized, silenced learners won the national BERA/SAGE award for research. Sheine’s education qualifications include a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE Secondary Education), Bachelor of Science (Hons.), Master of Arts in Education and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Dr Sheine Peart is happy to answer any queries regarding BGU's Doctoral courses. Email sheine.peart@bishopg.ac.uk -
The history of Lincoln
The city of Lincoln has played a historic role in English history, from its Iron Age beginnings through to the modern day, via Roman rule and the Industrial Revolution. -
Research ethics & integrity
BGU upholds and promotes high standards of research ethics at all points of the research cycle. -
Selection Committee
The Selection committee is responsible for advising University Council on senior appointments. It convenes on an ad hoc basis when a relevant vacancy arises.
Explore BGU
Browse our wide range of degree courses and find the perfect one for you.
Open days are the best way to find out what BGU has to offer.
Download your copy of our prospectus to find out more about life at BGU.