CPD at UCS

Richard runs a range of courses in the areas of Computing and Internet safety. These include subject leader courses and practical training that help staff to develop confidence. Richard is the named person who Shropshire safeguarding officers refer schools to for internet safety advice and CPD (Continuous Professional Training). Courses have included coding, robotics, greenscreen and computer aided design.

He set up his own company, AmazingICT, thirteen years ago to inspire teachers to make better use of technology. He works in three different schools every week to support their development and runs a range of courses both locally and nationally.

Richard helps to run a Computing at School community that offers free advice and tips to teachers of Computing. Enquiries about the latest courses and internet safety resources can be sent to cpd@chester.ac.uk. Richard actively shares ideas via Twitter to help staff.

Leanne founded The STEM Workshop in 2018 as a direct result of the decline of Design and Technology within schools. She is an experienced leader and teacher having previously led various subjects including Design and Technology, Science and Maths. Leanne secured a National Professional Qualification in Senior Leadership for bringing about sustainable changes across STEM within her previous role. In the work Leanne has done in supporting the work across several organisations and schools she was awarded an Excellence Award in 2021 from the Design and Technology Association for the Development of STEM Learning Opportunities Award. Leanne works with several schools and organisations to help improve their Design and Technology provision, she also works as a lecturer at the University of Chester on training both primary and secondary.

Peter Kennedy is a drama in education specialist and course leader with more than twenty five years’ experience of providing learners of all ages with engaging and inspiring drama experiences.

As Consultant Practitioner on Stockport’s Drama, Engagement, Active Learning programme (DEAL), Peter works with children and teachers, equipping both with this powerful pedagogy to make learning memorable and irresistible.

“On behalf of us all, we’d just like to say a MASSIVE thank you for inspiring and exciting us … the energy and pedagogy that you have is invaluable and has left us as a school raring to go!”
Deputy Head

Peter also works in partnership with individual primary schools and multi academy trusts to develop their use of drama to enrich the curriculum as well as to support writing and emotional well being. As part of the North West Drama Services team Peter directs both the Stockport and Oldham Children’s Shakespeare Festivals, promoting cross curricular and performance work.
Previously, Peter was Head of Drama at The Kingsway School (Stockport) leading a thriving drama department in a twelve form entry comprehensive school and, as an Associate Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University, Peter supported the development of trainee teachers.

Since 2005, Peter has led both primary and secondary courses for teachers in Shropshire.

Dave is currently the Local Authority Outdoor Education Advisor for Shropshire working within the Education Improvement Service. He has over the last 40 years worked within the Voluntary, Charitable and Statutory sectors through the medium of Outdoor Education. Having managed a number of Outdoor Education Centres in Central London he moved to Shropshire in 2007 taking up the post of Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Officer before taking up his current role in 2016.

Michael Bird is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Chester and Head of the Initial Teacher Education Department. He is a passionate historian, author, researcher and teacher and helped to inaugurate the History PGCE at the University in 2014. He is also a regular contributor to the Historical Association, co-founder of the website Teacher Learning, experienced consultant, external examiner and a qualified tourist guide. He is a great believer in teachers’ becoming authorities in their practice and a strong advocate for new and innovative models of teacher learning and development.

I joined the PGCE Secondary team at the University of Chester in January 2015 where I am a Senior Lecturer in Mathematics Education and the subject lead for the PGCE Secondary Mathematics programme. I spent 3 years as the Programme Leader for the PGCE Secondary course and also spent a number of years as the Mathematics Subject Knowledge Enhancement Course Leader. I have previously worked with a number of non-mathematics specialist teachers to develop their knowledge of mathematics teaching on the Post Initial Teacher Education Subject Knowledge Enhancement Course.

Prior to joining the University of Chester I worked in a number of secondary schools as a mathematics teacher, and have also worked at the University of Manchester as a PGCE Secondary Mathematics tutor. I have an MA in Educational Practice with a specialism in Mathematics Education and am currently studying for a Doctorate in Education. My research interests include exploring the way in which early career teachers navigate the mathematics classroom away from their PGCE and the research that informs their practice. I am also currently part of an ERASMUS plus project developing research in teacher education.

I am passionate about developing mathematics education in schools in order to increase the accessibility and inclusivity for all pupils. I am involved in a number of collaborative projects with the NCETM maths hubs along with colleagues from the University of Chester primary and secondary maths teams with the focus on developing mathematics teacher training in school.

I am the treasurer of the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMET) and a member of the British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics (BSRLM).

Kathryn joined the University of Chester in September 2014 where she is a Senior Lecturer in Primary Mathematics Education, teaching on both the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Currently she is also the Programme Leader for the PGCE Primary (Core and Lead School Partner Route) and PGCE Primary/Early Years (Core and Lead School Partner Route) programmes. As a teacher of primary mathematics, Kathryn often comes across students who want to be primary teachers, but do not like the subject; her aim is to build up the confidence of these students, so they grow to love the subject and become excellent teachers of mathematics.
Before working at the University of Chester, she worked in a number of primary schools, and has also been a mathematics consultant for Cheshire West and Chester Authority. Kathryn has an MA in Teaching and Learning with a specialism in Mathematics Education and is currently studying for a Doctorate in Education. Her research interests are mainly about how to change the perceptions of people, especially beginning teachers, so that they feel positive about mathematics and can therefore spread the news that mathematics can be a wonderful subject for everyone.

Kathryn is a member of the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMET) and of the British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics (BSRLM).

Having started life in a commercial environment working in sales for Mars Confectionery, I re trained as a teacher working for Telford College of Arts and Technology delivering their Chartered Management Institute Diploma and British Sign Language courses. I then moved to a primary school where I spent 12 years working as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant and PE lead.

In January 2020, I joined Energize Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, the local Active Partnership. My role their as Active Schools Manager is to support primary and secondary schools to increase engagement of pupils in PE, school sport and physical activity to improve their physical health and mental wellbeing. I am currently leading the Creating Active Schools national pilot for our area a research based project in conjunction with Leeds Beckett University to promote a whole systems approach to school improvement by providing a structure for embedding physical activity at the heart of a school’s ethos and culture. I also run the Shropshire PE CPD network meetings for primary and secondary schools across the county.

Fiona spent 15 years as a primary school teacher and now works as a National Senior adviser for RE Today and is the CEO of the National Association of Teachers of RE (NATRE). She works with MATs, schools, SACREs, religious and non religious communities and key stakeholders such as OFSTED, DFE and others. She edits and write termly publications on RE for RE Today that can be purchased through NATRE and are received with NATRE membership.

She is one of the writers of the Shropshire Agreed syllabus and has written many other agreed syllabuses. She has been involved in writing publications on non religious and religious worldviews including the Understanding Christianity resource. She trains on subject knowledge in RE, different ways of knowing, teaching strategies, support for subject leaders and governors. Her training is highly valued.

Eleanor has a wealth of experience within primary science education, teaching and leading science for 16 years across the full primary age range in mainstream and ASD/EBD schools. She has worked as a Leading Teacher of Science for Bolton Education Authority, and is experienced in creating and delivering high quality, exemplary lessons and workshops in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

In 2015, she was awarded Primary Science Teacher of the year and became a lifetime college fellow of Primary Science Teaching Trust and an independent Primary Science Consultant. In 2016, she worked in collaboration with Professor Saiful Islam and the RI to produce a series of primary lessons linked to the 2016 Christmas Lectures broadcast on BBC. In 2017 Eleanor contributed to the latest edition of ASE guide to Primary Science, writing a chapter on how to promote understanding through dialogue. In addition to her consultancy work for Primarily Science and the Ogden Trust, Eleanor is currently an associate lecturer at Edge Hill University, guiding a Hub of schools through the Primary Science Quality Mark and writing a range of science textbooks for the International market.