SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
Further Particulars
Chair in Education
Background to the Appointment
The University of Southampton, one of the UK's leading research universities, invites applications for a Chair in Education from candidates who are engaged in international research and have a successful track record in funded research and distinguished publications. We are particularly interested in applicants, from the UK and
overseas, with expertise in pedagogical research and teacher education. The Chair will be in the School of Education, which is a flourishing centre of research and teaching excellence with an international outlook. The School has a strong programme of initial teacher education including BA (QTS) and primary, secondary and post-compulsory PGCE; it also has a portfolio of masters and professional development opportunities and a thriving community of more than one hundred doctoral
students and seventy academic staff. The School is looking to extend its intellectual and research leadership in pedagogy and teacher education broadly defined, but preferably connected to the curriculum; science and mathematics education; primary education; secondary education; initial and continuing teacher education; or inter-professional learning and practice.
The School is situated on the main campus in a new building with state of the art facilities. The surrounding area is one of the most beautiful in Britain, with excellent rail and road links to London, and sea and air links to mainland Europe. Salary is negotiable with the successful candidate. Excellent benefits are available including subsidised health care and final salary pension schemes
The closing date is September 25th. Interviews will be held in the week commencing October 19th comprising a presentation to School of Education colleagues on day one followed by an interview on day two.
More information about our teaching programmes and research can be found on our website at www.education.soton.ac.uk and a profile of the School is provided later in these particulars.
The enclosed person and job specifications contain a profile of the potential appointee.
If you would value an informal preliminary discussion about this appointment, please contact the Head of School, Professor Jacky Lumby (tel 023 8059 3061, email J.G.Lumby@soton.ac.uk) or
Professor Melanie Nind (tel 023 8059 5813, email man@soton.ac.uk)
The School of Education
The School of Education is a research-led School, one of six Schools within the Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences. The School focuses on two main areas of academic activity:
a) Research and teaching spanning a broad range of Education programmes, including the primary, secondary, FE, HE and work-based sectors of education.
b) Research and teaching in the field of Sport, including BSc Sport Studies and BA Sport Management and Leadership programmes.
The School has over 70 FTE academic staff and is based on the University's main Highfield Campus, in new purpose-built facilities. The School is directly involved in the management of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods in the Social Sciences in the Faculty. It also collaborates with the School of Management in the Centre for Higher Education Management
and Policy at Southampton (Chempas), which is very active internationally in supporting research and leadership in Higher Education. The School is a partner in the University's HEFCE funded Centre for Excellence in Interprofessional Learning across the Public Services, responding to the Children's Agenda alongside Health and Social Work colleagues.The School is also the base for the DCFS funded
Regional Science Learning Centre South East.
Staff maintain good contact with other Faculties and Schools across the University, delivering joint courses, engaging in shared research activities, and providing strong links between academic disciplines and research/teaching in Education and Sport. Beyond the University, the School has excellent partnerships with LAs, schools and colleges in the region, with whom it works in research activities and in planning and delivering undergraduate, initial and in-service training programmes.
Research in the School of Education
The School has a national and international reputation for its research and scholarship. In the 2008 HEFCE Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 80 per cent of the School's research was graded of international quality. The School is building on this result with a suite of new posts. The research culture is fostered through a cross-School Research Initiatives Group and the engagement of staff with the large number of research students within the School. Research is currently
managed through three Research Centres (Pedagogy and Curriculum; Institutional and Professional Development; Post-Compulsory Education and Training), each of which acts as a focus for sharing individual research and encouraging joint research activity. Each Research Centre has work of international recognition and excellence. All members of academic staff and research students are members of one of these Centres, and work across Centres is welcomed.
Our research focuses on improving the quality of learning and teaching and professional practice in both the school and post-compulsory sectors, as well as in Sport.
The Post-Compulsory Education and Training Research Centre has major strengths in Work-based learning, Higher Education, Further Education and Initial Teacher Education; E-learning tools, techniques and online dialogue. In addition research focuses on socio-cultural context; change and innovation; Information and Communications Technology; issues in professional development; framework and tools; Higher Education
management and policy; education and work; and sport studies.
The Pedagogy and Curriculum (PAC) and Institutional and Professional Development Research (IPD) Centres between them have major strengths in research on changing schooling - this ranges from the micro-level of classroom interaction and dialogue through to the whole school level, including issues of school leadership and management, school choice, inclusion, curricular innovation, social and emotional aspects of education
and links with the Children's Agenda including work on children's mental health and wellbeing. The Pedagogy and Curriculum Research Centre currently focuses on research in classroom interaction; language and literacy in education; science and mathematics education, inclusion and intercultural education; teacher education and the development of evidence-based practice. Among the current research foci for the Institutional and Professional Development Research Centre are leadership, management and
organisational change in education and in Sport; marketing in education; and the emotions in education. Details of the School's research are at www.education.soton.ac.uk/research.
The School has been increasingly successful in obtaining external research funding across each of its Research Centres, including significant funding by the ESRC, DCSF, TDA, EU, JISC, WHO, World Universities Network and several charitable funding bodies. Research in the School is strongly supported by an active Research Office, including 3 members of dedicated administrative staff.
Our research students are drawn from both the UK and a wide range of other countries, creating a stimulating international community. Our research degree programmes are of high quality, recognised in our achievement of "1+3" recognition from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) for overall quality. All research students participate in our ESRC recognised Research Training Programme. As well as ESRC studentships, the School
has been successful in winning ESRC post-doctoral fellowships.
Teaching in the School of Education
The School of Education provides a broad range of teaching programmes with approximately 1500 FTE students, including a significant number of part-time students, some based in partnership organisations across the region. The School has a commitment to excellence and innovation in its teaching, which is recognised by external inspection of its programmes. Inspection by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) of
HEFCE-funded Education programmes in December 2000 resulted in the award of a maximum 24 points. OFSTED inspections of the PGCE programmes find our programmes 'Good'.
Current programmes are:
a) Doctoral programmes. The School of Education currently has approximately 90 students undertaking research degrees, including MPhil/PhD, EdD and MPhil (Res Meth). These share the department's Research Training Programme (RTP), which is integrated with the Faculty's research training programme. ESRC recognition is an important indicator of the quality of the School's RTP. The EdD
attracts some 12-20 new students per year, who currently specialise in either educational management or auto/ biographical studies
b) Masters programmes. The School offers a range of Masters programmes leading to the awards of MA(Ed), MSc(Ed), MA or MSc. These programmes are predominantly part-time in-service programmes, which students follow full time (1 year), part-time (2 years) or by accumulating two Postgraduate Certificates in Educational Studies (PCES) over a period of up to five years. They are developed collaboratively with
appropriate professional bodies (e.g. Local Authorities, British Dyslexia Association), and in some cases include collaboration with other Schools within the University. The programmes are modular and individual student pathways may draw from a range of units. They draw students from schools, FE, HE and other professional sectors, with a total of approximately 200 FTE registrations per year, including some 30-40 international students per annum. A new Masters in Inclusive Education and Social Justice is being
launched in 2009/10.
c) One year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) programmes, training primary and secondary school teachers, and funded by the Teacher Development Agency (TDA). These programmes are taught in partnership with schools and colleges in Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and the Isle of Wight. The University also supports a significant Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) with local schools,
training some 45 teachers each year through an employment-based pathway. The BA Education and Training (QTS) provides a progression route from Foundation degrees for those seeking to become primary / early years teachers.
d) Courses in Post Compulsory Education and Training, including theCertificate in Education (PCET), the BA (Post-Compulsory Education and Training)
g) BSc (Sport Studies) and BA (Sports Management and Leadership). These undergraduate programmes provide specialist teaching and professional training in Sport, with an annual intake of approximately 100 full time undergraduates each year.
h) Foundation Degrees in 'Working with Children' and 'Youth Work'. These part-time programmes provide undergraduate education to Level 2 for those working or aspiring to work in professional roles with children or with young people aged 12-18 (for example in youth and community activities). They have significant workplace-based elements, and are delivered in partnership with Further Education
Colleges.
Organisation and Management of the School of Education
The School is led at senior management level by Head of School, Deputy Head of School (Research), Deputy Head of School (Academic) Deputy Head of School (Enterprise and External Relations) and the School Manager. Policy is developed and implemented through the Senior Management Strategic Group (SMSG), the School Board, and through committees reporting to School Board. Research across Centres is led by the Research Initiatives Group, currently
consisting of Centre Heads, the Deputy Head (Research), Director of Postgraduate Research and the Head of School, and supported by the Research Office. Individual teaching programmes are managed by specific Course Boards, and directed by Programme Directors. The School has a strong support staff team of 24, led by the School Manager.
