Rachel Simpson

Biography	I am an Associate Professor in the School of Education, specialising in Initial Teacher Education (ITE). I graduated from Sheffield University in 1996 with a BSc(Hons) degree in Animal and Plant Biology. I then completed a PGCE in Primary Education at Homerton College, Cambridge University. I taught in primary schools in Cambridge for fourteen years, including ten years as a deputy head teacher. During this time, I was a Leading Teacher for the Cambridgeshire Local Authority for Gifted and Talented pupils, and a subject leader of many subjects in primary schools including science, mathematics and PSHCE. I moved to Vietnam in 2012, where I gained a year’s teaching experience in an international school (as well as continuing to develop my love of exploring the world)! I then returned to the UK to work in Higher Education at Leeds Trinity University, as an Associate Principal Lecturer in Primary Education. As well as teaching Primary Science, I worked on Professional Studies programmes, had the role of as welfare tutor, and co-led a student engagement project supported by the HEA. I joined the School of Education at Durham University in 2015, as an Assistant Professor, and became an Associate Professor in 2019. I teach on the PGCE and BA Primary Education programmes, including leading the Primary Science Education team and Professional Studies input including a Leadership module. I have been in the leadership roles of PGCE Primary Programme Director and Deputy Director for Primary Professional Programmes. Currently, I am the Director of ITE Programmes (non-QTS), the Assessment Leader across the ITE programmes - overseeing high quality assessment and feedback on all ITE modules, and the Academic Advisor Leader. I am also the Co-Programme Director of the PGCE International Programme, based in Geneva. I am a Senior Fellow of the HEA. My research interests reflect my passion for student-centred learning. I co-led a university-funded 'Enhancing the Student Learning Experience' project in 2016-17, focusing on trainee teachers’ engagement in feedback systems, through the introduction of peer review tools. I am currently researching ways to enhance trainee teachers’ engagement, resilience and passion for their profession, by designing, implementing and evaluating a creative teaching package. I have designed and delivered a range of bespoke presentations and workshops to colleagues in schools (UK-based and international) and Higher Education in the field of creative teaching and teaching for creativity, and I have recently contributed to an Into Opera residency based in schools in Norwich. I have also been engaged in Outreach with Partnership primary schools, including leading Continuing Professional Development for Primary Science subject leaders in local schools.
Research Interests	Research Interests Creative teaching and the creative teacher Peer Review as a Formative Assessment Tool in Higher Education Primary Science Education

Biography

I am an Associate Professor in the School of Education, specialising in Initial Teacher Education (ITE).

I graduated from Sheffield University in 1996 with a BSc(Hons) degree in Animal and Plant Biology. I then completed a PGCE in Primary Education at Homerton College, Cambridge University. I taught in primary schools in Cambridge for fourteen years, including ten years as a deputy head teacher. During this time, I was a Leading Teacher for the Cambridgeshire Local Authority for Gifted and Talented pupils, and a subject leader of many subjects in primary schools including science, mathematics and PSHCE.

I moved to Vietnam in 2012, where I gained a year’s teaching experience in an international school (as well as continuing to develop my love of exploring the world)! I then returned to the UK to work in Higher Education at Leeds Trinity University, as an Associate Principal Lecturer in Primary Education. As well as teaching Primary Science, I worked on Professional Studies programmes, had the role of as welfare tutor, and co-led a student engagement project supported by the HEA.

I joined the School of Education at Durham University in 2015, as an Assistant Professor, and became an Associate Professor in 2019. I teach on the PGCE and BA Primary Education programmes, including leading the Primary Science Education team and Professional Studies input including a Leadership module.

I have been in the leadership roles of PGCE Primary Programme Director and Deputy Director for Primary Professional Programmes. Currently, I am the Director of ITE Programmes (non-QTS), the Assessment Leader across the ITE programmes - overseeing high quality assessment and feedback on all ITE modules, and the Academic Advisor Leader. I am also the Co-Programme Director of the PGCE International Programme, based in Geneva. I am a Senior Fellow of the HEA.

My research interests reflect my passion for student-centred learning. I co-led a university-funded 'Enhancing the Student Learning Experience' project in 2016-17, focusing on trainee teachers’ engagement in feedback systems, through the introduction of peer review tools. I am currently researching ways to enhance trainee teachers’ engagement, resilience and passion for their profession, by designing, implementing and evaluating a creative teaching package.

I have designed and delivered a range of bespoke presentations and workshops to colleagues in schools (UK-based and international) and Higher Education in the field of creative teaching and teaching for creativity, and I have recently contributed to an Into Opera residency based in schools in Norwich. I have also been engaged in Outreach with Partnership primary schools, including leading Continuing Professional Development for Primary Science subject leaders in local schools.

Research Interests

Research Interests Creative teaching and the creative teacher Peer Review as a Formative Assessment Tool in Higher Education Primary Science Education