Research

Delivering the PGCE Programme

Ongoing

A series of works that include the strengths and challenges of partnership working; investigating the blended distance pedagogy; micro-teaching and peer reflection; and developing the PGCE Programme.

The Happy Child 2

2026

Funded by the Open University's Faculty of Well-being, Education and Languages’ Research Development Fund, this research builds on an EdD study investigating children's happiness in school. Utilising a mixed-method Mosaic (Clark, 2011) approach, the research enables young children to share their experiences through drawings, paintings, photographs and discussions. These artefacts provide valuable insights to practitioners about provision, and how environments, resources and planned opportunities can impact children’s emotional development and happiness.

Developing reflective practice in Initial Teacher Education

2024–26

Funded by the Open University’s Faculty of Well-being, Education and Language PRAXIS Centre for Scholarship and Innovation, this collaboration between teacher educators and student teachers developed a toolkit that includes two new reflective models to support student teachers’ reflective practice.

Read the project report · Paper in Journal of Education, Innovation and Communication

Exploring the teaching of multiplicative reasoning through measures

2024–25

Funded by the Open University’s Faculty of Well-being, Education and Language’s Research Development Fund, this design-based research project worked with teachers and learners to trial, evaluate and develop measures-based tasks to support multiplicative reasoning in the primary school.

Developing professional conversations

2023–24

Funded by the Open University’s Faculty of Well-being, Education and Language’s PRAXIS Centre for Scholarship and Innovation, this study provided insights into the ‘professional conversations’ that practice tutors have with students and school mentors.

Read the project report · Paper in International Journal of Changes in Education

Supporting personal target setting for early career teachers

2023–24

In partnership with Ysgol Nantgwyn and funded by Central South Consortium, this participatory research project developed a collaborative early career teacher framework to underpin personal target setting.

ZEST – Zambia Education School-based Training

2023–24

In collaboration with World Vision and funded by the Scottish Government, an Action Research project with teachers in Zambia explored their reflections on using the active teaching and learning approaches of ZEST.

Paper in Journal of Learning for Development

The use of video technology for reflection on lessons

2022–23

Funded by the Open University’s Faculty of Well-being, Education and Language’s PRAXIS Centre for Scholarship and Innovation, this study informed understanding of the benefits and challenges of using video technology in lessons. A bank of resources created by the project supports partner schools and student teachers.

Read the project report

Effective mentoring in ITE: What works and why

2021–22

Funded by the Open University’s Faculty of Well-being, Education and Language’s PRAXIS Centre for Scholarship and Innovation, this research used artefacts to explore mentoring approaches across the OU ITE Partnership.

A collection of case studies showcases approaches in different school contexts.

• Read the project report
• Paper in Educators Perspective
• Paper in Mentoring & Tutoring
• Paper in PRACTICE

PGCE Practice Tutors – preconceptions, perceptions and actuality

2021

Funded by the Open University’s Faculty of Well-being, Education and Languages’ PRAXIS Centre for Scholarship and Innovation, this study explored how practice tutors within the PGCE in Wales understand and enact their role.

Read the full project report