Our staff
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Khadija Tai
Lecturer, Placement Coordinator and First Placement Module Lead
Khadija qualified in 2006 and first practised as a children and families social worker in Birmingham before moving on to management in 2012. In 2020, she delivered strategic services in Sandwell as a service manager within safeguarding and court work, before joining Birmingham City University social work department in May 2023...
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Kerry Taylor
Senior Lecturer
Kerry is currently leading the PGCE Science routes teaching on both the Professional Studies module and Subject Pedagogy module where she specialises in biology education. Professional Studies aim to prepare trainees for the wider role of the teacher, considering aspects of the profession concerned with safeguarding and prevent...
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Helen Thomas BSc, PGCE, PGCert(HE), MA Ed, CPhys, MInstP, FHEA
PGCE Subject Route Leader for the Sciences and Senior Lecturer in Science Education
Helen taught science and physics in particular for 17 years in schools, 6th form college and FE before joining Birmingham City University. Responsibilities included GCSE Science Course Leader and Head of Physics. Helen's move to the University led from catching the research bug whilst completing a Master's degree combined with...
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Liz Titley
Course Leader – BA Education Studies
Liz Titley graduated with a BA (Hons) in English Literature and Education Studies from Aberystwyth University and went on to continue with PhD study.
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Paul Trimble
Senior English Lecturer
Paul works on the PGCE and SKE programmes for English as well as supervising students at Master's level. He also worked for 10 years on the Teach First PGDE programme - a work-based route into teaching. His subject specialism is English and he works exclusively with training English teachers. He has also got experience of...
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Dr Alex Wade
Senior Research Fellow
Alex's work is at its best where videogames meet society. Using theory to explore these intersections he looks to the histories of games to explore the formation of society during the Cold War and beyond. Of particular interest in his work are concepts of space, time, consumption as a function of production and the role of...
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Jessica Wagner
Senior Lecturer in Social Work
After qualifying from the University of Wales in 2003, Jessica has spent the majority of her professional experience within statutory children’s services, where she held posts both as a practitioner and manager in safeguarding teams. This allowed her to gain experience of working in child protection and child in need services...
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Dr Colin Watt
Senior Lecturer in Social Work
Colin is a registered Social Worker and a lecturer with extensive experience of operational and strategic management in both the statutory and voluntary sectors. He has contributed to local, regional and national networks with statutory responsibilities to implement, monitor and review government policy and legislation...
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Dr Louise Wheatcroft
Senior Lecturer in Primary English
Louise is a senior lecturer teaching primary English on the BA and PGCE Primary Education with QTS courses and has been working at BCU since 2008. She is also a year 1 tutor on the BAQTS course. Louise was a primary teacher and literacy coordinator in Birmingham and also completed 4 years as a volunteer for VSO in the Maldives...
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Heather Whitehead
Lecturer In Primary Education
Heather has been involved with BCU for a number of years, beginning this journey as a Post Grad student several years ago herself following completion of a degree in early year’s education. Heather now works part time as part of the Primary education team where her focus and passion is English. Heather teaches on the BA...