Assistant Professor in Primary Education - School of Education - 59639 - Grade 8

Position Details 

School of Education 

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK 

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £42,149 to £50,296, with potential progression once in post to £56,587.

Grade 8

Part Time, Fixed Term Contract up to 31.07.2023, 25 hours per week.

Closing date: 25th November 2021

Background

The School of Education at the University of Birmingham is an international leader in multidisciplinary research and teaching in the field of education. In the last REF, the School was 1st in the UK for research environment and 2nd for research outputs. The School ranks 44th globally (QS world rankings 2020) and 10th in the UK (Complete University Guide 2021).

The Department of Teacher Education in the School of Education, School of Education is seeking to recruit an Assistant Professor in Primary Education. Expertise in one or more of Primary Physical Education, Music, History, Religious Education or Computing would be particularly beneficial. Experience of research and teaching in higher education, particularly in primary ITE is desirable. 

The post holder will lead on the teaching and assessment of ITE students; recruit, interview and select students; and undertake personal tutoring and school visits.  Experience and/or additional specialist knowledge of primary special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) would be welcome. The successful applicant will also contribute to our MA Teaching Studies programme, supervising dissertations for practising teachers, as well as to the undergraduate and postgraduate teaching off across the School. 

The post holder will also contribute to citizenship and administration in the Department and wider School and College. While this is a teaching-focused appointment, the post-holder will also be supported to contribute to scholarship and knowledge exchange in their specialist area. 

Please note the successful candidate for this role will require DBS clearance.

Role Summary

To design, develop and deliver a range of programmes of study within a discipline in line with the School’s teaching strategy and undertake and deliver research programmes.

The person will contribute to the teaching and administration of the Primary & Early Years PGDipEd (QTS) course, a one year (38 weeks) full time course.

The role of any PGDipEd (QTS) tutor has a very clear requirement to act as a personal tutor to their tutees. Each tutor has a number of personal tutees (normally up to 20) for whom s/he will be directly responsible for supporting, monitoring, targeting and leading their development as beginning teachers. This relationship is a fundamental aspect of the training process, requiring the creation of a close professional relationship during the training year.

The job requires a high level of expertise and subject knowledge in Primary and Early Years Education, an awareness of research in order to assess at Master’s level, the ability to initiate and manage the complexity of a multi-based course and, above all the ability to apply the requisite knowledge and skills with immediacy.

Teaching is likely to include a substantial contribution to: (a) the management, development and delivery of teaching and assessment at all levels; and (b) enhancement of the student experience and employability.  The role will typically also involve developing and advising others, including: (a) providing expert advice to staff and students, and (b) developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods. 

You will be expected to advance teaching and learning practice in your modules within the school, take a role in leading curriculum development, and play an important role in student academic and pastoral support.  You will deliver excellent teaching that inspires students, and is informed by discipline-based research. 
Management and administration is likely to include developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement widening participation, schools outreach, or similar activities at Department/School level or further within the University.

Main Duties

Education

You will contribute across the range of teaching and learning activities:

• contribute to leading curriculum development and/or renewal;

• develop and manage approaches to teaching and learning that are best practice in the subject area or institution;

• advise others on aspects of learning, teaching and assessment;

• deliver (where appropriate to the discipline) specific professional programmes;

• advance the practice of teaching in their modules and within the school, and play an important role in student academic support;

• inform your teaching practice by discipline based research;

• frequently update your subject expertise, and undertake personal professional development in teaching, including self-reflection on own teaching, using student and peer review feedback, to enhance own teaching and learning processes;

• you may play an important role in the recruitment and admission of students; and co-supervise doctoral students to completion.

Using a variety of methods in teaching and advising individuals and groups of undergraduates, postgraduates, or CPD students, including (as appropriate):teaching and examining courses at a range of levels;

• planning and reviewing your own teaching approaches and encouraging others to do the same;

• designing contemporary, inclusive, engaging and academically challenging curriculum content;

• working collaboratively with colleagues to design and deliver teaching, learning and assessment;

• using digital resources/environments effectively to support learning and assessment;

• developing programme proposals and making substantial contributions to the design of teaching programmes more widely;

• where appropriate, undertaking and developing the full range of responsibilities in relation to supervision, marking and examining;

• developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods;

• developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement,  public engagement activities or similar on own specialism that enhances the student experience or employability and which benefits the College and University;

• devising and supervising projects, student dissertations and practical work.

Management/Administration

To contribute to Departmental /School administration. This may include:

• contributing to the administration/management of teaching across the Department/School;

• where appropriate, leading and managing a team to devise and implement a new and/or revised process (e.g. new programme or a recruitment drive);

• advising on personal development of colleagues and students;

• making a contribution to administrative activities within the University (e.g. appeals panels, working groups);

• managing enterprise, business development, and public engagement activities;

• developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement, widening participation, schools outreach;

• promoting equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.

Citizenship

Contributing to an inclusive working environment:

• pursuing your activities in a way that helps others to pursue their activities effectively and efficiently;

• demonstrating a willingness to be involved in a variety of activities supporting University life (e.g., participation in graduation, Departmental/School committees);

• demonstrating support for colleagues, such as sharing resources, providing advice; 

• willingness to volunteer for one-off duties (such as supporting School, Institute, and Departmental projects);

• positively engaging in School strategic initiatives;

• proactive support and involvement in activities specifically contributing to a positive and inclusive community spirit across the School/College/University.

Person Specification  

Teaching

• QTS and a higher degree relevant to the relevant teaching/research area, normally a higher Degree relevant to the discipline area (usually PhD) close to completion or equivalent qualifications

• Ability to design, deliver, assess and revise teaching programmes. 

• Extensive experience and demonstrated success in developing appropriate approaches to learning and teaching and advising colleagues. 

• Experience and achievement in knowledge transfer, enterprise and similar activity that enhances the student experience or employability.

Management Administration

• Ability to contribute to School/Departmental management processes.

• Ability to assess and organise resources effectively.

• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes.

• Experience of championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in own work area.

• Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation, policies, procedures are applied. 

• Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action.

For informal enquiries please contact the Primary ITE Programme Lead, Nicola Smith, at [email protected]

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment 

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.