Message from the Head of School

This year the School of Education has gone from strength to strength, with new programmes up and running, and others currently being planned for launch in 2020. Our ‘year of inspections’ is detailed in this newsletter, and we are proud of the positive outcomes for our three professional programmes. We have reviewed our EdD programme and the new version will be offered from September 2020, with all teaching carried out at the University from September 2019. This will enable students to access our teaching spaces and resources and see a bit more of the city. We have a new MA programme in development in Digital Literacies, Culture and Education, drawing on the strengths of new and established colleagues. Our research also goes from strength to strength, and you can catch up on our projects on the website, as well as linking to our recent publications.

We have welcomed many new staff to the School to support our development plans, and bring new areas of research and teaching expertise, and we are in the process of making further appointments for the next academic year. This means that you are leaving a School of Education that is growing and developing in our provision for UK and international students. By September 2019 we are likely to have around a thousand students studying with us across BA, Masters and Doctoral levels so our valued alumni community will continue to grow.

We are looking forward to seeing this year’s graduates, and meeting friends and families at the summer graduation ceremony. We know that we are doing many things well, based on the positive feedback we have just received in the National Student Survey from our BA undergraduates. We use this feedback to inform improvements and ensure that our students have positive experiences during their time in Sheffield. You will see in the newsletter the varied careers and projects that our alumni are involved with in their ongoing study and professional lives, and the lasting effects of their degrees on their values and aspirations.

When Simon Armitage took on the role of Poet Laureate this year, he commented that we live in confused and confusing times, and that is why we need poetry. I would like to add this is also why we need Education as an area for study, research and advocacy. Our critical approaches and perspectives support staff and students in questioning, evaluating, contesting and sometimes disrupting what might be presented as truths and certainties. We hope that you will continue to use these qualities in your future lives and careers.

Please keep in touch and tell us about your lives, and how being a Sheffield alumni helps you to realise your hopes for yourselves and your communities.

With good wishes,

Dr Elizabeth Wood

Professor of Education

Head of School