I graduated from Birmingham University with a B.Sc. in Bacteriology and had the option of starting a Ph.D. in microbial biochemistry or going to Durham University to do a P.G.C.E. I chose the latter and became a science teacher, eventually becoming Head of Science, in a secondary school in Berkshire where I taught science and biology up to A level.

My interest in primary education emerged as a result of having children and I was lucky enough to be able to ‘convert’ to the primary phase. I have worked with all ages across the primary phase from Year R to year 6. One of the most interesting times in my teaching career was as a teacher in a cross-phase pupil referral unit for emotionally and behaviourally disturbed children. It was lively and challenging but also very rewarding. I decided to take the opportunity to work out of the classroom and also out of education for a while by becoming a health education officer with the National Health Service. It was good to have experience of working in a multi disciplinary team and it was during this time that I studied for my Master’s degree in Health Education/Health Promotion here at the University. I was able to make good use of my studies by returning to education, this time, as a teacher adviser for PSHE. Working with teachers and helping them develop the curriculum provided the impetus for my move into higher education.

I joined University College Chichester, now Chichester University as a senior lecturer in Initial Teacher Education where I co-coordinated the undergraduate and PGCE science programmes. I moved to Southampton in 2000 to teach on the Primary PGCE course and became Programme Director in 2005. I am currently the Learning and Teaching Coordinator for the School. My research interests include children’s cognitive development, especially in science, the affective domain of the self and its impact on learning, health education and issues in ITE.

I enjoy walking, reading, gardening, going to the theatre and being with family and friends.