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.

Show/hide all publications

• Books
• Sharp, J.G. and Byrne, J. (2007) 3rd Edition Primary Science Audit and Test., Exeter, Learning Matters
• Byrne, J. and Sharp, J. (2002) Primary Science and ICT. Exeter, Learning Matters
• Book Chapters
• Byrne, J. and Grace, M.M. (2004) Life Processes and living things in Developing science in the primary classroom: a guide for teachers and trainees John G. Sharp (Ed), Exeter, Learning Matters
• Journal Articles
• Byrne, J. and Grace, M. (2009) Using a concept mapping tool with a photograph association technique (CoMPAT) to elicit children’s ideas about microbial activity. International Journal of Science Education (In Press)
• Sharp, J.G., Bowker, R. and Byrne, J. (2008) VAK or VAK-uous? Towards the trivialisation of learning and the death of scholarship. Research Papers in Education, 23, (3), 293-314
• Sharp, J.G. Byrne, J, and Bowker, R. (2007) The trouble with VAK. Educational Futures, 76-93.

• Byrne, Jenny and Sharp, John (2006) "Children's ideas about micro-organisms." School Science Review, (88), 71-79.
• Byrne,J. (2004) Harmful, small and everywhere: what children think about micro-organisms. Primary Science and Technology, 25,pp 12-16.
• Grace, M. and Byrne,J. (2003) Teaching Enviromental Education in primary and secondary schools through collaborative community projects: benefits and barriers. Enviromental Education 72, 26-29
• Grace, M., and Byrne,J., (2003) Teaching Environmental Education in primary and secondary schools through collaborative community projects: benefits and barriers. Enviromental Education 72, 26-29
• Byrne, J and Sharp, J.G.(2002) What to do when things go wrong! Primary Science Review No 74, pp 21-23.
• Byrne, J., Challen, D. and Brown, L. (2003) Improving the odds: how do prospective trainee teachers choose a topic for presentation at interview? British Educational Research Association, Education Line/British Education Index.
• Selection of International Conference Papers
• Byrne, J., Challen, D. and Brown, H. (2008) Peer observation or peer development? An evaluation of a pilot project. At, British Educational Research Association Annual Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland, 3-6 Sep 2008.
• Byrne, J., Grace, M. and Hanley, P. (2008) Children’s anthropomorphic and anthropocentric ideas about micro-organisms: do they affect learning? In, 7th Conference of European Researchers in Didactics of Biology, Zeist, The Netherlands, 16-20 Sep 2008.
• Byrne, J. (2007) What do children know about microbial activity? Using a concept mapping technique to discover children’s ideas at 7, 11 and 14 years about micro-organisms. In, Proceedings of the 6th Conference of the European Science Education Research Association, Malmo.
• Byrne, J. (2006) What are micro-organism and what can they do? A study of primary school aged pupils’ ideas about micro-organisms. European Researchers in Didactics of Biology, London.
• Byrne, J. (2005) What is a teacher? Trainees perceptions of what it means to be a teacher. British Educational Research Association, Glamorgan.
• Byrne, J. (2005) Confident and competent: Going beyond the standards in learning to teach primary science? In, Proceedings of the 5th Conference of the European Science Education Research Association, Barcelona.
• Byrne, J. (2005) Preparing to Teach Primary Science. In ,Proceedings of the annual conference of the Association of Science Teacher Education Colorado Springs, Colorado.
• Challen, D. and Byrne, J. (2005) Choosing future teachers: can we forecast competence? In, Proceedings of 29th Annual Conference of the Association for Teacher Education in Europe: Agrigento, 2004. Milan, Italy, Association for Teacher Education in Europe.
• Byrne, J. (2004) Learning to teach primary science. In, Proceedings of 29th Annual Conference of the Association for Teacher Education in Europe: Agrigento, 2004. Milan, Italy, Association for Teacher Education in Europe.
• Byrne, J. and Challen, D. (2004) Decisions, decisions! How would-be trainee teachers choose a topic for presentation at interview. British Educational Research Association, Manchester.
• Challen, D. and Byrne, J. (2004) To what extent do outcomes of specific admissions procedures act to ensure the admission of quality trainees? British Educational Research Association, Manchester.
• Byrne, J. (2004) Microbiology for all: Developing a curriculum for the understanding and appreciation of microbial activity and their application. National Science Teachers Association, Atlanta.
• Byrne, J., Challen, D and Brown, L. (2003) Improving the odds: how do prospective trainee teachers choose a topic for presentation at interview? British Educational Research Association, Edinburgh.
• Byrne, J. (2003) Progression of children’s ideas and understanding about microbial activity. In, Proceedings of the 4th Conference of the European Science Education Research Association, The Netherlands.
• Other
• Byrne, Jenny and Grace, Marcus (2004) Life and living processes. In, Sharp, John (ed.) Developing primary science. Exeter, UK, Learning Matters.