Personal statement

Darren McKay joined Bath Spa University as a Senior Lecturer on the Primary PGCE programme in March 2017. He leads on Mentor Training across the Initial Teacher Education Partnership and is a member of the Primary Science team. He has led the Assessment Only Route to Qualified Teacher Status for experienced unqualified teachers working in the UK. He has 20 years experience working in Primary Education in inner London as a classroom teacher and Senior Leader. He has worked as an Advanced Skills Teacher (English, Science and Inclusion) for Westminster LA supporting teachers raise standards in numerous schools. He has been an external examiner for BA (Hons) Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status and School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programmes. 

Prior to working in Initial Teacher Education he worked as an Education Consultant and Management Coach working with Primary and Secondary colleagues in London and South Wales.

Darren is currently undertaking doctoral research exploring Early Career Teacher (ECT) Mentors’ lived experiences of ECT induction in schools in SW England.

Academic qualifications

  • BEd (Hons.) Primary Sciences, University of the West of England
  • MA Leadership and Management, University of London, Institute of Education
  • National Professional Qualification for Headship, National College of School Leadership
  • Level 5 Coaching and Mentoring in Management, Institute in Leadership and Management.

Professional memberships

  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • Member of the Association for Science Education Futures Group
  • Professional Affiliate of the Chartered College of Teaching.

Teaching subjects

  • Primary and Early Years Post Graduate Certificate in Education

Other external roles

  • External Examiner - Birmingham City University Primary and Early Years PGCE
  • Chair of Governors of local school.

Areas of expertise

  • Mentoring for Initial Teacher Education 
  • Mentoring and Coaching for school improvement  
  • Assessment and use of data to raise standards School Leadership
  • ECT Induction.

Publications

  • McKay, D. (2022) 'Is data the whole story? The data-led accountability of teachers', in Carden, C. (ed.) Primary Teaching: Learning & Teaching in Primary Schools Today 2nd ed. London: Sage, pp. 345 - 361.