Personal statement

Paul is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education. He co-leads the English team on the Primary and Early Years PGCE course, teaches on the Teaching for Social Justice (TSJ) strand, and is an Academic Tutor on the part time Primary and Early Years PGCE. He is currently writing his EdD thesis which focuses on the relationship between small rural schools and multi-academy trusts.

He is also currently working on two research projects. The first is exploring student teachers' preconceptions towards writing and the teaching of writing to young children. The second project is investigating peer-to-peer collaboration between student teachers, and how this process can enchance their ability to critically reflect on their practice. 

Prior to working at Bath Spa University, Paul was a primary school teacher for six years in the UK, working in Surrey and the Greater London area. Before doing his PGCE, he spent two and half years teaching TEFL in Thailand, Vietnam and Czech Republic in both the primary and tertiary sector.

Academic qualifications

  • EdD University of Bath (currently studying)
  • BA Canterbury Christchurch University
  • MA University of Sussex
  • MA Kingston University

Professional qualifications

  • PGCE certificate in Primary Education 5-11 (Sheffield Hallam University)
  • CELTA certificate in the teaching of English to adults

Professional memberships

  • UKLA (United Kingdom Literacy Association)
  • FHEA (Fellowship of Higher Education Academy)

Roles at Bath Spa

  • English programme co-lead on PGCE primary and early years course
  • Academic tutor on Part Time PGCE primary and early years course
  • English tutor on Troops to Teachers course (2013-2016)
  • English tutor on Teach First course (2013-2016)
  • Master's supervisor on MA in Professional Practice 
  • Lead on English specialism on PGCE primary and early years course

Teaching specialism

  • Primary English

Research areas

  • Rural schools and multi-academy trusts
  • Pre-service teachers preconceptions of writing and the teaching of writing
  • The use of comics and graphic novels in the primary classroom
  • The use of peer to peer online collaborative tools to support pre-service teachers' reflective practice