Studies in Primary Education (BA)

Dr Ben Johnson

Dr Ben Johnson – Ben is a Senior Lecturer in Education at Newman University. He has over eight years’ experience of teaching and leadership in Primary schools setting across the UK. He completed his PhD in 2020 conducting a narrative inquiry into teachers’ perceptions on creating communities of practice that disrupt heteronormativity in primary schools.

Andrew Edgar

Andrew is a Senior Lecturer in Education, Childhood and professional Studies. Andrew teaches a range of courses relating to the primary curriculum and SEND. Andrew has a special interest in neurodiversity and the experiences of neurodivergent children within the primary school system. He was a primary school teacher prior to working at Birmingham Newman University.

Dr Linda Enow

Linda is a Senior Lecturer in the department of Education, Childhood and Professional Studies within the Faculty of Education. She teaches on the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

On the undergraduate programmes, Linda’s teaching focuses on alternative education, reflective practice and research methods. Her postgraduate contribution centres on learning, teaching and educational assessment. Linda is also the MA Education (Online) programme leader.

Dr Jo Trowsdale

Jo Trowsdale is Senior Lecturer in Education, Childhood and Professional Studies.

She leads the MA in Education (on-campus), teaching Sociology of Education and Research Methods. She also teaches Creativity for BA Education Studies.

Jo has extensive experience in teacher education in both primary and secondary phases. As a regional director of the national Creative Partnerships programme (2002-11) she enabled school improvement, curricula and pedagogic developments between professional artists, businesses and teachers.

Her research is concerned with the importance of ‘art making’ practices as a context for more personally meaningful, inter- and transdisciplinary learning that stimulates pupils’ affective as well as cognitive dimensions. This includes the role of the arts in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) education.

Jo is a co-convenor for the new STEAM Education Research network of the British Education Research Association (BERA) and continues to work directly with schools, teachers, pupils and artists. She is a Senior Fellow of the HEA.

Miranda Barker

Miranda is a Senior Lecturer in Education and Special Educational Needs and Inclusion. She works within the Education, Childhood and Professional Studies courses teaching on the BA in Studies in Primary Education, Education and SEND as well as Master’s and Foundation Level courses.

Miranda has been a primary teacher, Special Educational Needs Coordinator, Multi-Academy Trust Lead for SEND and Inclusion and a Specialist Teacher for Warwickshire Local Authority.