Personal profile
Personal Statement
Biography
Kath was appointed Teaching Associate in the School of Education in October 2019 after 25 years of teaching social subjects in Fife. She had been Faculty Head of a large department and the regional coordinator for modern studies for over a decade.Her wider experience includes beeing a modern studies question setter for the SQA since 2000 and more recently as the Subject Implementation Manager for modern studies alongside her university role. This enabled her to support students in the ITE programme with current policy and practice. She is able to draw on a wide network of expert colleagues such as Principal Assessors to work with students.
Kath's knowledge of modern studies teaching is routinely used to support GTCS colleagues in reviewing those seeking modern studies certification.
Teaching Interests
Kath is the course tutor for PGDE modern studies and is involved in courses relating to this within both primary and secondary in the School of Education. She teaches the citizenship element of Learning for Sustainability at Master’s level and has recently embarked on engagement with some of the School of Education’s international work through both the iPGCE and TESOL.
A key teaching interest is practitioner enquiry with ITE students and working to ensure that this is valued and reflected within their ITE year.
Research Interests
Kath has recently completed several Master’s level courses around inclusion and supporting teacher learning. The latter resulted in post-graduate certification. She is embarking on an EdD is September 2022 following the Supporting Teacher Learning pathway. A current area of focus is on mentoring within the ITE. Based on this she has been asked to contribute a chapter to a book on early researchers being edited by Deirdre Harvey at St Agatha’s (due January 2023).
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Master of Arts, University of Aberdeen
10 Sep 1988 → 10 Jun 1992
Award Date: 10 Jun 1992
External positions
Subject Implementation Manager (Modern Studies), Scottish Qualifications Authority
1 Jan 2019 → …
Principal Teacher, Curriculum, FIFE COUNCIL
15 Aug 2011 → 31 Dec 2018
Keywords
- Education
- Mentoring
- Social Justice
- Learning for Sustainability