Shows
Reflections on Identity: A podcast series for educatorsJane Pescow, Pre-School ManagerIn this episode, Jane Pescow discusses her professional identity as a manager in an early years setting. Jane gives an insight into the values and practice she upholds in her work with colleagues and young children and the importance she gives to the children enjoying their experiences of the pre-school environment. She pushes back on notions that the Early Years sector is becoming increasingly over-regulated, arguing that pre-school managers and practitioners have autonomy to devise individualised learning for the children they work with2025-06-2021 minReflections on Identity: A podcast series for educatorsRoundtable Episode on Professional Identity and Physical Education and ActivityIn this special roundtable episode of the podcast, Saul Keyworth and Oli Belas (both Senior Lecturers in Higher Education) talk about professional identity in relation to physical education and activity. They discuss how notions of what is deemed socially acceptable in terms of gender, the body, space and movement are based on norms and expectations that they critique as part of their research and informs their own thoughts on what it means to be a teacher and researcher in the field. Key philosophies and theorists in this area are also discussed as are ideas relating to community and collaboration2025-06-1338 minReflections on Identity: A podcast series for educatorsLewis Stockwell, Principal Lecturer in Outdoor EducationIn this episode, Lewis Stockwell discusses his professional identity in relation to his academic areas of philosophy of education and outdoor/environmental education. Lewis talks about the debates in education over what constitutes ‘outdoor education’ and how this affects his and other practitioners’ identities in the field. The importance of relationships between the human and not-human and how we teach about these in schools, colleges and universities form a central focus of the episode2025-06-0516 minReflections on Identity: A podcast series for educatorsJames Noble-Rogers, Executive Director, Universities’ Council for the Education of TeachersIn this episode, James Noble-Rogers discusses his role as Executive Director of UCET. James discusses the role UCET plays as an advocacy body for teacher education in universities and his own role within the organisation. James talks about the benefits and tensions of working with a number of stakeholders (including government ministers and officials) on the issue of teacher education and the episode ends with his views and advice on teacher agency for colleagues coming into the profession.2025-05-2817 minReflections on Identity: A podcast series for educatorsEmma Fuller, Senior Adviser for School ImprovementIn this episode, Emma Fuller talks about her professional identity in relation to her role as a senior advisor for school improvement. Emma discusses the variety of responsibilities she has in her role, including working with key stakeholders such as senior leaders in schools, executives from multi-academy trusts and OFSTED. Emma was previously a primary school teacher and the episode explores her values and beliefs as a teacher with her responsibilities now within a local authority. The importance of mentoring and professional development are also critical to Emma’s identity. 2025-05-1514 minReflections on Identity: A podcast series for educatorsJohn Mackay, Teacher in the Charity and Community Education SectorIn this episode, John Mackay discusses his professional identity as a teacher in the charity and community education sector. John talks about his professional and personal identities as being closely aligned in terms of the importance he attaches to his areas of expertise, literature and creative writing, and the opportunities charity and community education provides for people who are often neglected or marginalised by other forms of education. He also discusses the move to online learning and the impact this has had on his professional role. 2025-05-0818 minReflections on Identity: A podcast series for educatorsRoy Moyser, Group Convenor, University of the Third AgeRoy Moyser is the focus of this episode. He explains the aims and purposes of the University of the Third Age and his role as a group governor for the Philosophy group at the St Ives, Cambridgeshire branch. Roy talks about the role of the facilitator in learning and how he views this as integral to how he runs his group and its centrality to his own identity and the ethos of the U3A. 2025-05-0114 minReflections on Identity: A podcast series for educatorsCharlotte Wake, Dental Hygienist, Educator and ResearcherCharlotte Wake is the focus of this podcast episode. Charlotte talks about the portfolio of roles she has in both medicine and education and how these affect her sense of professional identity. She also discusses the important role mentorship plays in terms of creating a sense of professional community as well as supporting colleagues in their development.2025-04-2218 minReflections on Identity: A podcast series for educatorsSam Fisher, Assistant Head in a Secondary SchoolIn this episode Sam Fisher talks about his professional identity as an Assistant Head in a secondary school. He explains how the role and the context in which he works has changed the way he perceives his professional identity. Sam discusses his attachment to his original career as a Maths teacher and how this informs how he perceives himself – he also outlines what he considers to be key professional values to his teaching and leadership.2025-04-1012 minReflections on Identity: A podcast series for educatorsJim Crawley, Teacher Educator and Lecturer in Education StudiesJim Crawley is our guest in this episode. In a long career in education, Jim relates the different roles he has had in youth, further and higher education and how these have informed in his own professional identity. He talks about the benefits of study and research, particularly with regards to his work as a teacher educator, and how collaboration in formal networks has enriched his sense of who he is professionally. The influence of government policy on teaching provision is also discussed.2025-04-0313 minReflections on Identity: A podcast series for educatorsMolly Ayre, Qualification Development Lead for a Counselling Qualifications Awarding Body & Therapist in Private PracticeMolly Ayre is the focus for this episode. Molly talks to Neil and Carol about her various roles within the counselling profession and how these influence her own professional identity. The importance of identity within counselling as a practice and Molly’s own therapeutic and educational philosophies are discussed. Molly also gives an outline of her personal background and how this has affected her attitudes to personal and professional identity.2025-03-2714 minReflections on Identity: A podcast series for educatorsEmma Butler, Head of School in a Multi-Academy Trust & PhD StudentEmma Butler is the focus of this episode. She explains how the demands of leading a busy secondary school affect her own professional identity. Alongside this, Emma talks about her doctoral studies and how working on a PhD thesis complements her identity. She emphasises the importance of core values and how these can help navigate challenges and provide a sense of balance and fairness at work.2025-03-2013 minReflections on Identity: A podcast series for educatorsMark Tinney, Digital & Learning Technology Coach & Teacher EducatorIn this episode, Mark Tinney talks about his roles as a learning and technology coach and teacher educator and how these have influenced his own professional identity as an educator. Mark discusses the importance of context and change (technological and otherwise) in relation to the shifting educational landscape and the influence of political policy in relation to these. He also notes the effects of attrition in the profession and what teacher educators might do to try and address this. 2025-03-1316 minReflections on Identity: A podcast series for educatorsAshley Spiers, Head of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging in a Further Education College GroupIn this episode, Ashley Spiers discusses his role as Head of EDI in a large FE college group and how his identity informs his responsibilities in this area. Ashley offers his perspective on the current educational and political climate regarding EDI policy and practice and how his own personal narrative around race, gender and sexual orientation provides a foundation for his professional identity and his work with colleagues inside and outside the organisation.2025-03-0613 minReflections on Identity: A podcast series for educatorsAndrew Mitchell, Associate Dean in Higher EducationAndrew Mitchell is featured in this episode. He talks about how his own professional identity informs the various roles and responsibilities he has both in the university and his wider research and academic pursuits. Andrew also offers an insight into his personal experiences and how these have widened his perspective on life and work. 2025-02-2712 minReflections on Identity: A podcast series for educatorsWilliam Sharp, Training & Supervising Psychoanalyst & University AcademicWilliam Sharp is the focus of this episode. Here, he talks about the importance of recognising career trajectory (in terms of different roles) when discussing the issue of professional identity. William’s training as a psychoanalyst and educator is also explored, especially the psychological implications on identity from encountering challenges and working with others. 2025-02-1417 minReflections on Identity: A podcast series for educatorsThabo Miles-Matli, Teacher Trainer at London Metropolitan University & Ex-Teacher in Computer Science (Secondary)In this episode, Thabo Miles-Matli talks about his experiences as both a former Computer Science teacher in secondary school and his current role as a teacher trainee in the university sector. He discusses the different challenges and expectations that affect his professional identity having worked in both education sectors.2025-02-0715 minReflections on Identity: A podcast series for educatorsMariangela Russo, Teacher of Students with Vision ImpairmentsMariangela Russo talks about her work and identity as a teacher of students with vision impairments in this episode. Mariangela emphasises the professional sensitivity required when working with students and other parties as well as the values she feels are needed for such work.2025-01-3113 minReflections on Identity: A podcast series for educatorsLucy Roberts, Junior School Headteacher & School Improvement AdvisorIn this episode, Lucy Roberts discusses how her roles as headteacher and school improvement advisor impact on her own professional identity. Lucy describes the variety and challenge that she encounters on a day-to-day basis and the skills and values that are needed in her working environment.2025-01-2613 minReflections on Identity: A podcast series for educatorsDarren Bourne, Educational Consultant & Former Director of a Private Provider in FE & HEDarren Bourne is the feature of this episode. He talks about how his professional identity has affected his roles as educator, manager and consultant, as well as discussion on how identity becomes complex when working as part of a training provider with colleges and universities.2025-01-1314 minReflections on Identity: A podcast series for educatorsDavid Mathew, NHS Learning & Development ManagerIn this episode, David Mathew talks about his current role as Learning & Development Manager with the NHS Arden & GEM Commissioning Support Unit and how working for the NHS in a teaching and training capacity affects his sense of professional identity. David also discusses the importance of writing and research and how these activities have influenced his perceptions of himself as an educator. 2024-12-2016 minReflections on Identity: A podcast series for educatorsIntroductionOn this introductory episode, Carol and Neil talk about the focus of the podcast series and why it is important.Carol and Neil's book on professional identity in education2024-12-1301 min
Diversifying and Decolonising the UniversityEpisode 15: The Philosophy of Education (with Oli Belas and Neil Hopkins)In this episode, Sara de Sousa talks to Oli Belas and Neil Hopkins about the philosophy of education, including curriculum co-creation and student-led assessment design.
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FURTHER RESOURCES:
Ivan Illich, Deschooling Society
Eve Tuck and Wayne Yang, 'Decolonisation is Not a Metaphor'
EPISODE NOTES:
Dr Oli Belas is Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at University of Bedfordshire. He teaches across Education and English subject-a...2024-10-2241 min
After the BellAfter the Bell - Reflections on Identity: E4 S11Welcome to this episode of "After The Bell’ the podcast from Connex Academy where we dive into the world of education and bring you valuable insights. We are delighted to be joined in this episode by Neil Hopkins and Carol Thompson authors of Reflections on Identity, which was published in January. Neil and Carol are both lecturers at the University of BedfordshireReflections on Identity brings Educators and leaders from a variety of settings to explore their professional experiences and the impact these have had on forming values in their professional roles.The bo...2024-05-0622 min