Christine Wilkinson (from Zambia), studying for an MA in Childhood Studies

I came to Britain to study - I started out at Abingdon and Witney College. Brookes is affiliated with the college, so by going there I found out more about how I could build up my expertise.

This course has really challenged and changed my perception of childhood

I study part-time; I’m also an outreach worker at a children’s centre in Oxford, supporting disadvantaged and vulnerable families. The big thing for me is that what I am learning is challenging how I work and showing how I can actually make a difference to children’s lives based on theoretical understanding and research.

The course has really challenged and changed my perception and understanding of childhood and how these perceptions so strongly influence policy and the positioning of children and families. I think that the most inspirational thing is seeing the impact of my work when I combine policy and research in my professional practice at the children’s centre.

Education

Brookes’ School of Education offers a wide range of postgraduate programmes.

You will benefit from our working relationships with a large number of local primary and secondary schools, as well as children’s centres and FE colleges. We are a leading centre for teacher training as well as having a strong emphasis on research.

Why study at Oxford Brookes?

We are part of the south-east regional centre for the Cambridge Review Network which brings together professionals from all aspects of primary education in continuing debate about the primary curriculum. Read more…

We have also developed a programme of debates about the future of British schools, the Oxford Education debates, in partnership with the National Education Trust.

Ofsted recently judged Brookes’ primary and secondary initial teacher education programmes to be of high quality. We train 600 new primary teachers every year and these programmes were judged by Ofsted to be outstanding. We engage in Knowledge Transfer and Consultancy work, and are proud to host the Westminster Centre for Excellence in Teacher Training (CETT), one of only ten national CETTs.

Worldwide Impact

Dr Jane Spiro, Principal Lecturer in Education and TESOL, and a National Teaching Fellow has worked worldwide with teachers to empower them to be creative in their own classrooms, and give them the confidence to develop their own skills as writers. Jane’s two books on the use of story and poetry in the language classroom are used worldwide and have led to keynote talks and workshops with teachers in Malaysia, Ireland, Finland and Sweden.

Career Support

Job fairs with local education authorities and teaching agencies will help you to explore potential career opportunities. We offer a Peers Early Education Partnership (PEEP) certificate for practitioners who want to undertake academic study as part of their staff
development, and have been involved in bidding for research funding with PEEP.

What are the benefits?

Read more…

  • Oxford is a hub of education and educational debate.
  • Named postgraduate  awards in specialist areas including SENCO Leadership, Literacy Difficulties, the Artist Teacher scheme, e-Pedagogy, Early years, and Leadership and Management.
  • High quality teacher education partnerships.
  • Excellent work placements – ranging from the Ashmolean Museum to Science Oxford and the Pegasus Theatre.
  • Education partnership seminars, with a range of visiting speakers.
  • Work experience placements ranging from the Ashmolean to Science Oxford and the Pegasus Theatre.
  • During NQT week we hold a series of events and tutorials for newly- qualified teachers with representatives from teaching unions, supply agencies and alumni giving practical advice.

Research

You will be working in a uniquely multidisciplinary environment, with links to philosophical and cultural research and a focus on key educational themes such as leadership and management, and SEN. Read more…

To find out more please visit our research degree pages.

Taught Courses

We offer outstanding teacher training and professional development courses. Read more…

Our teaching is underpinned by leading research including our specialist pathways in TESOL and Leadership and Management.

Teacher Training

Our PGCE Primary Programme is renowned nationally for a high standard of teaching and has been rated as outstanding (Grade 1) by Ofsted. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and our student body includes new graduates and those seeking a change in career. The PGCE in secondary education, recently recognised by Ofsted as good (Grade 2), is a highly practical initial teacher training programme for graduates, two-thirds of which is spent in school classrooms.

Professional Courses

We offer a range of courses for education professionals. There are specialist areas in leadership and management, and TESOL, as well as opportunities for developing bespoke school-based programmes. Our MA in Childhood Studies is designed for practitioners working with children (eg children’s services, education or health), or if you are intending to work, manage or research in those settings.

The Doctor of Education aims to foster professional development through research. It’s an opportunity for you to understand your own practice and become better equipped as a researcher.

Our MA in Education offers a range of specialisms for dissertation supervision and includes specialist pathways in TESOL and leadership management.

Our Certificate in Advanced Educational Practice offers continuing professional development for teachers. It gives you a range of specialist options, drawing on your professional background with assignments embedded in your working context. Available topics include the Artist Teacher Scheme and British Dyslexia Association accredited modules on literacy difficulties.

Which courses can I study to start in 2012?

Learn more about the courses you can study to start in September 2012. Read more…