Education MA/PGCert/PGDip

This module offers students an opportunity to undertake an independent research project in an area related to their final award. Through this module, students will develop critical research skills by designing, conducting, and presenting a research study that addresses a significant area of professional interest. This module encourages students to make a meaningful contribution to the field while honing skills essential for research, critical thinking, and current/future professional practice.

Joubert (1928) aptly noted, “It is better to stir up a question without deciding it than to decide it without stirring it up.”  In the spirit of this sentiment, this module seeks to ‘stir up’ critical discussion on some of the most pressing contemporary issues impacting children and young people today. Rather than settling on definitive answers, you will be encouraged to deeply question, analyse, and critique the multifaceted ways in which modern life and educational systems shape young people’s development, learning, and wellbeing.

Each year, the module will introduce new and relevant topics that resonate with the current educational climate.  You will have the opportunity to focus on debates closely aligned with your professional interests, allowing for a personalised exploration of how these issues impact diverse educational contexts. Through critical discussion, collaborative exploration, and research-based inquiry, you will be equipped to both understand and influence the debates shaping the future of education.

This module explores essential strategies for fostering wellbeing, and resilience in educational settings. You will examine the factors influencing student and teacher/practitioner wellbeing, analyse a range of approaches for creating supportive learning environments, and consider how resilience can be nurtured at both individual and setting levels. Through critical discussion and reflection, you will gain practical tools for promoting wellbeing and resilience, equipping you to support positive, sustainable outcomes for yourself, your setting and your learners.

This module offers students in-depth insights into both historical and contemporary views of the curriculum, recognising it as a site of tension, shaped by socio-cultural, political, and historical forces. Students will critically examine theoretical frameworks for curriculum development and explore the impact of policy-making and political ideology on curricular decisions. With an emphasis on curriculum planning, development, and change, the module provides students with opportunities to explore and implement innovative approaches to curriculum design. By engaging with diverse concepts and contexts, students will develop the skills necessary to create forward-thinking, contextually relevant curricula that respond to evolving educational needs and challenges.

This module prepares educators to thoughtfully integrate digital technology into teaching and learning, empowering them to engage and support students in an increasingly digital world while remaining critical of potential challenges. Students will explore both the opportunities and limitations of digital tools, gaining the skills to enhance teaching, student engagement, and assessment through technology. Key topics include digital literacy, the role of Artificial Intelligence in education, and innovative teaching, learning and assessment practices, along with ethical and practical considerations. Importantly, the module encourages educators to critically assess the limitations and risks of technology, such as accessibility issues, digital distraction, and data privacy, and to develop strategies for mitigating these challenges.   As technology is a rapidly advancing area, the module content will also be continually updated to reflect changes in education policy and practice, ensuring its relevance in a rapidly evolving digital world. By the end of the module, participants will be able to create meaningful, inclusive, and adaptive digital learning experiences that address the diverse needs of today’s learners.

This module aims to support students in developing skills of reflective practice and to encourage an in-depth analysis of key issues related to pedagogy in a chosen area of education.  The module will examine the value of Reflective Practice and will enable students to explore a range of pedagogical approaches relevant to their own sector of education.  There will be the opportunity to explore alternative approaches to pedagogy, and students will be encouraged to develop and justify their own personal pedagogy based on a set of personally held principles which underpin their educational practice.

This module provides a comprehensive introduction to research methods and design, equipping students with essential skills for conducting rigorous and impactful research. Students will explore a range of different approaches to conducting research, gaining practical experience in research planning, data collection, and ethical considerations. Emphasis is placed on selecting appropriate research designs for various questions and contexts.  By the end of the module, students will be prepared to independently design and execute research projects that contribute meaningfully to their field of study.

This module is designed for postgraduate students and professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of inclusive practices within diverse professional and educational contexts. It offers a critical exploration of theories, models, and policies that underpin inclusive practices, equipping learners to address systemic inequities and barriers to participation.

Students will engage in reflective practice, drawing on their personal and professional experiences to identify strengths and areas for growth. Through critical evaluation of current research and case studies, participants will examine the effectiveness of inclusive practices and identify opportunities for innovation and improvement.

The module emphasises advocacy, supporting students to develop strategies for promoting inclusive policies and practices in their own settings. By the end of the module, students will have the tools to drive meaningful change, contributing to a more equitable and inclusive environment for all.