Education Studies BA (Hons)

Assessment is often regarded as a contentious issue in education. Given the crucial importance of assessment for teaching and learning, it is necessary to have an understanding of the different principles, theories and practices that underpin assessment. You will learn the purposes of assessment, the components of assessment and the role of feedback. You will demonstrate an awareness of the role of learning outcomes in the assessment practices and inclusive curriculum design.

The module aims to explore how educational theories concepts, movements and philosophical thoughts impact pedagogy from early years to higher education. You will look at case studies and exemplars focusing on different pedagogic models and innovations from Western, eastern and postcolonial contexts and engage in formative dialogue synthesising these educational approaches and their philosophical underpinnings.

This module explores educational goals, policies and practices around the world through a comparative lens. You will gain a critical understanding of the factors, such as poverty, globalisation, migration and conflict, that impact economic and social mobility, school enrolment, girls’ education and access to quality education in different parts of the world. 

You will critically examine the colonial and postcolonial roots of comparative education and the distribution of power among the policy actors in the field. 

Taking a human rights perspective, you will evaluate the shift from increasing access to formal schooling for all children and communities (Millennium Development Goals) to improving the quality of teaching/learning (Sustainable Development Goals #4) and its implications across various global contexts.

In this module you will develop the skills to explore and analyse a topic, evaluate the evidence-based information to identify a clinical practice gap and develop an action plan using research evidence to address the gap. This will form part of your dissertation/service improvement project.

This practice placement module aims to enable you to reflect upon and work towards career and personal goals. The module consists of theoretical and experiential components and allows examining and critically evaluating the relationship between educational concepts and theories, and their application in a relevant setting. 

You will be encouraged to explore theories of teaching, learning and assessment, educational policy, leadership and the safeguarding of children and young people. Within a relevant education-related workplace setting, you will apply the theoretical knowledge and skills gained over the course of your studies. 

This module will support you in gaining clear expectations of the skills needed to meet your chosen graduate employment path, plan for your career goals, and develop key graduate attributes. You will be required to carry out a minimum of 80 hours of experiential learning in a self-sourced relevant setting within the field of education.

Digital technology has changed childhood, schools and the wider culture and society. In most young people’s lives computers and digital devices are formative in both academic and pastoral/ personal ways. As well as being a key learning tool they offer the potential to provide opportunities for imaginative self-expression, creativity and play, serving as a medium through which personal, social and learning relationships are formed. 

In this module you will broadly examine how new technologies and associated social practices transform children's lives and schooling. You will consider how digital practices are shaped and how these affect children’s identity and educational experiences as well as teacher’s development. Particular attention will be given to the notion of digital literacy, as a means of understanding children’s digital experiences.

Education is guided by policy at local, national, and, increasingly, global levels. This module will help you to understand how and why policy is made, the impact upon practice and their role in policy as an educator, and the role that politics, ideology, society, and the economy play in education policy.

Leadership has a significant impact upon the teaching and learning outcomes, and overall ethos and culture, in any educational setting. 

In this module, you will begin by examining the difference between leadership and management, terms that are often used interchangeably yet have differing definitions. You will then explore different theories of leadership, before examining the impact that different leadership styles have upon teaching and learning in schools and how leadership differs in early years settings. 

The module then introduces some of the challenges that leaders face, including managing conflict, leading through change and dealing with gender stereotypes in leadership. Finally, you will learn the theories and skills to help you become a reflective leader, to build an effective team, to support new leaders and to coach, mentor and supervise other practitioners.

This module is about examining perspectives and challenging our thinking around Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The module will critically engage with both SEND theory and practice, so that you can inform it, challenge it, implement it and re-shape it.

This module will provide the opportunity for you to examine and explore the personal, social, psycho-motor, and emotional needs of children with special needs.

This module will provide you with the tools to examine and interrogate the assumed neutrality of everyday processes in education settings, explore attitudes to cultural differences, and reflect on the ways in which education practitioners can develop learning environments that can help every child reach their own potential.

This module builds on from level 5 research methodology module and enables you to undertake an individual enquiry-based study related to a relevant topic of your choice within the areas of Education studies. This may be an empirically based investigation, a thematic literature review or a library-based piece of research.

You will attend fortnightly lectures/workshops to provide effective scaffolding to support you with the practicalities of completing this project. For example, you will be provided with support in completing an ethics proposal; defining your research question; choosing an appropriate methodology and analysing your findings.