University of Bristol
The School of Education at the University of Bristol has a long and proud history of women’s education. This June, our PGCE History student teachers explored the work and achievements of Dr Eliza Walker Dunbar (1845–1925): a pioneering physician, campaigner and founder of the Bristol Private Hospital for Women in Berkeley Square – now home to the School of Education. (more…)
All stories have a beginning, and this one starts with an idea. Our protagonists, Ilyass Amin and Habby Salaben, knew they belonged to a community in need; they saw it and felt it, but they also knew they could do something about it.
Ilyass already had a MSc in Water Treatment Engineering before moving to the UK, but he had dreams of becoming a teacher and educator. The first step was as a science technician, firstly at Bristol Grammar School and then at Cotham School.
Joining Cotham School was the catalyst for change. Here Ilyass met Simon Neville, and they began to have conversations about the Bristol education system, its inequalities and what could be done to improve it. They shared the concern that young people – from marginalised communities from areas such as East Bristol – were being left behind and needed extra support to fulfil their educational potential. Ilyass also became interested in training to be a science teacher via the PGCE programme at the University of Bristol.
Despite passing language exams required to enter UK universities, many international students report experiencing high levels of anxiety when required to speak in English (Chen & Curdt-Christiansen, 2024). Foreign language anxiety is the nervousness people feel when they have to speak in a language that is not their mother tongue (Horwitz et al., 1986). This anxiety may refer to concerns regarding accurate language use or the speaker’s own ability to represent themselves in another language. As the use of English is essential for international students’ academic and daily life, foreign language anxiety can have significant impacts on their experience. (more…)
University of Bristol graduate Jasrael Stokes recently completed her doctorate, earning a PhD from the School of Education. We caught up with her to discover what encouraged her to continue studying for her PhD at Bristol after completing her Masters in Psychology of Education with us, and where she hopes her academic achievements will take her next.
My name is Jasrael. I’m from Seattle, Washington, in the United States, but have now lived in Bristol for eight years with my two lovely cats. Before coming to Bristol for my Master’s, I taught English in public elementary and junior high schools in Osaka, Japan for four years. I’m passionate about language learning and teaching, and I am constantly learning languages as a hobby. I am fluent in Japanese, have a pretty good understanding of Spanish, and can comprehend Korean, Mandarin, and German to varying degrees!
By Rodolfo Benites, School of Education, University of Bristol
On November 8th, 2024, the University of Bristol hosted two events to celebrate Professor Diane Reay, Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of Cambridge, for her trajectory. This blog post shares insights about both spaces and why learning about her legacy might be essential to new education researchers. (more…)
Antonia has been paving the way for greater sustainability management in UK universities after choosing to explore the topic for her doctoral thesis. Her work was even recognised for a prestigious award last year!
We caught up with Antonia to learn more about her area of research expertise, her journey as a PhD student at the School of Education, and what her hopes are for her groundbreaking research after successfully defending her doctoral thesis.
I am a passionate researcher, and for the last nine years, I have immersed myself in the world of academia. I believe in the power of lifelong learning. Every year, I have pushed myself a little further beyond my comfort zone and tried out something new. Whether through presenting my research at a global conference or serving as the Faculty PGR representative at the University of Bristol, I am striving to have a positive impact on people’s lives. On the rare occasions when I am not at university, you will probably find me folding intricate origami figures or watching the latest K-drama series.
We spoke with Dr. Siân Ephgrave, a former Education PhD student at the School of Education, who was recently awarded the Faculty of Social Science and Law Doctoral Prize for 2024! We found out all about her reaction to winning the prestigious prize, Sian’s experience studying with us, and what she plans to do now.
My name is Siân Ephgrave and I live in East Bristol with my daughter and partner. I grew up in North London and attended my local state primary and secondary schools, and sixth form college, before completing my undergraduate degree in English at Swansea University.
I was a secondary school teacher of English from 2003 until 2015 when I was awarded a full scholarship by the Economic and Social Research Council to undertake doctoral research into teacher wellbeing.
We spoke with Pen Williams, an Education PhD student and doctoral researcher at the School of Education, who recently won the Nature, Outdoor Learning and Play Special Interest Group (SIG) Best Presentation Award at the British Educational Research Association (BERA) Annual Conference. She told us all about her journey at the School of Education so far – progressing from her Masters degree to her PhD – to her specialist research interests and her reaction to receiving the prestigious award this year.
I’m currently in the third year of my PhD at the School of Education and am busy analysing the data I collected earlier this year! Before returning to full time study, I was a secondary teacher for about 20 years, teaching English in schools and colleges in and around Bristol. I also work with the Global Goals Centre on delivering their workshops based on the sustainable development goals. Other than that, I’m a mum, proud Bristolian and season ticket holder at Ashton Gate for the Bristol Bears!
Have you ever wondered what it might be like to study an undergraduate degree at the School of Education as an international student?
Gayathrie Sunil recently graduated from the School with a BSc in Psychology in Education. Now, she is here to tell you all about her experience of studying with us for the past three years.
Tell us a bit about you!
Hi! I’m Gayathrie Sunil, a third-culture kid, born and adopted in Kerala. I lived in China, Madras, and Nigeria before moving to Bangalore for high school. My undergraduate degree in Psychology and Education is from the University of Bristol.
One of the most significant aspects of my life is my passion for teaching and working with children, a passion that was ignited early on when I was growing up with two brothers. This passion, coupled with my diverse upbringing, has not only shaped my perspective but also instilled in me a deep joy in connecting with and supporting others. (more…)
We spoke with Em Quinton, a BSc Psychology in Education graduate, who won the British Educational Research Association (BERA) Undergraduate Award 2024.
She told us all about how she ended up studying at the School of Education, her favourite modules and her reaction to receiving the prestigious award from BERA.
Why did you want to study for a BSc Psychology in Education degree at the University of Bristol?
In the very beginning, I actually wanted to study neuroscience. Covid meant I couldn’t take my A-Levels, so I sort of happily fell into the course. I was desperate to be in Bristol, and wanted to do something psychology-related. It turned out that Psychology in Education was far, far better suited to my skills and interests than my original plan would have been, so I’m glad I carried on with my plan B!