About

I am the Head of Discipline for Primary Initial Teacher Education based in the Institue of Education. My role is to lead on the development of the Primary Initial Teacher Education programmes including PGCE (Provider-led), PGCE (School Direct), B.Ed (Hons) QTS and M.Edu QTS. I work a lot with Programme Leaders and the Head of Institute to evaluate provision and enhance our Teacher Training and Education offer for students, current and prospective. Student voice is an important element of my role.

Teaching responsibilities

I teach across a range of modules on the BEd with QTS and MEdu with QTS, especially those connected with research, Teacher Inquiry and Inclusion. Most of my teaching is in Stages 3 and 4 of the undergraduate programmes.

Research interests

My research interests are in Higher Education policy, reform, change and evaluation.  I am interested in language use and its effectiveness in learning and teaching. 

Membership of professional bodies

• Teaching Regulation Agency
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Qualifications

• BA (Hons) English Studies QTS, York
• LLB (Hons), University of Northumbria
• MEd (Applied Linguistics), The Open University
• PGCertHE, University of Derby
• PGDip Ed, University of Derby

Experience in industry

I have a wide range of teaching experience covering ages 6 to 18 and in a variety of settings, including primary schools, secondary schools and alternative provision. I have been Head of Key Stage, Head of Year and was an Assistant Head Teacher in a large secondary school. I have worked as an Assistant SENCO and in nurture provision too. I started teaching in 1999 and joined the University in September 2015.

International experience

• For two years, I have delivered Continuing Professional Development in Kolkata and Durgapur, India focused on dialogue and the use of talk to engage learners in large classroom settings
• I have attended the Educational Role of Language Conference in Gdansk, Poland

Recent publications

Poultney, V. A. & Anderson, D. B. (2019) ‘Leading change for survival: the rural flexi-school approach’ Management in Education

Poultney, V. A. & Anderson, D. B. (2019) Leading change for survival: the rural flexi-school approach [Blog] Leading change for survival: the rural flexi-school approach