Curriculum making through Critical Collaborative Professional Enquiry

Presenters: Prof Mark Priestley, Dr Valerie Drew, Prof Lizzie Rushton, Mrs Emma Smith

This webinar focuses on a methodology for professional learning and curriculum making, known as Critical Collaborative Professional Enquiry (CCPE) (Drew et al. 2016). CCPE has its roots in participative action research, and was initially developed as a methodology for professional learning within Master’s level programmes for teachers and school leaders at the University of Stirling. Subsequently, the methodology has been used as the foundation for successful and sustainable curriculum making (including innovation in pedagogy and assessment) within local authorities and regional consortia in Scotland and Wales.

The presenters include three researchers based within the Stirling Curriculum Centre, Mark Priestley, Valerie Drew and Lizzie Rushton, who have all worked extensively with local authorities and schools to facilitate CCPE, as well as utilising the methodology in their teaching of postgraduate professional programmes. The panel also includes an experienced primary school teacher, Emma Smith, who has considerable experience of using CCPE in her school setting. Following the presentations, there will be time for questions and discussion.  

Bios: 
Prof Mark Priestley: Mark Priestley is Professor of Education at the University of Stirling. His research interests lie in the school curriculum – theory, policy and practice – and especially the processes of curriculum making across different layers of education systems. Mark is the Director of the Stirling Centre for Research into Curriculum Making, a member of the Scottish Government’s key education advisory committees, the Scottish Education Council and the Curriculum and Assessment Board, and a Co-Convener of the EERA network 3, Curriculum. His publications include 'Teacher Agency: An Ecological Approach' and 'Curriculum making in Europe: policy and practice within and across diverse contexts'.

Dr Valerie Drew: Dr Valerie Drew is an Honorary Associate Professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Stirling. Her research interests span professional learning, educational leadership and curriculum with a focus on pedagogical practice. Valerie was a founding member of the Education Scotland National Design Groups for the Specialist Qualification for Headship, incorporating the Into Headship (mandatory qualification) and In Headship programmes. She co led professional learning programmes in curriculum making based on her distinctive model of Critical Collaborative Professional Enquiry in local authorities across Scotland and in Wales. She acted as academic advisor for organisations such as School Leadership for European Commission (educational leadership), GTCS (revision of Professional Standards), SSERC (leadership in STEM programmes), Scottish College for Educational Leadership (Fellowship programmes) and Education Scotland (Excellence in Headship Programme). Previously she was Programme Director for the MSc Professional Education and Educational Leadership programmes at University of Stirling.

Prof Lizzie Rushton: Elizabeth Rushton is Professor of Education, and Associate Dean Research in the Faculty of Health, Sport and Society, University of Stirling. Her research interests are in teacher agency, curriculum making and environmental and sustainability education. Elizabeth is an Editor for the BERA Blog and, in 2021, she co-led the BERA Research Commission with Dr Lynda Dunlop which resulted in the co-creation of a manifesto for Education for Environmental Sustainability with contributions from more than 200 youth, teachers and teacher educators from across the UK. Previously, Elizabeth was Academic Head of Department at the Institute of Education, University College London and Research Director of UCL’s Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Education. Elizabeth also led the inaugural PGCE secondary geography programme at King’s College London and taught geography in secondary schools in south-east England.

Mrs Emma Smith: Emma is a STEM teacher in a large primary school in central Scotland, where she teaches across the whole primary age range. She also leads outdoor learning, with a focus on Learning for Sustainability (LfS). She has completed a MSc in Professional Education and Leadership at the University of Stirling, carrying out a Critical Collaborative Professional Enquiry (CCPE) that focussed on equity in primary engineering education through play. She is a member of Education Scotland's core curriculum improvement group for the sciences, which is working to update the 3-18 curriculum.