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Director of Initial Teacher Education
Institute of Education and Humanities
Email: n.j.evans@uwtsd.ac.uk
Role in the University
- Support the initial teacher education staff and chairing staff/student committees
- Set the strategic direction and the enactment of the accredited programmes
- Achieve the key performance indicators of the university and the APLP
- Deploy resources in an effective and equitable way to create an inclusive culture
- Manage the budget
- Ensure that self-evaluation processes enable programme development/opportunity and progression
- Engage with external activity that raises the profile of the APLP (Education Workforce Council, Welsh Government, ESTYN, UCET & USCET, Teacher Education Advancement Network, and international opportunities)
Background
I am the Academic Director of Teacher Education in the Athrofa, UWTSD and lead a high-quality team in delivering a suite of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) courses. Following a career spanning across a variety of key stages and contexts, I moved into the Higher Education sector at St.Mary’s University, Twickenham. Working as Subject Lead across a host of sport pedagogy undergraduate programmes.
A return to Wales through the academic director role at UWTSD at such an exciting time of change in the Welsh curriculum offered the opportunity to be an agent of change. I am now responsible for a portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes of ITE and the PCET programme.
Academic Interests
Recently, I have worked with colleagues a research project related to the value of female coaches in the women’s game. Part of the Athena Swan bronze application team to develop gender equity at St.Mary’s University, Twickenham. Part of a university-wide mentoring scheme to support widening participation students.
An evolving interest in trauma responsive pedagogy and how we enact this within education.
I have taught across a range of modules on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and have a particular interest in teaching related to equality, diversity and inclusion, creating a positive learning environment, school-based practice, relational pedagogies, inclusive practice, sociology of sport and applied coaching practice (rugby).
Research Interests
Research interests include equity in Physical Education and sports coaching and player welfare linked to concussion and traumatic brain injury in rugby players.
Currently involved in applied research with a national governing body of sport into the value of female coaches in the women’s game and the role of transformational leadership skills in coaching. Also involved in a longitudinal study of a coach excellence and leadership development programme with the NGB.
Presented research at Women in Sport Conference 2021 hosted at Worcester University on the utilisation of gratitude in team sport.
Expertise
- Teaching Physical Education
- Teaching Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- Teaching Adapted Practice
- Developing Creativity in Education
- Rugby coaching- Level 4 Qualified Coach