Firstly, I am thrilled to have been appointed as the new Head of the School of Education as it is such a privilege to lead such an outstanding school both in terms of its research and its teaching but also in terms of its staff and students. I will have been in the school for a decade this year and I could not wish for a better group of colleagues to work with or students to teach and supervise.

I want to build on the work of my predecessor, Professor Melissa Allen, in ensuring the school is a stimulating and supportive home for world-leading researchers and educators with a shared goal of improving education for all to tackle worldwide problems. The school is home to a fantastically inclusive and interdisciplinary community of academic and professional services staff with excellent students across our 4 portfolios of undergraduate, masters, initial teacher education and doctoral study.

We are extremely proud of our research and teaching successes. Our research has been judged in the top 10 in the country in the latest national REF research exercise with our outputs rated second overall and our research environment top in the country. Our students have rated our teaching extremely highly in recent surveys which has resulted in the Guardian University Guide rating Bristol first for education. Our teacher training has also been rated outstanding by Ofsted.

As a school we are committed to using and developing innovative and appropriate methods to tackle the problems of social, epistemic and environmental justice both in our research and teaching and playing an integral part in the university’s wider strategy in these areas.

As Head of School I am hoping to continue to be a very visible presence within 35 Berkeley Square and am looking forward to the challenges ahead. I want all staff and students to feel that they have a key part to play in the school and to be able to communicate to me their ideas of how we make the school even better. I'm very excited for our future ahead!