The Newsletter of Homerton College, Cambridge & The Homerton Roll

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esearch in education Research vignettes from some Homerton Fellows within the Faculty of Education Within the University, the Faculty of Education conducts world class research and provides an outstanding research environment for staff and students. In Homerton, the research tradition was consolidated in the early 90s, in the early years of Kate Pretty’s principalship, when Professors Jean Rudduck and John Gray were appointed to develop a coherent research strategy. The tradition they established, of practice-based research which informs policy, teaching and learning, is alive and well in the Faculty of Education today. Ros McLellan is involved in a number of research projects relating to her core research interests in the areas of student motivation and creativity in schools. She is particularly excited to have been commissioned recently by Creativity, Culture and Education, the charitable organisation behind the government-funded Creative Partnerships Programme, to look at the impact of Creative Partnership work on student wellbeing, as this brings together her different interests. This project, which she is conducting with her colleague in the Faculty, Professor Maurice Galton, is underway and the final report is due in December 2011. The first phase of their research involves a survey of 40 schools (half of whom have been involved in Creative Partnerships and including an equal number of primary and secondary schools), to assess student motivation and wellbeing and determine the types of involvements these schools have had in Creative Partnerships and other creative initiatives. The second phase will comprise extended visits to a small number of these schools to find out more about the work they do through observing creative initiatives and talking to the students, staff and the creative agents involved. Through this we hope to build a better understanding of how creative initiatives, including Creative Partnerships, might influence student wellbeing. In the last UK government’s Chief Inspector’s report where subjects are mentioned in detail, it was noted that art and design ranks as the best taught National Curriculum subject overall in secondary schools. Richard Hickman’s research has examined the notion that successful teachers of art and design have much to offer outside their discipline in terms of pedagogy, focusing on what factors, specifically in teachers’ lives, might contribute to effective teaching across the curriculum. He has been looking at the life-stories of ten artist/teachers, using several qualitative research methods – self-portraiture, autoethnography and autobiography. The questions that underpin his current research are: How do individual life experiences inform art teachers’ teaching? How in turn might others benefit from their pedagogical practices? Richard has recently completed a book based on this work which advances the notion of ‘practical sagacity’ – that wise teachers create congenial learning environments through facilitating practical engagement with materials, and this leads to meaningful learning. As part of Elaine Wilson’s core work at the Faculty of Education she been researching the process of becoming a teacher and has analysed the changes that new graduates and career changers go through as they change identity and become science teachers. The work is supported by generous funding from the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, which has been used in two ways. Elaine writes: “We have established a support network of novices which extends beyond Initial Teacher Education, particularly into the high risk early years of teaching, and have then set up a research programme focusing on better understanding the process of becoming a teacher with a view to reducing drop out rates during ITE and helping new science teachers to remain in post.” Together with three research associates, Elaine has published work relating to teachers’ emotions, self efficacy, self determination and the support networks novices form. The on-going research has extended to include perfectionism in new teachers and the role of strong faith in helping novices to be resilient. The most recent research has compared the experiences of novices on the Faculty-based programmes with similar novices in Canada, Hong Kong and Thailand. David Whitley is intrigued by a local study of poetry teaching, funded by the British Academy. David writes that “poetry has an odd status within our culture and education system generally now – perhaps the most prestigious of the older literary forms, it is also the form that is least read by most adults and many teachers lack confidence working with it. Schools’ practices have also changed quite a bit over the past thirty years or so (pupils used to have to memorise lots of verse, for instance) while many universities, responding to the challenges of theories such as feminism and postcolonialism, have become more attentive to the themes and ideologies, than to the art, of poetry. The project I’m involved in is distinctive, in that it covers poetry teaching from primary school through to university, asking questions such as: What is the relationship between creative writing and analysis in poetry teaching, and does creative writing have to be relegated to a minimalist role after primary school? Does poetry require a different kind of attention from the reader, and might this special attention have a particular value in a fastmoving, global, digital age? Does poetry work best when we take it into ourselves in the deepest recesses of our verbal memory? Is it most vital when spoken or sung? The results of early interviews with teachers at all levels have been fascinating and I hope to publish reflections on these later in the year.” Mike Younger Head of Faculty of Education 8 Homertonian Please refer to the Research pages on the Homerton College website for further information.
student news HOMERTON OLD BOYS REUNION MATCH REPORT ‘Old Dogs teach New Tricks….’ Current XI 0 Homerton Old Boys 3 A famous Scottish football pundit once suggested that ‘you could nae win anything with kids’, and so it was that on Saturday 30th October, a team of Homerton ‘Allstars’ took on the current Men’s XI in their annual re-testing of Hansen’s first Law of Football. Homerton Old Boys Team Line-Up : Gk : Phil Hart (1996–2000) Def : Joe Carr (2000–2001), Joe Davenport (2000–2003), Martin Harvey, Tom Hayles Mid : Mikey Smyth (2005–2006), Zach Newby (2007–2010), Billy Overton (1999 –2003), Ben Tanner (2004–2008, 2009–2010) Att : Mike Turnham (2000–2003), Adrian Watts (c) (1996–2000) Coach / ‘Gaffer’ (in absentia) Kam Jaga (2001–2004) Team ‘Mascot’ : George Igler (2000–2004) Delayed from the previous Summer due to the re-laying of the once-fabled Homerton surface, it was perhaps part of the current XI’s plans to further disorientate the ageing Old Boys’ team by presenting them with a lush, green playing surface, as opposed to the mud and ankle-turning rabbit holes of their halcyon days. However, once the match had begun, despite their advanced years, it was the Old Boys who looked the livelier side. Reduced to a bare-bones XI, and thus playing without fear of the ‘half-time hook’, the Old Boys were able to ‘express themselves’ in a footballing manner not seen since New Order asked John Barnes to try his hand at rapping. In the end this proved successful and, buoyed by the vocal presence of Igler on the sidelines, it was the Old Boys who triumphed, with 2nd half goals from Tanner, Smyth and Watts settling matters. Our thanks must go to Peter Warner for his efforts in putting together what is (for many Old Boys at least!) the sporting highlight of their year, and for arranging the beautiful trophy which now commemorates the fixture. Thanks too to Ryan Stevens, the current XI captain, for assembling a side in the midst of a busy term, and for allowing eleven ol’ timers to roll the clock back once more. If there’s anyone out there interested in taking part in future fixtures, then please get in touch with me via Facebook. The 2011 rematch is planned for Saturday 28th May, and with luck, the better weather will bring us the summer footballing spectacular that South Africa 2010 failed to be. Here’s hoping to see you there! Adrian Watts (‘Ol’ Man Wattsy’) Homerton Men’s Football (1996–2005) Left to right Peter Warner, the Old Boys Trophy, Adrian Watts Left to right Joe Carr, Tom Hayles, Joe Davenport, Billy Overton, Phil Hart, Mikey Smyth, Ben Tanner, Martin Harvey, Adrian Watts, Mike Turnham. (Not pictured: Zach Newby) Homerton College 9
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Page 3 and 4: principal’s letter Kate PrettY Th
Page 5 and 6: while working in a school at Soham;
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Page 11 and 12: Left and opposite page Phoebe Haine
Page 13 and 14: HOMERTON COLLEGE BOAT CLUB 2010 to
Page 15 and 16: HOMERTON COLLEGE MUSIC SOCIETY The
Page 17 and 18: HIV/AIDS EDUCATION, GHANA Thanks to
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Page 21 and 22: OBITUARIES OF FORMER COLLEAGUES Por
Page 23 and 24: Joyce was a gifted student and a sc
Page 25 and 26: Our database of College members is
Page 27 and 28: Yorkshire and Derbyshire Branch Ove

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