HOST Policy Research: The Team
Alan Bloomfield
Alan Bloomfield’s early career was in secondary school Mathematics teaching, later moving into the University sector specialising in both Mathematics and Mathematics Education. He subsequently led the University of Gloucestershire PGCE secondary team in their partnership with schools and was involved in establishing employment-based routes to qualified teacher status. He led the University of Gloucestershire’s innovative assessment-only route to QTS, a route recognised by the Training and Development Agency (TDA). From 1997, as Associate Dean and Deputy Head of Education at the University of Gloucestershire, Alan gained middle management experience within Higher Education. In July 2006, Alan set up Saltridge Educational Services Limited (SES), and in addition to continuing commitments at the university, also works as an Associate member of HOST Policy Research. More specific details of his expertise follow.
Mathematics Education: After studying Mathematics and Astronomy at the University of Sussex, Alan became a secondary Mathematics teacher and spent 11 years in three Norfolk schools. He then moved to Gloucestershire to teach Mathematics and Education at the College of St Paul and St Mary. This Higher Education institution eventually became the University of Gloucestershire in 2001, by which time Alan was an Associate Dean. Alan has written a number of books for teachers and contributed to pupil textbooks. He was on the General Council of the Association of Teachers of Mathematics (ATM) for six years, including three as national treasurer. Alan has contributed to Mathematics teachers’ conferences within the UK and overseas, including plenary sessions at the New York Math Teachers conference and at UK Maths conferences. In July 2008, he was part of the ATM team running active workshops at the International Congress of Mathematics Education (ICME-11) in Monterey, Mexico. Recent publications include: Bloomfield A, Vertes R (2005) People Maths Hidden Depths, Derby ATM and Bloomfield A, Vertes R (2008) More People More Maths, Derby ATM. A further book of ideas for Early Years and Key Stage 1 pupils ‘Little People, Big Maths’ was published by ATM in 2009. Alan has recently run three regional workshop sessions for teachers on 'Rich Mathematical Tasks' using ideas from these publications. In 2009, he ran three regional workshop sessions on ‘Rich Mathematical Tasks’ for the ATM using ideas from these publications.
Initial Teacher Education (ITT): Alan has over 25 years’ involvement in the training of teachers initially as a mentor in school, then as a tutor in Higher Education. With the advent of school-based initial teacher education, Alan was a senior member of the Gloucestershire partnership and helped to develop other school-based and school-centred ITT partnerships. He has acted as an external examiner for over 18 years for a range of courses, including both primary and secondary routes, and is currently an external examiner for a successful Midlands SCITT. In recent years, the University of Gloucestershire under Alan’s leadership developed and expanded a national scheme for the accreditation of experienced but unqualified teachers working in schools. Alan’s company, SES, now acts in a consultative capacity to the University, supporting this assessment-only route. His work with the Robert Owen Society, a school-centred ITT course in the Marches area, has led to Alan being recognised as a Co-operative Champion by the Society in 2008.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD): Alan has continued teaching on the University of Gloucestershire’s MEd courses. In particular, he has led modules on mentoring and coaching, financial and strategic management, theories of teaching and learning as well as modules designed for teachers in their induction year. He acted as an evaluator for one of the TDA-funded school-based Effective Practices in CPD projects in 2007-2008.
Evaluation: As well as responsibility for internal validation at the University, Alan led the contribution of the University to the National Evaluation Project for TDA ITT Support Activity (2003–2006). Alan contributed to two of the TDA evaluations, including the 2006 evaluation of effective professional practice in using TDA on-line networks and resources. In 2009/10 he has been a member of the HOST team evaluating the Foundation Level support programme and the Unit Funding Trials.
Management responsibilities: Alan was a middle manager within the University of Gloucestershire from 1997 to 2006. He has used that experience in teaching modules on the Masters course, including Financial and Strategic Management. Currently, he is director of Saltridge Educational Services.
Involvement with Association of Muslim Schools AMS: Alan contributes to the AMS programme aimed at supporting teachers in AMS schools to gain QTS, speaking at AMS National and regional conferences. He has visited Kashmir, Bangladesh and South Africa as part of projects involving AMS schools.
Alan lives in Gloucestershire with his wife, Jill. He is a governor at the local Primary School, which is attended by three of their grandchildren. A lifelong addiction to football and, in particular, Ipswich Town is evidence of deep East Anglian roots. Since being transplanted to Rugby-mad Gloucester, he watches Forest Green Rovers in the Conference. As an ex-runner with back problems, Alan attends a gym, mostly because all the exercise bikes have a screen showing live football and the sauna and steam room are next door. Alan enjoys walking since home is in the middle of the beautiful beech woods on the Cotswold escarpment; however, the added incentive of a pub on the way helps to get him off the sofa.
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