Senior Lecturer for PGCE Primary (Science)
Ruth Coakley is a Senior Lecturer on the PGCE Primary Programme. She is currently responsible for delivering science at KS2 and Knowledge and Understanding of the World at Foundation Phase. She also teaches Religious Education to both age groups. Currently Ruth is completing Level 3 Forest Schools Training. This staff development opportunity complements the two outdoor learning sessions Ruth already runs with PGCE Primary students.
Ruth’s interest in outdoor learning began on her undergraduate degree Oceanography with Marine Biology at Southampton University, graduating in 1997. She completed a PGCE in Primary Science in 2000. She spent nine years as a classroom teacher involved in a variety of outdoor learning projects with children, including neighbourhood regeneration, working alongside Cardiff Council. In 2009 she was seconded to Cardiff Metropolitan to work as a primary science tutor.
Senior Lecturer for PGCE Primary
Dr. Susan Davis is a qualified Level 3 Forest School Leader and works as part of the current team providing Forest school training to practitioners and students. Susan has a passion and interest in outdoor learning and especially the relationship between wellbeing and the outdoors. She will be running a two day workshop at Easter 2014 entitled ‘Wellbeing in the Woodlands’. Her key areas of research interest include emotional literacy, wellbeing and outdoor learning and play.
Head of Humanities CSE
Dr. Cheryl Ellis is qualified Level 3 Forest School Leader and works as part of the current team providing Level 1 and Level 3 Forest School training to practitioners and students. In addition to her role as a principal lecturer and Head of Humanities, Cheryl has worked on various outdoor projects with practitioners, children and young adults including those with Special Educational Needs over the last four years. Cheryl will be running a series of days in summer 2013 with various schools and local groups. A HEfCW funded reverse SIP with the Forestry Commission provided opportunities to develop her awareness of woodland management activities. Her key areas of research interest include outdoor learning and play, inclusion and additional learning needs.
Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies and Learning and Teaching Fellow
Chantelle Haughton is qualified Level 3 Forest School Leader and works as part of the current team providing Level 1 and Level 3 Forest School training and Outdoor Education courses to practitioners and students. In addition to her lecturing role and other research Chantelle regularly works with practitioners, children and young adults including those with Special Educational Needs on Forest School and Outdoor based projects which are supported by student volunteers. Chantelle currently runs two ‘weekly’ projects on a voluntary basis, she will be running a series of days in summer 2013 with various schools and local groups these sessions are all supported and observed by students.
One recent project ran for a whole academic year and a report was written in collaboration with Martin Cook and Forestry Commission Wales which has been published online.
A Year Long Forest School Project – The Queens Wood Report – is a reflective account which reports on experiences in Forest School. (See appendix B). Chantelle joined Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2008 as a lecturer in Early Childhood Studies and Educational Studies.
Previously, Chantelle worked supporting children and families in a range of settings. Coordinating a number of community projects and relative school initiatives has provided Chantelle with the basis for her research interests, which reflect on real life practice through engagement with stakeholders. As an early career researcher Chantelle has participated in capacity-building research and enterprise projects funded by WERN, ESRC and HEFCW. In 2012, Chantelle was successful in gaining Internal Research Funds for a pilot study project to work with practitioners to explore perceptions of Outdoor Learning and Forest School. In 2012, she also was successful in gaining SEED funding which was used for the development of the ‘Woodland Story Circle’ and to fund a guest speaker on the ‘Reading For pleasure conference’. Chantelle received the Vice Chancellor’s staff award for excellence for her community engagement work in Outdoor Learning and also the Student Led teaching Fellowship for Inspiring Teaching. Chantelle is currently undertaking a PhD study into contemporary understandings and interpretation of the Forest School ethos. Chantelle is a volunteer advisor for Forest School Wales, a member of The Woodlands for Learning Forum and Early Childhood Association. Chantelle is also a member of the Real World Learning Cymru Partnership (RWLCP) and a board member of Outdoor Learning Wales Training Network (OLWTN).
Lecturer in Educational Studies (Welsh medium)
Angharad Williams is a qualified Level 3 Forest school Leader and works as part of the current team providing Forest school training to practitioners and students. She is also the internal verifier for the Agored Cymru accreditation of some of our courses working closely within the team to ensure quality of content, delivery and assessment. As a Welsh Medium lecturer, Angharad is keen to develop Welsh medium Forest school training.
Mae Angharad Williams yn gymwys fel arweinydd Ysgol Goedwig hyd at Lefel 3 ac yn gweithio fel rhan o dîm hyfforddi Ysgol Goedwig. Mae hi hefyd yn gwirio yn fewnol ar gyfer Agored Cymru ac yn gweithio yn agos gyda’r tîm er mwyn sicrhau safon uchel o ran cynnwys dysgu ac asesu. Fel darlithydd cyfrwng Cymraeg, mae Angharad yn awyddus i ddatblygu cyrsiau hyfforddi Ysgol Goedwig trwy’r Gymraeg.