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Staff Profile

Emeritus Professor Ann Briggs

Professor of Educational Leadership

  • Email: ann.briggs@ncl.ac.uk
  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 6560
  • Address: Room 1.39 KGVI
    School of ECLS
    King George VI Building
    Newcastle University
    Queen Victoria Road
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
Background

Introduction

My teaching, research and writing link leadership themes with learning: the management of teaching and learning, the accessibility of learning, learning environments and learning resources. I am particularly interested in the professional identities of middle leaders in colleges, schools and universities, as these leaders can strongly influence learning. My work has a strong focus on post-compulsory education; I was involved in a baseline study of 14-19 education in England, and have researched educational partnerships which offer academic and vocational learning routes to young people, and investigated student transition to university. I am co-editor of Research Methods in Educational Leadership and Management, and a past Chair of BELMAS.

I am now retired and living in New Zealand, where I am National Secretary of NZEALS. My most recent research has been on educational partnerships, and I have mentored teacher research into modern learning environments.

Background

I joined Newcastle University in October 2006 from the University of Leicester, where I was Deputy Director of the Centre for Educational Leadership and Management. Before moving into higher education, I worked in secondary schools and further education colleges as a teacher, lecturer and middle manager. By highlighting the work of further education college managers in my research, I hope that I have contributed in some small way to the understanding and recognition of this sector. My most recent work on institutional partnerships has confirmed my belief that education is a national and regional co-responsibility, not simply the remit and concern of single institutions.

Qualifications

PhD, 2004, University of Leicester
MBA in Educational Management (with distinction), 1997, University of Leicester
Postgraduate Certificate in Education, 1971, University of Bristol
BA Hons English Language and Literature, 1969, Royal Holloway College, University of London

Areas of expertise

My research interests are: leadership and management of post-compulsory education, 14-19 education, middle leadership in colleges, schools and universities, professional identities in educational settings, the accessibility of learning and learning resources, leading teaching and learning in innovative settings, and institutional partnerships.  My current work largely involves the mentoring of new academic writers.

Memberships

I am currently National Secretary of NZEALS (New Zealand Educational Administration and Leadership Society).

I am on the Editorial Board of JELPP (Journal of Educational Leadership, Policy and Practice.

Research

Research Interests

Ann's research interests are: management of post-compulsory education, 14-19 education, middle leadership in colleges, schools and universities, professional identities in educational settings, the accessibility of learning and learning resources, the management of teaching and learning, 'new headship' in schools, and analytical modelling techniques.

Other Expertise

Concultancy on the development of middle leaders in schools and colleges.
Leadershipand management of 14-19 education provision

Current Work

Currently engaged in a multi-university baseline study of 14-19 education in England, funded by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.

Esteem Indicators

Top Four Esteem Indicators

(1) Elected Chair of the National Council of the British Educational Leadership, Management and Administration Society (BELMAS), 2007.

(2) British Educational Leadership, Management and Administration Society - Best Thesis of the Year (2004).

(3) Invited presentation. Exploring Professional Identities, 40th Anniversary International Conference of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (2005).

(4) Peer reviewer for ESRC.

Funding

Lumby, J. and Briggs, A.R.J., with Wilson, M., Glover, D. and Pell, T. (2002) Sixth Form Colleges: Policy, Purpose and Practice. Funded by the Nuffield Foundation.
Bush, T., Briggs, A., Glover, D. and Middlewood, D. with Blackburn, S., Heystek, J. and Stephen, J. (2003) External evaluation of the pilot ‘New Visions: introduction to headship programme' cohort one. Funded by the NCSL.
Bush, T., Briggs, A., Glover, D. and Middlewood, D., with Clemence, J., Storr, T. and Young, M. (2004) External evaluation of the New Visions: introduction to headship pilot programme, cohort two. Funded by the NCSL
Lumby, J., Harris, A., Morrison, M., Muijs, D., and Sood, K., Gover, D., and Wilson, M., with Briggs, A.R.J., and Middlewood, D. (2005) Leadership, development and diversity in the Learning and Skills Sector. Funded by the Learning and Skills Development Agency.
Briggs, A.R.J, Hall, I, Mercer, D, Smith, F, Swann, T. and Falzon, C. Leading partnerships for 14-19 educational provision. Lancaster: Centre for Excellence in Leadership, (2007)
Hall, I. and Briggs, A.R.J. Evaluation of FCP2 programme in Tyne and Wear (2007)

Teaching

Postgraduate Teaching

Teaching on the Educational Leadership strand of the full-time and part-time MEd programmes, and Doctoral supervision on the IPhD and EdD programmes.

Teaching Educational Leadership and Research Methodology on other programmes, as needed.

Publications