Dr Keither Parker

As Associate Head of the School of Education, Language and Psychology I have overall responsibility for Initial Teacher Education programmes at York St John University. I work closely with colleagues and school partners to ensure our undergraduate and postgraduate student teachers have every opportunity to achieve their potential to become highly effective teachers. I am actively involved in local, regional, national and international teacher education networks. I am particularly interested in developing our work with external partners and the mutual benefit this brings and as such have a School wide responsibility for Public Engagement. I teach whole school issues on the Professional Studies modules on postgraduate programmes and this is supported by my research interests related to education policy.

I have a BA (Hons) in Humanities/Social Studies (Politics, History and Sociology), a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate of Education) and also NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headteachers). I have also completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice at York St John University, an MA in Educational Improvement, Development and Change and I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. My research interests include education policy and my PhD thesis is titled: ‘Diminishing inequalities? A critical feminist genealogy of education policy and practice in post-World War II England’.

Before joining York St John University, my professional background in the UK included 18 years of teaching experience in state secondary schools. I began my career as a teacher of Humanities in Luton where I was also Head of Sociology and Head of History. Moving to London I then worked as Head of Humanities and coordinator of whole school equal opportunities. The last six years within the secondary sector were as Deputy Headteacher of a comprehensive school in Northamptonshire. I was Acting Headteacher at this school prior to moving to Australia. Whilst in Australia I worked within Higher Education as a teacher educator, building upon my experience of working with a range of teacher education programmes in the UK.

My main teaching responsibility is within Professional Studies modules on PGCE primary and secondary programmes.

I am actively involved in research and my research interests include:

• Developing the critical engagement of postgraduate student teachers with educational issues and policy
• Models of teacher education and developing school partnerships through active collaboration
• Teacher educators – identity and the role of teacher educators as knowledge creators

My research interest in education policy informed my PhD study which is titled: ‘Diminishing inequalities? A critical feminist genealogy of education policy and practice in post-World War II England’.

Recent publications

Higher Education Academy

• Fellow of the HEA since 2009
• Senior Fellow of the HEA since 2016

External examiner

• St Mary’s University College, Twickenham, PGCE Secondary programme (2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14)
• Roehampton University, London, PGCE Secondary (Professional Studies) 2014 - 2018
• University of Lincoln, PGCE Secondary, 2018-2023