Julie Sutton

Principal Lecturer – Primary Lead for School Based Provision

Primary Education

Contact Details

email: j.sutton@worc.ac.uk
tel: 01905 542085

Julie is a Principal Lecturer with over 15 years’ experience of teaching across the whole of the Primary age phase in different schools within Worcestershire. She has held various leadership and management roles, including senior teacher and deputy head teacher.

As the Primary Lead for School Based Provision, Julie leads the strategic development of the PGCE Primary School Direct programme working with a number of schools across the West Midlands and in the South West. She is currently leading on the development of Apprenticeships and other employer-based routes across the School of Education.

Throughout her career, Julie has had a significant role in developing music provision. She has lead music in school, delivered CPD sessions across the County for Primary school teachers and given lectures as part of the ECHO programme. Appointed as a Vocal Force coordinator for the County in 2009, Julie led many singing workshops in schools and other settings. In 1998 she formed her own music group for babies and toddlers. Julie currently teaches Primary music on the Postgraduate and Undergraduate programmes and remains actively involved in different music organisations across the County. She is the chairperson for the Worcestershire Music Hub Steering Group. As a pianist, percussion player and singer, Julie has performed with orchestras and choirs across the UK. She sings regularly with The Elgar Chorale and the Worcester Festival Choral Society.

Julie is currently an external examiner for Exeter University and the University of Winchester. She has an MA in Education and is a Senior Fellow of the HEA.

Qualifications

  • Senior Fellow of the HEA (September 2020)
  • MA (Merit) Education
  • B Ed (Hons) 2:1 Education and Music
  • PG Cert in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education
  • Key Stage 2 Music Continuing Professional Development Programme (Trinity Guildhall and OU)
  • Mental Health First Aid

 Learn Upon Training completed

  • Safer Recruitment
  • Introduction to the Prevent Duty as it affects Higher Education
  • Safeguarding Essentials

Teaching & Research

Teaching Interests:

  • Primary Music Education
  • Primary Pedagogy and Professional Practice
  • Primary Foundation Subjects
  • School Experience

Research Interests:

  • Primary Music Education
  • Creativity in Education
  • Coaching and Mentoring

 

Professional Bodies

  • Senior Fellow of the HEA (2020)
  • National Primary Teacher Education Council
  • Music Mark

Publications

Publications

Alexander, G. and Sutton, J. (2019) The Teacher’s Palette: ‘Creative and Holistic Learning Spaces’, in Ogier, S. (ed.) A Broad and Balanced Curriculum in Primary Schools London: Learning Matters/SAGE Publications

Alexander, G. and Sutton, J. (2018) ‘Thinking Outside the Box: How can you maximize the potential of the learning and teaching environment?’, in Carden, C. (ed.) Primary Teaching: An exploration of learning and teaching in primary schools today. London: Learning Matters/SAGE Publications

Performances

Big Sing (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022). Julie, together with Severn Arts, has been involved in organising the Big Sing since 2015; a singing workshop involving over 2,000 children from local primary schools.

The Armed Man (2017, 2014). Music Lead for University singers involved in Performance of Armed Man with children from local high schools, held in Worcester Cathedral.

Conference Presentations

Payne, J. (2009) Continuing Professional Development in the Primary Classroom: Towards a broader way of working within the Arts, with a particular focus on Music. 5th Annual ESCalate ITE Conference, Glyndwr University, Wrexham: Initial Teacher Education towards a new era

Payne, J. (2009), New Approaches to Primary Music in ITE. UCET Annual Conference 2009: New & Continuing Perspectives in Teacher Education

McKerr, L & Payne, J. (2011) The Vital Role of the Arts in the Development of the Childs Learning, Thinking and Social Skills. NSEAD International Conference, University of Chester: The Centrality of Art, Design and Performing Arts to Education

Externally funded projects:

Sutton, J. (2020) Principal Lead for an externally funded music education project with Severn Arts: ‘A research project into the quality of Music Education in Worcestershire schools; initial findings’.

Payne, J. (2011), The use of e-portfolios in teaching music: a project with ITE students, Teaching Development Agency (TDA) TiLT Research grant (£5000)Payne, J., Savage, M. and Robinson, C. Training and Development Agency (2011) Using ICT to support Music Education Research Grant: Primary Music: Wider Opportunities 

External Roles

  • External Examiner for the School Direct PGCE programme at the University of Exeter
  • External Examiner for the School Direct PGCE programme at the University of Winchester.
  • Chairperson of Worcestershire Music Education Hub Steering Group
  • Committee member of National Primary Teacher Education Council (NaPTEC)
  • Community Governor for two local Primary schools