Thomas Weaver
Head of Department Primary Education
Institute of Education
Senior Leadership Team
email: t.weaver@worc.ac.uk
tel: 01905 542060
Tom is a Principle Lecturer at the University of Worcester and the Head of Department for Primary Education. He completed a PGCE at the University of Exeter and in the first phase of his career taught in a range of Primary schools in England and Wales, including rural and urban schools and from Reception to Year 5. Tom then moved into Initial Teacher Education at the University of Northampton, leading the Early Years ITE course and working on the Primary ITE course as Level 4 Lead. Following this, Tom moved to the University of Worcester where has taught across the Primary ITE and Children and Families courses. This work provided a wider experience of working with children and young people outside the school and education context and Tom found his work with colleagues on the principles of Social Pedagogy particularly valuable.
In the most recent phase of his career, Tom has taken on senior leadership roles in the Institute of Education at the University of Worcester. He formerly worked as the Head of Department for Children and Families leading a team of lecturers delivering foundation and top up degrees, undergraduate degrees and post graduate certificates in the field of support for early years, children and families. Tom is now the Head of Primary Education leading a large team of lecturers in delivering a range of courses that award Primary Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). He is also the Institute of Education External Engagement Lead with responsibility for recruitment, external partnerships and public facing communication.
Tom is currently studying for a PhD at the University of Worcester focussed on ITE lecturers’ understanding of online teaching. This project uses a constructivist lens and a phenomenographic methodology to map the qualitatively different ways in which the phenomenon of online teaching is experienced by ITE lecturers. He is also involved in research on the impact of lockdown home schooling on the parent-child relationship and teacher retention with a focus on motivation.
If you are interested in finding out more about the work of the Institute of Education, the Primary Department, joining one of our courses or becoming a partner with University of Worcester please contact Tom via email t.weaver@worc.ac.uk.
Qualifications
- Master of Arts in Education
- Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy
- Post Graduate Certificate in Education (3 - 7)
- Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in European Philosophy and Literature & English Literature
Teaching & Research
Teaching Interests
Tom has taught on a range of Courses within the Department for Children and Families, including the Integrated Working with Children and Families Top Up Degree and the Early Childhood in Society (Graduate Practitioner) undergraduate degree, at both St John’s campus, Halesowen College and online using our Flexible and Distributed course delivery. Tom has a practitioner background in Primary School teaching and this was his initial focus in Higher Education. However, since joining the Department for Children and Families at the University of Worcester he has enjoyed working within the wider context of the early childhood, young people and families sectors. As well as considering education, these Courses cover the wider aspects of, for example, social care, health care, safeguarding, child advocacy, integrating working, Social Pedagogy, an empathetic approach, working with child refugees, practitioner values and philosophy, and perspectives on effective leadership and management. Teaching on this range of Courses has helped Tom develop a more holistic approach to children, young people and families and he feels privileged to work with the vibrant students and staff within the Department.
Research Interests
Tom is a part time PhD student at the University of Worcester studying the phenomenon of online teaching in Higher Education. This research is taking a phenomenographic approach to investigating Initial Teacher Education (ITE) lecturers’ understanding of online teaching and aims to identify the range of qualitative experiences of this phenomenon. The aim of this research is to better understand perceptions of online ITE teaching in order to support improved practice and increased use of technology on ITE courses.
Professional Bodies
Tom is committed to the highest quality of Higher Education teaching. In recognition of this he was awarded Fellowship status in the Higher Education Academy in 2017.
Tom holds Primary Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Publications
Weaver, T. (2020). Learning to master mathematics in the early years, In P. Jain & R. Hyde (Eds.) Myths and legends of mastery in the mathematics curriculum. Learning Matters.