I came to the University of East London to manage and teach science and mentor training on the primary PGCE programme. I also developed and taught the primary PGCE music component and some professional studies. I was involved in writing a London wide mentor training framework with the London Providers Mentor Group. I then moved into the area of CPD where I developed and led an HEA accredited MA in Learning and Teaching in HE, and an MA in Education which has reconceptualised Masters level work based learning. I developed the Masters in Teaching and Learning as part of London Reach and led the development of an MA Creative Leadership in Education.

Prior to working at the UEL I taught in a variety of primary schools in east London where I had opportunities to develop my knowledge and skills through a range of repsonsibilties, including curriculm leadership for science, music and art, and a range of roles in senior management. I have a degree in Philosophy from Bangor University and a PGCE from what is now Oxford Brookes University. I have an MA in Education with components in Mentoring, Science Education and Child Development, from the Open University. I am currently undertaking an Ed D. Prior to and after university I worked for several years in a range of jobs outside education.

I currently lead the Education and Development subject area which includes a varied portfolio of Masters programmes, accredited and non accredited professional development at a range of levels, and partnership processes for strategic development in response to educational issues. Work in the field straddles the public and private sector, specialising in bespoke and personalised access to learning and development. Work in the field is informed by, and includes, research and scholarship that is relevant to learning and teaching practice.

My areas of interest are:

• Professional development
• Pedagogy
• The relationship between teacher development and the quality of pupil learning experiences
• Mentoring and coaching
• Social equality
• Methodology

• MA Education
• MA Learning and Teaching in HE
• MA Creative Leadership in Education

• Assessment for Learning
• Creativity, imagination and learning
• Critical incidents in teaching
• Curriculum Planning and Development
• Improving practice through action research
• Inter-professional Agency
• Leading Learning
• Leading, Planning and Assessing Award Bearing CPD
• Making sense of professional learning and its relationship to pupil learning 
• Mentoring and coaching
• Pedagogy
• Pedagogy and Learning in HE
• Policy, Context and Research in HE
• Practice based enquiry
• Professional Development in the NQT Year
• Vision and Values: Building a Learning Community

Current research activity and interest is focused upon:

Evaluation and influence of Masters level professional development in schools

The relationship between teacher development and pupil achievement

Partnerships for social democracy

Methodologies for policy and practice

Publications  

Mitchell, H and Alexandrou, A (2011) Research in Post-Compulsory Education, Special Issue, Transformation in Post-Compulsory Education, Routledge, ISSN: 1359-6748

Transformation for Social Justice through Democracy and Partnership in Post-Compulsory Education

Mitchell, H and Alexandrou, A ‘Partnerships for Professional Renewal: The Development of a New Masters Programme for Teacher Professional Learning’ (pp ) In: Teacher Learning that Matters: International Perspectives Routledge Edited by M. Kooy and K. Van Veen ISBN 978-0-41588-880-6, 0-415888-808 (Hardback)

Webb, M, Pachler, N, Mitchell, H, Herrington, N  (2007) ‘Developing a Pedagogy for Mentor Education’. Inservice Journal of Education, summer 2007

Alexandrou, A, Field, K, and Mitchell, H (eds) (2005) The Continuing Professional Development of Educators:  emerging European issues Symposium Books

Conference/Seminar Presentation

Webb, M, Pachler, N, Mitchell, H, Herrington, N  (2004) ‘Developing a Pedagogy for Mentor Education’ Draft paper presented at IPDA conference 2004.

Mitchell, H,  & Herrington, N (2005) ‘Mentor perceptions of professionalism’ Draft paper presented at BERA 2006.

Mitchell, H (2008) ‘Developing ourselves as teacher educators in higher education’ draft paper resented at ECER 2008

Mitchell, H and Levy, R (2009) ‘Creative approaches to work based assessment at Masters level’ Seminar at UCET conference

‘Mitchell, H and Fern, J (2011) Challenges presented by education being seen as both a public good and a market commodity.’ Draft paper presented at UCET conference.