Deirdre Medler

Deirdre is Director of Initial Teacher Education at UEA. She holds a BA (Hons) degree in English and Education, Postgraduate  Certificate in Education (PGCE), Advanced Certificate in Education (Science) and has completed the MA in Higher Education Practice. Prior to joining the University, she had 17 years teaching experience in Primary Schools in Norfolk, with responsibilities for curriculum and year group management.  She  taught on the Primary PGCE for a number of years, contributing to the Foundation Subjects and Professional Development components of the course. In her role as School Partnership Co-ordinator was responsible for partnership development with schools and other educational establishments in the region. Deirdre currently supervises dissertation students on the MA Educational Practice and Research.

Deirdre is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Professional Affliliate of the Chartered College of Teaching. 

As Director of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Deirdre is providing strategic leadership for our ITE programmes.  Her responsibilities include the development of partnership with schools, academies and trusts in the region and networking regionally and nationally to represent UEA and develop our profile and reputation as a high quality and innovative provider of ITE. 

Deirdre's most recent research related to the impact of a self-selected placement on the professional development of beginning teachers.  She is currently involved in a project about mental health and wellbeing of  trainee teachers.  Her particular research interests relate to the development of partnership in the changing educational landscape. 

Deirdre's teaching interests include approaches to learning outside the classroom and meaningful cross- curricular ways of learning.  She is committed to promoting the global dimension in all teaching activity to faciliate equality, respect, social justice and sustainable development. Her involvement in the Norfolk Schools of Sanctuary network is supportive of this in the partnership context.