Education and Training Board

Brief Report of meeting held on Wednesday 1 March 2022

From: Professor Niamh Stack, Chair

Purpose: To provide a summary of the main items discussed by the Education and Training Board at the interim meeting held on 1 March 2022

Workstream Updates: The workstream leads provided an updated on the work to date:

Pre University Workstream

• The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Association of the Teaching of Psychology (ATP) and the BPS has been finalised and will be presented to the Board of Trustees in March for approval.
• A series of six free of charge webinars started in February, these were aimed at Psychology teachers and students.
• Connections have been made between the BPS regional branches and ATP members to widen engagement between the two organisations.

Stakeholder Engagement

• The stakeholder mapping exercise is being supported by the BPS Careers and Partnership Liaison Team.
• The BPS Public Affairs Manager is engaged with the work to help shape the direction for a larger scale campaign.
• The Augar Report (2018) recommendations are coming to life and anticipated changes are likely to impact upon the discipline, these include entry criteria and potential student number controls.
• A working group has been set up to explore the theme of  ‘Psychology as a science’

Education and Training Pathways

• The workstream have been working on identifying key skills and behaviours that employers want aside from purely academic knowledge, and considering how students can articulate these skills.

• The work of the group has been linking in with the QAA benchmark review to ensure it incorporates employability, sustainability and EDI.
• A survey will be created prior to Easter and sent to all education providers to explore current practice in the sector with view to create a platform for highlighting and sharing best practice.

ETB 2022 and beyond:

The Board considered whether a further workstream is needed to take forward the part of the ETB strategy exploring ‘leading on new directions.’  A series of key stakeholders would be invited to the next ETB meeting to support the discussions relating to education and training for the next century.

Data Strategy:

Mike Yates, Head of Data and Analytics shared a presentation with the Board that outlined ‘what is data.’

Brief Report of meeting held on Friday 6 May 2022

From: Professor Niamh Stack, Chair

Purpose: To provide a summary of the main items discussed by the Education and Training Board at the meeting held on 6 May 2022

Workstream Updates: The workstream leads provided an update on the work to date:

Pre University workstream

• The Memorandum of Understanding with the Associate of Teachers of Psychology (ATP) had been approved by the Board of Trustees.
• A series of six webinars took place between the 23 February and 30 March. The webinars attracted varying attendance and the feedback received would be used to support the development of future webinars.
• Potential topics for future webinars included ‘revision strategies’, ‘meet the psychologist’ and ‘maths and statistics.  Consideration would be given to linking up with Mathematics Education Innovation (MEI).
• Additional plans were underway to bring together contacts from the ATP and Branch chairs in order to understand the benefits of working together and building on existing relationships.

Stakeholder Engagement

• A report from 2011 titled, ‘The Future of Undergraduate Psychology in the United Kingdom’ had been reviewed by the workstream.  The report was written in collaboration with the BPS, the Association of Heads of Psychology Departments (AHPD) and representatives from Higher Education.  Whilst some of the recommendations were no longer relevant it was a good opportunity to review the progress to date against the recommendations.

Education and Training Pathways

• There had been a level of engagement with the AHPD, with an aim of helping to promote the recently developed survey which explores attitudes towards employability, best practice and engagement.
• The Head of Workforce Education Training and Standards had been invited to attend a workshop on inclusive curriculum led by the Royal Society of Biology.
• Planning is underway for the very first careers festival to support employability and encourage people into careers in Psychology beyond the traditional routes and pathways.

Professional Recognition Route Update:

The Head of Quality Assurance and Standards provided an overview of the work on the Professional recognition route (PRR) developments to date.  The board were asked for guidance for appropriate examples of evidence of competencies for the new full member grade.

Apprenticeships:

The Head of Professional Development and Assessment shared an informative presentation on apprenticeships.

Brief Report of meeting held on Monday 21 November 2022

From: Professor Niamh Stack, Chair

Purpose: To provide a summary of the main items discussed by the Education and Training Board at the meeting held on 21 November 2022

Pre University Workstream update:

The next webinar relating to ‘Maths anxiety and statistics in psychology’ is due to take place on 9 February 2023.  The confirmed speakers were Cat Van Saarloos from the Maths Education Initiative and Professor Victoria Bourne.

Lyndsay Hughes from the Education and Training Board (ETB) was taking part in the next careers webinar around health psychology.  At the time of the meeting 151 attendees had registered.

Following on from the agreement of the MOU, a BPS membership discount code had been sent out to members of the Association of Teachers in Psychology (ATP).

Education and Training Pathways workstream update:

The workstream were planning a PESTLE analysis of the market place, looking more broadly at training, the impact on students and teachers, psychological approaches to support wellbeing, and reviewing a blended learning model.  The six sessions will be a deep dive and provide an analysis which will then link into the stakeholder workstream.

The workstream was currently exploring which key stakeholders should be involved in the sessions, suggestions included the BPS Student Committee, the Office for Students, Student Minds and the Association of Heads of Psychology Departments (AHPD). 

Undergraduate award future plans update:

The Head of Workforce, Education Training and Standards had provided details of the Undergraduate Award to the Knowledge and Insight team who were carrying out a review of all awards.  Conversations were still ongoing and there was no outcome to report at the time of the meeting. 

Ethical approval for candidate’s research on BPS Qualifications:

A paper had been circulated regarding ethical approval for candidate’s research on BPS Qualifications.  A document providing support for independent practitioners was published on the BPS website in 2020 in response to this query. This item would be put to the Strategic Board Chairs to discuss at their next meeting in January.

Brief Report of meeting held on Wednesday 29 March 2023

From: Ciara Wilde, Deputy Chair

Purpose: To provide a summary of the main items discussed by the Education and Training Board at the meeting held on Wednesday 23 March 2023

Pre University Workstream update:

There had been three webinars arranged since the last board meeting.  ‘Meet the psychologist’ with Dr Lyndsay Hughes from the ETB attracted over 60 attendees.  ‘Maths anxiety and practical maths’ webinar was postponed due to strike action and the ‘Revisions strategies’ webinar planned for the end of March had over 495 registrations at the time of the meeting.

There is a plan to continue with a series of webinars, focussing on themes around Research Methods/Educational Psychology/Forensic Psychology in order to demonstrate the breath of options available to individuals studying psychology.

There were also plans to develop a webinar for professionals who teach psychology.

This would include strategies, helping gain an understanding of what subject matter had been covered at pre university study and how to support with the transition and retention of students studying psychology.

Education and Training Pathways workstream update:

A high level review of the society’s progress against the ‘The Future of Undergraduate Psychology in the UK’ report had been completed and it was acknowledged this was a huge piece of work.  The society had undertaken a lot of work around careers and employability since the report was published.

HCPC and Chartered Status mapping update:

An update on the previous commissioned mapping exercise to identify the differences between a HCPC approved course competencies and those required for BPS Chartered status was provided.

Professional recognition routes:

An update on the development of potentially three new professional recognition routes was provided.

Office for Students:

The Head of Workforce Education, Training and Standards provided an update on the outcomes of the consultation by the Office for Students (OfS) regarding 'Data futures and data collection'

Ciara Wild is a HCPC Registered Chartered Forensic Psychologist, currently working for HMPPS, and a Registered Scientist with the British Science Council.

Whilst qualifying, she tutored A-level Psychology, while also volunteering in complex needs hostels, substance misuse services, approved premises and specialist approved premises for people with mental health diagnoses living in the community.

Before joining the prison service Ciara worked as a Clinical and Research Services Coordinator in a Counselling and Psychotherapy Service and was also part of an NHS Liaison and Diversion team conducting mental health assessments in police custody and court.

Dr Gill Brown is a Chartered Psychologist and has held academic positions since 2008 in both research and lecturing posts.

Prior to their academic career, they worked within the prison service (both male Category B and Category C prisons), providing psychological services to offenders and held the position of treatment manager of an offending behaviour treatment programme.

Dr Brown also has experience working within youth offending services and alongside forensic community mental health teams.

Their PhD focused on the effectiveness of a joint crisis planning intervention for service users with severe mental illness, in reducing compulsory detention under the Mental Health Act, and they are currently an Associate Teaching Professor at the University of Bolton and lead the BSc (Hons) Criminological and Forensic Psychology programme (which was awarded the national British Psychology Society award for innovation in Psychology programmes in 2018).

Dr Brown was instrumental in developing a Memorandum of Understanding between Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and the University of Bolton. Following this, they began working on research projects alongside GMP and working collaboratively to promote student opportunities for involvement in local restorative justice work.

Helene Ansell has been involved in education for some 30 years. She began her career as a secondary school PE, History and Special Needs teacher with a particular interest in learning difficulties such as dyslexia, which remains a special interest today.

While taking time out to have her children she also travelled and lived in many different countries, during which time she gained her psychology degree, a master's in education and an advanced diploma in child development.

From 1997 to 2016 Helene taught A Level Psychology in a large sixth form centre in Staffordshire. She quickly became Head of Department, with responsibility for training Associate Teachers and NQT’s, and was appointed a member of the Senior Management Team in 2008 with specific responsibility for developing teaching and learning across the sixth form with specific responsibility for the health and well-being of students and staff alike.

Until recently she was a team leader associate examiner for AQA Psychology A Level but remains a moderator on their EPQ qualification.

Helene is passionate about psychology and psychological education, and has actively lobbied the government for recognition of psychology at schools level to be fully recognised as a Science/STEM subject. She has also strived to forge a better understanding of the true value of our subject to the work place. 

Until recently (2018) Helene was Chair for the Association of Teachers of Psychology and remains on the committee at Officer level as Past Chair. She sits on the BPS sub committee, SCoPTE (Standing committee on Pre-Tertiary Education) and is delighted to be a part of the Education and Training Board.

Helene took early retirement in June 2016, quickly followed by a move to Cornwall, moving to Cargreen in February 2018. However, she is still actively involved in The ATP and SCoPTE, as well as education in general as the newly appointed governor of her local primary school.

Dr Simon Goodson is a senior lecturer at the University of Huddersfield and the programme director for MSc Psychology. Simon has been at the University of Huddersfield for over 12 years and has had various roles within the Department of Psychology.

Simon is currently the Chair of the Undergraduate Education Committee, UEC, and has been involved in a lot of initiatives such the development of guidance for providers during the current Covid-19 crisis and is presently overseeing a major review of the accreditation standards for Undergraduate Education.

As part of the role of chair of the UEC, Simon is also is a member of the Partnership and Accreditation Committee and is actively involved with other BPS committees including the Ethics Committee and the Division of Teachers and Researchers in Psychology.

Simon was a member of the Review Groups for the 2016 and 2019 QAA Psychology Subject Benchmark Statement. He also chaired the Task and Finish Group that was responsible for the Post 18 Education Funding Review and has contributed to many BPS projects.

He has experience of external examining at other HE institutes for campus and online based programmes. He has also experience of periodic subject reviews and validations of programmes for national and international providers.

Simon has a great deal of experience in the development of undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum design and the roles and responsibilities of a programme director at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Simon’s research is focused around cyber psychology and the effects of playing video games. He has supervised a number of PhDs and MScs in this area and is currently involved in a project investigating the benefits of VR for cooperation with isolated individuals. 

Dr Mark Sergeant is a Principal Lecturer in Psychology and the School Learning and Teaching Manager at Nottingham Trent University (NTU). Mark has worked at NTU for over 20 years and has led on numerous learning and teaching activities at a Departmental, School and Institutional level.

Mark is the current Acting Chair for the BPS Conference and Events Committee and a Committee Member for the Division of Academics, Researchers and Teachers in Psychology (DARTP). Mark has worked with the BPS for over 10 years in roles including the Media and Press Committee and Standing Conference Committee. He has led on the redevelopment of the BPS flagship events Careers in Psychology and Your Future in Psychology. Mark holds Chartered Psychologist status and is a Full Fellow of the BPS. 

Mark is a highly experienced academic who has acted as course leader at undergraduate and postgraduate level and led on the provision of assessment at NTU. For the quality of his teaching Mark received the NTU Vice-Chancellors Teaching Award in 2019. Mark is the Chair of the NTU Academic Integrity Group and is an institutional expert on Academic Integrity.

Mark’s research is currently focused on pedagogy, particularly looking at issues around student perceptions of Academic Integrity, particularly the challenges posed by contract cheating services. He has supervised numerous research projects at undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD level.

Dr Katie Lightfoot is Associate Professor in Health Psychology and Medical Education (Assessment) at Norwich Medical School, UEA.

She is also a qualified teacher (QTLS) and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and has been teaching and lecturing since 2005.

In the recent past, Katie trained psychology teachers nationally for an awarding body on a consultancy basis.

Katie is also a HCPC Registered Health Psychologist working in practice at an NHS pain management centre.

Her educational qualifications include:

• DHealthPsych
• PGCert HEP
• MSc (Hons) Health Psychology
• PGCE in Post Compulsory Education
• BSc (Hons) Psychology

Katie’s professional activities include being a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (AFBPsS) as well as being a Member of the Society of Education and Training (MSET).

Pirashanthie is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist and Medical Educationalist. She has worked in both undergraduate and postgraduate Health Education settings for over a decade and has experience of programme development, online and blended learning approaches.

In her current role she leads on the Professionalism and Patient Safety theme for the Sheffield undergraduate medicine programme; the theme includes the curriculum areas professional values ethics leadership and human factors education. She is also Deputy Faculty Director of Education for the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health at the University of Sheffield.

One of Pirashanthie’s academic interests is ethics in everyday practice. Until the end of 2021, she was Chair of the Institute of Medical Ethics Education committee.  She is also Principal fellow of the Higher Education Advance UK.

I have been a psychology teacher for 25 years. Previously, I was Head of Psychology at an outstanding school in the Midlands.

Currently, I work as an independent educational consultant. I work for both AQA and OCR as an examiner and a CPD trainer. I also deliver high quality CPD for Hodder Educational. To maintain a connection with students I work as a private tutor too.

I'm also an author and write resources, articles and books for psychology students and teachers. A passion of mine is initial teacher training and my latest publication is: Gajic, D. A. & McGinty J. (2022) Learning to Teach Psychology in the Secondary School: A Companion to School Experience, Abingdon Routledge Taylor Francis (In print – September 2022).  I'm treasurer for the Association for the Teaching of Psychology (www.theatp.uk) and regularly help to organise CPD and contribute to the running and organisation of the annual conference.

Bio coming soon.

Bio TBC.

This event explores strategies for looking after mental health as a pre university student in particular in relation to coping with teaching and assessment pressures.

The webinar aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of what wellbeing is and what effects your wellbeing.

This event explores how staff can use strategies for looking after mental health in particular in relation to coping with teaching and assessment, workload and student wellbeing pressures.

This event explores how maths features in psychology and how it is an important feature for those wishing to pursue psychology at degree level.

How can students approach maths and where can they find further support to prepare them for the next stage of their education.

This session will consider how psychology is a culturally diverse discipline which affects different people, systems and contexts in a variety of different ways, aiming to encourage students to be curious about exploring the discipline beyond the taught curriculum.

This session aims to help students to consider the skills and knowledge they will need ahead of their transition into further study or employment.

Panellists will be presenting a range of information and will signpost to resources which can support learners in this important step of their future journey.

Panellists include those from Psychology courses in UK Universities and colleges, exploring what it is they look for and how students can help to prepare themselves for transition to University.

This event reflects on the Your Future in Psychology Careers Event and further explores the range of careers available, to provide an overview of some the realities of the roles and to provide tips and hints based on where to find out more, with a particular focus for Pre-University students.

Exactly what is Health Psychology? What is involved in the many and varied levels of Health Psychology and how can you pursue it as a career? Where do Health Psychologists work and what does their day to day look like?

Join us as we discuss Health Psychology with Dr Lyndsay Hughes, Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology at Kings College London.

Our presenters will specifically be talking about:

• Good habits
• Planning
• Exam stress strategies

In addition, there will be a presentation on a wide selection of revision techniques for you to take away, practise and apply.

This event will allow participants to pose questions for the presenters and will also provide practical advice and guidance in relation to selected statistical tests, helping you to see how these can be applied in your learning or teaching.