Professor Penelope Anne Marshall Harnett

National Teaching Fellow 2007 Dr Penelope Harnett is Head of the Department of Primary, Early Childhood and Education Studies  at the University of the West of England, Bristol and Reader in Education. "My commitment to excellence in teaching is underpinned within a broad values base and commitment to social justice and democracy," she comments. "Teachers who are confident in their own beliefs and values and understand their own learning have the capacity to make a difference to children's lives. In promoting excellence through my own teaching, I believe that I can support students in making this difference for future generations of children." Through her work in continuing professional development and partnership work with local schools, Penelope has supported teachers in their careers as lifelong learners through, for example, a Primary Strategy Learning Network which encouraged teachers to teach children research skills to analyse their own classroom learning and recent TDA projects focusing on language for learning and creative approaches to learning in primary schools. She is innovative and creative in her teaching. In a module for Initial Teacher Education students, entitled A Classroom called Bristol, learners are actively engaged in using the local city environment as a context for cross-curricula work; in another module students critically analyse resources which they have created for learning about the Blitz.  Penelope has worked with colleagues across Europe on different projects including the preparation and dissemination of learning materials linked with teaching about intercultural communication and a further project which supports the mentors of newly qualified teachers in European schools. Currently Penelope is working with colleagues in Turkey on the development of social studies curricula. Penelope has presented papers at invitational seminars organised by the Council of Europe on children's understanding in history. Her interest in history is shared with a wider audience through her editorship of the Historical Association's journal, Primary History, which she held for a number of years. She has also worked for Teachers' TV and acted as a consultant for the BBC's digital curriculum. To support creative curriculum planning, she wrote a training video based on a history lesson in a primary school for the National Primary Strategy in 2004 which has been used extensively in training sessions throughout England. Curriculum development work for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority also reflects Penelope's acknowledged expertise in this area. Penelope influences colleagues in enhancing their practice, scholarly activities and research. Examples include staff development sessions and supporting colleagues with conference presentations and publications, including editing a book on primary education with departmental colleagues.