Joanne Smith

I am a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education and Programme Leader for PGCE Science with Biology Secondary Education, PGCE Science with Chemistry Secondary Education and PGCE Science with Physics Secondary Education.

I graduated university in 2004 with a first class honours degree in Forensic Science and then went on to study two years of a PhD in Biochemistry and Genetics. I found I enjoyed teaching undergraduates more than research so this led me to leave my PhD and join the Initial Teacher Training PGCE at the University of Sunderland where I graduated in 2008.

I have taught science within a secondary school setting as well as primary and SEND settings for the last 13 years where I have been both head of department and school mentor for ITT students. I have taught ages ranging from 4 - 19 within a school context and have tutored students of all ages in Physics, Chemistry and Biology A level.

I joined the university in 2018 as an academic tutor where I supervised students out on placement and lectured in science education before I was offered the position of lecturer and  Programme Leader for Biology in 2019, and adding Programme Leader for Chemistry and Physics the year after. In 2021 I was appointed as Senior Lecturer and took over as Programme Leader for the undergraduate STEM programmes as well as Physical Education with QTS.

I enjoy helping students to become research informed teachers who can take complex ideas and break them down for the pupils in their class. As science is a continuously developing subject, it's important to ensure that pupils are inspired to love the subject and I hope my students both inspire and educate each member of their classroom.