Paul Blacklock

I am a Lecturer on PGCE Education (DL) in the Faculty of Education and Society.

I have worked in education for over 17 years in a variety of teaching and management roles and have taught in the UK and Japan. I commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as an Army Education and Training Services Officer. My last role in the regular army was managing the day-to-day running of a large Army Education Centre supporting the educational needs of over 10,000 soldiers across the north-east. Additionally, I mentored newly commissioned officers completing their PGCE qualifications. During this time I completed my MEd, my dissertation focusing on coaching, and a Level 7 Coaching and Mentoring qualification through ILM.

I have previously worked for Teach First in the north-east. Teach First is a national charity focused on ending inequality in education. I worked with headteachers and wider senior school leadership teams in the region to place trainee teachers across the region. As an Organisation Development Practitioner in the NHS, I developed a trust-wide coaching programme available to 4,500 staff and line managers.

My last role before joining the University was at Northumbria University on the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship programme. I worked closely with police colleagues to contribute to the effective partnership between the University and the workplace to best support student officers.

The driving force in my career is service and encouraging students' personal development; I'm here to support and challenge the students I work with.