MA in Education

Take your career to the next level with an MA in Education. In this course, you’ll develop advanced practitioner skills that you can apply across educational settings. And you’ll be free to explore your interests and turn your passions into a professional specialism.

You’ll enjoy a flexible learning environment, based around the school term, including:

• evening classes during term time
• time in the school holidays to complete assignments
• digital, distance learning tools
• the ability to mix distance learning with in-person classes

You’ll join a vibrant learning community of experienced and passionate professionals. You'll discuss and share case studies and debate key topics in education. And you’ll have opportunities to network and learn from each other while sharing your own expertise.

Throughout your studies, you'll grow as a leader and expert practitioner. And you'll finish the course ready to influence change or lead best practices in your workplace.

Learning and assessment

The MA Education follows a flexible programme with the option of learning by distance or in person. If you pursue the Open Route, you can design your course completely around your interests.

You'll need to achieve 180 credits including:

Compulsory modules (total 80 credits)

• Researching Methods (20 credits) will support your studies and prepare you for your dissertation
• Dissertation (60 credits).

Optional modules (total 100 credits)

• You can choose five modules from the optional modules listed below.

Or, the six routes below give a specialist focus to the award:

• MA Education: Artist Teacher Practice
• MA Education: Childhood and Youth Studies
• MA Education: Leadership and Management.
• MA Education: SEND
• MA Education: TESOL

We work in close partnership with a range of educational settings and services. And we can support you in accessing a placement as part of your studies. For example, you might carry out commissioned work as part of your dissertation.

Study modules

Compulsory modules

• Research Methods (20 credits)

You’ll develop your knowledge of research approaches, methods and techniques for the study of children and childhood, education and language. You’ll explore the interdisciplinary nature of work in and across these areas. After taking this module, you’ll be well prepared for the methodological aspects of your dissertation.

Optional modules

• Developing MA Literacies (20 credits)

You’ll develop the skills you need to be successful in your MA, in two key areas:
the skills you need to operate confidently within your academic community as a researcher-practitioner
academic writing and critical reading skills for MA-level study.

Engaging with the academic community

The module will help you:

• engage with the underlying beliefs and approaches to knowledge in your field of study/practice
• become familiar with relevant journals, research articles and professional networks

Engaging with MA-level study

The module will help you:

• develop critical thinking and reflection in your academic reading and writing
• understand the strategies and conventions of writing in different academic genres.

Learning and Development in Childhood (20 credits)

You’ll study contemporary theories of social and cognitive development and their implications for children’s learning – both formal and informal. Using research evidence and students’ own observations, we’ll discuss alternative explanations of developmental processes. You’ll think about how children’s social and cultural surroundings affect their development and learning and question the cultural assumptions that might underlie models of development. As a group, you’ll share your thoughts and findings, and reflect on what they suggest about the experiences and opportunities provided for children.

Diversity and Achievement (20 credits)

How are children’s and young people’s achievements affected by factors like class, gender, disability and ethnicity? In this module, you’ll analyse the factors that predict educational success and failure for children and young people. You’ll then explore the implications for school policy and practice.

You’ll look at data from case study material, which may draw on your own working context or your peers’. Using these data, you’ll consider issues at the level of the individual child, the family, the school and the neighbourhood. You’ll go on to compare the analysis at the level of an individual in a particular place to educational outcomes from national and international data sources.

Mind and Brain (20 credits)

You’ll explore fascinating developments in educational neuroscience, beginning with developmental changes that occur throughout our lifespan. We’ll discuss pre-and post-natal development, followed by the changes that occur in childhood, adolescence and beyond.

You’ll explore current insights from cognitive neuroscience that have implications for education, in areas like creativity, and gaming and ICT in learning. You’ll also think about the relationships between mind, brain, self and body using philosophical perspectives. And you’ll investigate case studies, opening up discussion and debate about this complex and controversial field.

The Inclusive Curriculum (20 credits)

You’ll explore key aspects of curriculum design and delivery, in relation to access, equality of learning opportunity and inclusion. You’ll look at how cultural values influence curriculum content and organisation, and explore theories of decolonising the curriculum. The module content is relevant whether you’re a primary, secondary, FE or HE practitioner.

Leading and Managing People in Education (20 credits)

You’ll examine a range of themes and concerns in the leadership and management of staff in education. You’ll cover theoretical perspectives and practical concerns about staff leadership, management and development. We’ll look at such topics as:

• leadership and management in education
• leading teams
• inspiring motivation and improving morale
• staff development and performance management
• social justice and managing diversity
• managing conflict.

Leading Change in Education (20 credits)

You’ll bring your own experience to this module, which examines the leadership of change in education. You’ll engage with theoretical perspectives and practical concerns about organisational transformation in education. You’ll encounter topics like:

• leading and managing change
• effectiveness, improvement and accountability
• organisational culture and structures in education
• the influence of policy developments in transforming education
• dealing with resistance: managing people in times of change
• strategic planning and management of change.

Children’s Literature Through the Ages (20 credits)

The history of children’s literature is an interesting one. A rich and tumultuous beginning and a growing diverse picture that we are building today. The genre leaves us with one question: who is children’s literature for?

Written by adults, what do these stories tell us about our society and culture, and what political ideas do they carry? Are children aware of these ideas and their possible interpretations?

You'll investigate its history and explore the ideas within two comparative texts from differing periods. Exploring issues relating to race, gender, politics and culture.

This module is designed to complement the Reading for Pleasure module.

Reading for Pleasure (20 credits)

Reading for Pleasure has gained a strong foothold in the latest National Curriculum. Exploring what reading for pleasure is and what it can mean in and out of the classroom is a worthy exploration. Yet acknowledging the importance of the pleasure of reading is not enough. How do we cater for young readers and how do we ensure that the worlds we share are as diverse as the world in which we live? We'll explore a range of text types. Focussing on picture books and the complex relationship between words and pictures.

As part of the module, you might undertake activities like:

• collaborative presentation work with peers
• critiquing and exploring ideas in children's literature together
• investigating and discussing best practices in groups
• evaluating and exploring digital media.

Multilingual Learners (20 credits)

Drawing on current practice, research and case studies, you’ll focus on children who are studying in a school in a language that is not their first language. Your learning will include:

• analysing the development of children in second languages settings
• theories of bilingualism, translanguaging and dynamic multilingualism
• the links between first and second language, identity and self-esteem
• evaluating responses to the multilingual child from teachers, teacher assistants, parents and the whole school
• evaluating, adapting and creating resources and materials for their fit with the needs of the EAL child.

Independent Study: Investigating Practice (20 credits)

This is a chance to carry out an independent study/practice investigation. You’ll choose your own topic, with approval from your module leader/subject coordinator. The topic will be relevant to your own practice, but areas of investigation might include (for example):

• developing pedagogical approaches or curriculum materials
• evaluating learners’ achievement levels
• reviewing the evidence base for changes to educational practice
• appraising learning environments and learning opportunities.

It’s also possible to carry out a retrospective evaluation of a project, provided the project took place within the last five years. This might be on:

• the impact of a professional development programme or initiative
• the experience of designing and delivering a new scheme of work
• the process of implementing an educational change or project.

Final project

Dissertation (60 credits)

In your dissertation or project, you’ll carry out a sustained piece of educational research. You’ll analyse and report your findings at a high critical level, justifying and supporting them with detailed references to relevant theories and concepts. This work will comprise one-third of the work for your degree.

If you’re writing a dissertation, you'll focus on a research problem of particular interest. If you’re enrolled on a named route of the MA Education, your topic will be relevant to your route (eg childhood and youth, L&M, SEND, TESOL, higher education).

If you’re working on a project, you’ll undertake a shorter piece of independent investigative or literature-based research. You’ll also produce a creative piece or artefact.

Completion of the course shows commitment to professional development and should lead to improved prospects for career progression.