Rachel Simpson
Rachel is a primary education specialist, who started her career by working in schools in Cambridgeshire for fourteen years, in teaching and leadership positions. During this time, she led several subjects including science and mathematics, as well as leading the design and development of a whole-school creative curriculum.
Rachel then taught in an international school in Vietnam as an Information Literacy teacher, before returning to the UK to work for over a decade as an Associate Professor on Initial Teacher Education Programmes at Leeds Trinity University and Durham University. Her roles included leadership of primary science, assessment and the development of student-centred initiatives, as well as directing a PGCE International programme.
Rachel’s research interests reflect her passion for creative teaching and teaching for creativity, and she has several publications linked to this theme. She is currently completing her PhD, which focuses on enhancing pre-service teachers’ engagement, resilience and passion for their profession, by designing, implementing and evaluating a creative teaching package for use in the training phase of teacher education.
Rachel has worked with many schools to create and lead a range of bespoke presentations and workshops that enable teachers and school leaders (UK-based and international) to use their own creative thinking skills to develop and enhance creativity in their settings. As a specialist in primary science education, Rachel has also led a series of professional development courses with primary science subject leaders. She has developed a specialism for action research, including providing support for school leaders with research projects.
Rachel is an Honorary Fellow of Durham University and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.