Nick Pratt
Nick Pratt has worked at the University’s Faculty of Education since 1995, initially as a member of the Primary Mathematics Education team, then as Programme Director for the PGCE (Primary) programme and now as Programme Leader for the Professional Doctorate in Education (EdD). He also works on the International Masters Programme.
He gained his PGCE qualification at the University of Exeter following his first degree in Engineering Science at St. Peter’s College, Oxford. He then worked as a teacher in a large First and Middle school in Exeter before joining the university. His PhD was completed in 2004 entitled: The National Numeracy Strategy: tensions in a supportive framework.
Teaching Interests
Having taught mathematics education on the B.Ed. as well as on the PGCE programme for 12 years, Nick now works with practising educators leading the Professional Doctorate in Education (EdD) programme. He also works in Post-Graduate Professional Development as part of the International Masters Programme. He still has special interests in maths education, but is also working with colleagues in the EdD and IMP teams on professional learning in general.
Research Interests
Nick’s interests lie in three areas.
1. Primary mathematics, but particularly the ways in which teachers’ perceptions of the subject affect their approach to teaching it, and their ability to do so effectively. His PhD explored this idea in relation to the National Numeracy Strategy in particular, examining teachers’ and children’s perceptions of what the Strategy is and their subsequent approach to working with it. He is also interested in mathematics education policy and people’s understanding of its value, especially in relation to its perceived ‘usefulness’.
2. Professional learning: how professionals (especially, but not exclusively, in teaching) develop their professional expertise and how this expertise is tied up in their practice.
3. Socio-cultural perspectives on education: how education can be seen in terms of social, cultural and historical relationships and how using this lens can illuminate new ideas about educational settings and practices.
Current research:
You can see a list of Nick’s current interests at his University pages at http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/pages/dynamic.asp?page=staffdetails&id=npratt
Overview