The work of the project will be situated within the School of Education which has a world class research profile: since 2001 the school has been awarded a total of 88 externally funded research projects. Prominent has been the work of a strong team of mathematics and science education experts who have extensive experience of designing, researching and developing a diverse range of resources to support programmes, assessment and teacher development. The work of the group has always recognized the importance and value of working both within and across disciplinary boundaries within the domain of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

This vibrant partnership with schools has been commended in a variety of external reports most notably from the UK government inspecting body, OfSTED. The university is recognised as a key player in developing inquiry-based and interdisciplinary learning hosting a Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

Graham Hardy is a lecturer in Science Education. He has 17 years’ experience working on teacher education, with a special focus on inquiry-based learning and development programmes. He also has experience working on European projects. He has recently co-developed teacher development materials in a funded IBL project on school-based mentoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects.

His research interests include trainee teachers’ perception of science in relation to their developing pedagogies. This knowledge and experience makes him an asset to a European team immersed in work relating to professional development in science and mathematics using IBL contexts.