Callum Timms

MPhil (Research): Education System Leadership and Change

Email: c.timms.1@research.gla.ac.uk
Bluesky: MrCTimms.bsky.social
X: @MrCTimms
Web: linktr.ee/MrCTimms

Research title: A critical analysis of contemporary challenges to Catholic schools in Scotland.

Research Summary

Callum is currently undertaking postgraduate research as part of the MPhil (Research): Education System Leadership and Change. His thesis will be titled, 'A critical analysis of contemporary challenges to Catholic schools in Scotland.'

As part of his research, Callum will consider Magisterium and policy concerning Catholic schools with a view to providing an overview of their mission and ethos, before considering their historical background and the challenges Catholic schools in Scotland have faced in the past. This will allow for an in-depth study of literature concerning the challenges contemporary Catholic schools in Scotland are facing.

Such challenges include, but are not limited to, poverty, pluralism and public attitudes. These, and others, will be examined in considerable detail with a view to concluding whether there is substance in relation to these challenges, and what the response to such challenges is or should be.

Publications

Blogs

 

Television

Supervisors

Teaching

Callum has been privileged to participate in panel discussions when invited by Fr Stephen Reilly as part of the elective course for MEduc students, Prophets of a Future Not Our Own. In doing so, Callum has joined colleagues from the Univeristy and Catholic schools in addressing student teachers' questions on contemporary issues which impact Catholic education.

As a secondary school teacher and Principal Teacher (Guidance), Callum teaches Personal and Social Education and Religious Education, as well as leading on the delivery of the Pope Benedict XVI Caritas Award in St Columba's RC High School in Dunfermline.

Additional Information

Biography

Callum Timms is first and foremost a husband and dad. He is also a Principal Teacher (Guidance) at St Columba’s RC High School in Dunfermline, where he is also Depute Child Protection Coordinator, Chaplaincy and Caritas Award Coordinator, and has a whole-school remit covering mental health and wellbeing. He has a passion for social justice and a keen interest in Catholic education.

A graduate of the University of Glasgow’s MA (Hons) Religious and Philosophical Education with Secondary Teaching undergraduate degree programme, Callum continues to enjoy teaching Religious Education in his current role and is deeply committed to ensuring the availability of high quality Religious Education in Catholic schools. Callum supported the creation of The Cloisters, a blog by the St Andrew's Foundation for Catholic Teacher Education, and produced daily Religious Education tasks for secondary school pupils which were distributed as part of the Foundation's #StraightOuttaGalilee project during the pandemic. Using the drive and determination which was instilled during his undergraduate studies, he is committed to supporting the children and young people now in his care, as well as teaching, academic and multi-agency colleagues and student teachers. Callum was privileged to join panel discussions over several years for the Prophets of a Future Not Our Own elective course, covering a range of contemporary challenges facing Catholic schools. 

Callum remains a focused learner who is committed to ongoing professional learning and formation. Callum's interest in mental health, particularly in relation to young people, has been supported by training including Scotland's Mental Health First Aid course and Place2Be's Mental Health Champions programme. His interest in digital learning has grown through receiving accreditation as a Microsoft Innovative Educator and Apple Teacher. As a result of this drive, determination, commitment and enthusiasm, he now sits on Education Scotland’s Core Group for the Health and Wellbeing Curriculum Improvement Cycle, and has been invited to join the delivery team for Education Scotland’s professional learning programme for new and aspiring Principal Teachers of Guidance and Pastoral Care.

As an accomplished public speaker, Callum has presented, chaired and supported a range of events. This has included co-presenting BBC One Scotland’s Reflections at the Quay on Easter Sunday in 2022, speaking at and chairing the question sessions at Cardinal Winning Lectures organised by the St Andrew’s Foundation for Catholic Teacher Education, addressing the North Lanarkshire Catholic Primary Headteachers conference, leading safeguarding training for the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh and local charitable organisations, delivering inputs at local authority multi-agency professional learning sessions on GIRFEC and whole-family wellbeing, and offering professional learning opportunities to student teachers and newly qualified colleagues on the mission and ethos of the Catholic school.

Callum hopes that his postgraduate studies will enable him to continue to support Catholic schools and in particular the work done to support children, young people and their families who are faced by challenges including, but not limited to, poverty and deprivation.

Career Background

  • 2018 - 2019: Probationer Teacher of Religious Education

    St Augustine's RC High School, Edinburgh
  • 2019 - 2022: Teacher of Religious Education

    St Augustine's RC High School, Edinburgh
  • 2021 - 2022: Pupil Support Leader (Acting)

    St Augustine's RC High School, Edinburgh
  • August - October 2022: Teacher of Religious Education

    St Columba's RC High School, Dunfermline
  • October 2022 - Present: Principal Teacher (Guidance)

    St Columba's RC High School, Dunfermline 

Interests

Catholic education and Catholic schools, Religious Education in Catholic schools, impact of poverty on education, digital learning, mental health and wellbeing, pastoral support in Catholic schools, and safeguarding in education and Church settings.

Affiliations

 


on Bluesky on Twitter