Susan Ballantyne is a primary education lecturer and is Programme leader for the M.Educ in Primary Education (with Teaching Qualification) at Glasgow University. She provides strategic leadership for: Year Heads from Years 1 through to 5, Course Leaders and teaching staff. Susan has been at the forefront of the introduction of this new degree and is striving for an all master’s level profession. She is passionate about the Partnership Model of school placements and works closely with local authorities and school partners to enhance the experience for students and schools.

With a background in Social Sciences, commercial leadership and some 30 years’ experience working in a number of Scottish primary schools, Susan has made a career move from her role as Depute Head Teacher to initial teacher education in the School of Education.

Susan has worked as a teacher educator since 2015 and has taught on both undergraduate and post graduate courses. She leads a course, Education and Society, which examines the economic, political and social influences that have shaped society and the contemporary lives of young people.

She is a member of the Pedagogy, Praxis and Faith Research and Teaching Group in the School of Education and is invested in a wide range of student/staff support committees. Susan delivers keynote lectures on Child Protection, Teacher Professional Learning and Inclusive Classroom Practice.  

Susan’s Masters focus was in Educational Leadership and Administration and she is invested in leading change for improvement.

Research interests include:

Knowledge Exchange and innovative Initial teacher education

Mentoring beginning teachers

Leading change for Improvement

Pupil autonomy and self-directed learning

Outdoor Learning

Play Pedagogy and Active Learning

Creativity and Art Education

Safeguarding children and child mental health awareness

Teacher Professional Learning

Family and Parenting Support

Current supervision of master's students include topics:

• What impact does using a text editor with a primary 3 class have on pupil's attitudes and pupil attainment in writing?
• Do, 'make thinking visible' routines promote pupil engagement in broad general education History?
• How can innovative approaches to Home Work improve attainment in Year 3 Biology?
• What is the impact of teacher directed differentiation on primary 2 Maths results?

• Education and Society (undergraduate)

• Education in Practice (M.Educ 1, 2, 3 and 4)

• B.Ed Curriculum Enquiry, Developing Strengths : Expressive Arts

• Understanding Learning and Teaching (PGDE)

• Primary science (PGDE)

• Primary mathematics and numeracy(PGDE)

• Primary literacy (PGDE)

• Post graduate and undergraduate primary  Health and Wellbeing

• School Experience Placement Tutor

• Adviser of Studies

• Masters’ Dissertation Supervisor

Programme Leadership Masters of Education (with Teaching Qualification)

Course Leadership for Education and Society (M.Educ 1)

I am the chair of the:

M.Educ Year Head forum

 Student/staff committee

Internal Exam Board for M.Educ

I sit on the:

School of Education Progress Committee

Learning and Teaching Committee

Scottish Wider Access programme

Teaching Portfolio Overview Committee

Undergraduate Programmes Board of Studies

A member of the :

General Teaching Council for Scotland

Attended:

Scottish Council of Deans of Education, Stirling University

Scottish Learning Festival

International Symposium, Moray House, Edinburgh

Aces Aware, SECC, Glasgow

First Year Course Coordinators Network

M.Ed Master's Supervisor

Programme Leader Training Course

Interviewer Rapporteur