Dr Sarah Emmerson

Sarah Emmerson

Principal Lecturer - PGCE Secondary Course Leader

Secondary and Post Compulsory Education

Contact Details

email: s.emmerson@worc.ac.uk

Sarah Emmerson is Principal Lecturer and PGCE Secondary Course Leader at the University of Worcester. Originally training and working as a secondary Religious Education teacher, she has spent more than 20 years supporting the development of teachers and teacher educators across schools and higher education.

Before joining the University, Sarah held a range of middle and senior leadership roles, including Head of Humanities and Assistant Headteacher. She also established and led a successful School Direct Alliance in the East Midlands and developed professional learning opportunities for teachers across a Multi-Academy Trust.

Sarah recently completed her Doctor of Education (EdD), exploring the professional identities of teacher educators. Her teaching, leadership and research focus on teacher education, mentoring, professional identity, educational leadership, and the role of initial teacher education in supporting school improvement.

Qualifications

  • EdD in Education, University of Warwick (2026). Thesis title: Bridging the Divide: Examining the professional identities of HEI and school-based teacher educators.
  • PGCert in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, University of Worcester.
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2023)
  • MA in Education (leadership), University of Nottingham
  • BA Hons Religious Education with QTS (2:1), University of Sunderland

Learn Upon Training completed

  • Safer Recruitment
  • Introduction to the Prevent Duty as it affects Higher Education
  • Safeguarding Essentials

Teaching & Research

Teaching Interests

  • Professional studies: the teaching profession (identity & responsibilities), education & school culture (aims & different opinions), diversity (in schools & wider society)
  • Reflective practice for professional development
  • Teaching and Learning RE in the Secondary classroom
  • PGCert Teaching and Learning in Higher Education tutor

Research Interests

  • Professional identities of teacher educators
  • Teacher educator professional development
  • Mentoring and coaching
  • Initial Teacher Education and school improvement
  • Professional learning across the teaching career continuum

Professional Bodies

  • British Educational Research Association (BERA)
  • Chartered College of Teaching
  • National Association of Teachers of RE (NATRE)
  • International Professional Development Association (IPDA)

Publications

Emmerson, Sarah (2026) The Paradox of Alignment: Policy Convergence, Professional Development and Learning Opportunities in Initial Teacher Training in England. In: BERA Teacher Education Advancement Network (TEAN) Conference, 21-22nd May 2026, Sheffield Hallam University. (Unpublished) https://eprints.worc.ac.uk/16355/

Emmerson, S., 2025. The Evolution of Initial Teacher Training and Education (ITTE) in England (2010–2024). In Education Policy in England 2010–2024 (pp. 88-97). Routledge.

Jones C, Emmerson S, Guerin C, Rowntree R, Rixon L, Magulike C, Haque A, Palikara O (2025), "Promoting the participation of part-time PGR students through a co-produced writing retreat". Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education, https://doi.org/10.1108/SGPE-10-2024-0110

External Roles

External Examiner: University of Exeter