Amy Birkhead MA, PGCE, BSc (Hons)
Senior Lecturer in Mathematics Education
Summary
I am a Senior Lecturer in Mathematics Education and the course leader for the BSc (Hons) Mathematics with Education and QTS degree. I am also the Mathematics Curriculum Lead for the PGDE Leadership in Learning (Teach First).
About
I took up my post in the Sheffield Institute of Education in 2015 and have led the BSc (Hons) Mathematics with Education and QTS degree since 2019. I began my career as a mathematics teacher working in secondary schools in South Yorkshire. During this time I completed my Master’s in Teaching and Learning, focusing on mixed attainment teaching and equity in the mathematics classroom.
I teach on the BSc (Hons) Mathematics with Education and QTS degree and PGDE Leadership in Learning (Teach First). I also teach education modules which are jointly delivered to students on the BSc (Hons) Science with Education and QTS degree.
Senior Lecturer
Teaching
I primarily teach mathematics education modules at undergraduate and postgraduate level, but also work with early career mathematics teachers and science trainee teachers.
Research
I am currently undertaking a Doctorate in Education (EdD) and am researching the identity negotiation of early career mathematics teachers.
Publications
Conference papers
Birkhead, A. (2022). Identity tensions: one early career teacher's stories of navigating the school context. In Marks, R. (Ed.) British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics June 2022, Nottingham, UK, 10 June 2022 - 11 June 2022.
Birkhead, A. (2021). Emerging teacher identities: Exploring the identity negotiation of early career teachers of mathematics. In Kollosche, D. (Ed.) The Eleventh International Mathematics Education and Society Conference, Virtual, 24 September 2021 - 29 September 2021 (pp. 45). Tredition: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5387538
Birkhead, A. (2021). Exploring the identity negotiation of early career mathematics teachers: A pilot study. In Marks, R. (Ed.) New Researchers Day Conference, Virtual, 4 June 2021 - 5 June 2021. BSRLM: https://bsrlm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/BSRLM-CP-41-2-02.pdf
Reports
Boylan, M., Adams, G., & Birkhead, A. (2023). Landscaping mathematics education policy: landscaping national mathematics education policy. The Royal Society. https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/mathematical-futures/