Liz Birchinall

Liz Birchinall Reader in Education, SFHEA, Programme Director Primary PGCE , University of Manchester. MSc Ed Res, BSc Jt Hons Science (Chemistry and physiology), PGCE, NPQH.
Liz Birchinall is a distinguished Reader in Education and Programme Director of Primary PGCE at the University of Manchester, bringing over twenty years of hands-on teaching experience across both secondary and primary sectors. A Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), she combines academic excellence with practical expertise, holding an MSc in Educational Research, a Joint Honours BSc in Science (Chemistry and Physiology), PGCE, and NPQH. After making her mark as vice-principal of a major Manchester primary school with outstanding Ofsted ratings, she found her calling in teacher education. Working alongside co-director Rebecca Phillips, she's led the UoM Primary PGCE programme to achieve outstanding Ofsted ratings in both 2018 and 2024. Her dedication to teaching excellence earned her the School of Education Faculty Student's Teaching Award (2011/12), with a subsequent nomination in 2015. Liz's current research focuses on cutting-edge educational innovations, including AI teaching assistants in teacher education, and the crucial areas of teacher and student well-being, mindfulness, and resilience. Her work particularly emphasizes understanding and addressing teacher stress and developing effective coping strategies. 
With 169 citations on Google Scholar, Liz's research has made a real impact in the education field. Her work spans from groundbreaking studies on mindfulness in teacher education to innovative approaches in cross-curricular learning, published in leading journals like Teaching and Teacher Education (2019) and Curriculum Journal (2013). She's shaped educational policy through her work with the Education Endowment Foundation, and her expertise in educational mental health led to her participation in the Royal Foundation's Mental Health in Education Conference (2019). Contact: [email protected]