Email: catherine.balfour-roberts@stmarys.ac.uk
Tel: 020 8240 4010
Biography
Catherine joined St Mary’s in April 2015 as a senior lecturer in Primary Professional Studies, and now leads the Professional Studies Team. She teaches professional studies across all programmes and is the course lead for the PGCE part-time programme. Catherine also teaches on the master's programme for the primary cohort.
Prior to joining St Mary’s, Catherine was in school for 22 years, 15 of which she was a deputy headteacher. Her teaching experience is primarily in KS2, with leadership roles including PE coordinator, KS2 coordinator, head of Year 6, and deputy headteacher. She has led several school-based action research projects, notably developing an enquiry-based learning approach to teaching and learning with Roehampton University and following on from her own master's research, implementing a whole school approach to peer mentoring and support. She was actively involved in instigating the Schools Direct initiative for the London Borough of Merton and supporting NQT development in the primary setting.
Catherine is passionate about developing critical and creative thinking and how questioning can be used more effectively in the classroom. She continues to develop her own interest in the inclusion of Looked After Children and the collaborative working partnerships to meet their needs.