Newcastle University

Roles and Responsibilities

I am the Degree Programme Director of the M.Ed Practitioner Enquiry, which from 2012/13 includes two new PGCert, one in Innovative Pegagogy and Curriciculum, and the other in Coaching and Mentoring for Teacher Development.

I am also the course leader for PGCE Secondary Geography, and share this role with my colleague Roger Knill.

I am the Partnership Development Director for CfLAT; the Research Centre for Learning and Teaching.

Previous Positions

I have been the Director of Secondary PGCE for three years.
Prior to joining the university I worked in secondary schools as a Geography teacher and Head of Department.

Research Interests

At the forefront of my research is an interest in teachers' professional learning. I am interested in the processes, tools, knowledge bases and support that teachers draw upon for both early career development and ongoing professional learning.  In particular I research the use of teachers' own video-recording of teaching and practitioner enquiry.  I also research professional learning through mentoring and coaching. 

I am also involved in research into  innovative curriculum models and pedagogic approaches.  Key areas of interest are teaching thinking skills and enquiry-based approaches.  Of significant interest is the development of teachers at the same time as learners.

Research Roles

Partnership Development Director of CfLAT, the research Centre for Learning and Teaching. 

Postgraduate Teaching

Secondary PGCE Geography Course Leader, and I lead the Masters level programme for the Secondary PGCE.

As Degree Prorgamme Director M.Ed in Practitioner Enquiry I lead a number of modules, including those on Teaching THinking Skills, Developing Innovative Curriculum and Coaching adn Mentoring.

• Robson S, Wall K, Lofthouse R. Raising the profile of innovative teaching in Higher Education? Reflections on the EquATE project. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education 2013, 25(1). In Press.
• Lofthouse R. Is this big enough? Using Big Geographical Questions to develop subject pedagogy. Teaching Geography 2011, 36(1), 20-21.
• Lofthouse R, Leat D, Towler C. Coaching for teaching and learning: a practical guide for schools. Reading: CfBT Education Trust, 2010.
• Towler C, Lofthouse R, Leat D. Embedding coaching in schools: Resolving tensions in definitions of professional development held by coaches and senior managers. School Leadership and Management 2010.
• Lofthouse R, Leat D, Towler C, Hall E, Cummings C. Improving coaching: evolution not revolution. Reading: CfBT Education Trust, 2010.
• Lofthouse R, Birmingham P. The camera in the classroom: video-recording as a tool for professional development of student teachers. TEAN Journal 2010, 1(2).
• Lofthouse R, Leat D. Chapter 40: Reflecting on teaching and learning - using thinking skills. In: Balderstone, D, ed. Secondary Geography Handbook. Sheffield: Geographical Association, 2006, pp.504-512.
• Lofthouse R, Leat D. Coaching for geography teachers. Teaching Geography 2006, 31(3), 130-132.
• Higgins S, Wall K, Baumfield V, Hall E, Leat D, Woolner P, Clark J, Edwards G, Falzon C, Jones H, Lofthouse R, Miller J, Moseley D, McCaughey C, Mroz M. Learning to Learn in Schools Phase 3 Evaluation: Year Two Report. London: Campaign for Learning, 2006.
• Lofthouse R, Leat D. Research in geographical education. In: Balderstone, D, ed. Secondary Geography Handbook. Sheffield: Geographical Association, 2006, pp.512-524.
• Leat D, Lofthouse R, Wilcock A. Teacher coaching - Connecting research and practice. Teaching Education 2006, 17(4), 329-339.
• Leat D, Lofthouse R, Taverner S. The road taken: Professional pathways in innovative curriculum development. Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice 2006, 12(6), 657-674.
• Higgins S, Wall K, Falzon C, Hall E, Leat D, Baumfield V, Clark J, Edwards G, Jones H, Lofthouse R, Moseley D, Miller J, Murtagh L, Smith F, Smith H, Woolner P. Learning to Learn in Schools Phase 3 Evaluation Year One Final Report. London: Campaign for Learning, 2005.
• Waddicor R, Mills J, Parker D, Lofthouse R. How you can invigorate your teaching with free equipment from geomatics.org.uk. Mapping News 2003, (23), 24-26.
• Mills J, Parker D, Waddicor R, Lofthouse R. Using geomatics to understand coastal change (and invigorate your teaching!). Mapping News 2002, (22), 6-8.
• Lofthouse R, Hall E, Wall K. Chapter 12: Practitioner Enquiry. In: Briggs, A., Coleman, M., Morrison, M, ed. Research Methods in Educational Leadership and Management. London, UK: Sage Publications Ltd, 2012, pp.170-187.
• Robson S, Leat D, Wall K, Lofthouse R. Feedback or feed forward? Supporting Master’s students through effective assessment to enhance future learning. In: Ryan, J, ed. Cross Cultural Teaching and Learning for Home and International Students: Internationalisation of Pedagogy and Curriculum in Higher Education. London: Routledge, 2013, pp.53-69.
• Leat D, Lofthouse R, Towler C. Improving Coaching by and for School Teachers. In: Fletcher, S; Mullen, C, ed. The SAGE Handbook of Mentoring and Coaching for Education. United Kingdom: Sage Publications Ltd, 2012, pp.43-58.
• Lofthouse R, Wright DG. Teacher education lesson observation as boundary crossing. International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education 2012, 1(3), 89-103.
• Lofthouse R, Towler C, Leat D. The Development of Tools for Teachers to Improve Their Coaching Practice. International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education 2012. In Preparation.
• Lofthouse R, Thomas U, Cole S. Creativity and Enquiry in Action: a case study of cross-curricular approaches in teacher education. Teacher Education Advancement Network Journal 2011, 2(1), 1-21.
• Cotterill SJ, Lowing K, Cain K, Lofthouse R, Mackay C, McShane J, Stancliffe D, Wright D. Blogs and e-Portfolios: can they support reflection, evidencing and dialogue in teacher training?. London, UK: Association for Learning Development in Higher Education, 2010. Available at: http://www.aldinhe.ac.uk/ojs/index.php?journal=jldhe&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=97&path%5B%5D=51.
• Lofthouse R, Leat D. An Activity Theory Perspective on Peer Coaching. International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education 2013, 2(1). In Press.
• McGrane J, Lofthouse R. Developing Outstanding Teaching and Learning: Creating a Culture of Professional Development to Improve Outcomes. Milton Keynes: Optimus Education, 2012.