Dr Simon Gibbs
Reader in Educational Psychology

  • Email: simon.gibbs@ncl.ac.uk
  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 222 6575
  • Fax: +44 (0) 191 222 5651
  • Address: Room 2.64 KGVI
    School of ECLS
    King George VI Building
    Newcastle University
    Queen Victoria Road
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU

Introduction

My initial professional experience of education was as a Maths teacher in secondary schools. My subsequent training and career as an Educational Psychologist underlined my ignorance of primary education and generated interests in how children learn to read and the beliefs and attributions of teachers. Along the way I have been fortunate to have gained some experience of how to facilitate learning and of the responsibilities of managers.
These themes underpin much of my current professional and academic interests. The primary aim remains, however, to try and help improve children's experiences of the world.

Background

With a first degree in Pure Maths and Chemistry I taught mathematics in secondary schools in Hertfordshire and Derbyshire for 13 years. I studied Counselling and Human Relations before retraining as an Educational Psychologist.
Since then I have worked as an Educational Psychologist in Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and for ten years as a Senior Educational Psychologist in North Yorkshire.

Roles and Responsibilities

Reader in Educational Psychology and Programme Director for the Doctorate in Applied Educational Psychology (DAppEdPsy).

I am currently an external examiner for the Doctorate in Educational Psychology (University of Dundee) and the Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology (University of Manchester).

I am also General Editor of Educational and Child Psychology published by the British Psychological Society Division of Educational and Child Psychology.

Qualifications

BSc,
DipEd,
MEd (Human Relations),
MA (Child Psychology, Educational)
PhD (Phonological Awareness: Influences and Associates in the Context of the Development of Word Reading in Young Children; University of Nottingham, 1997)

Previous Positions

2008 -2011: External Examiner for the Doctorate in Educational Psychology (University of Southampton) 

2006 -2008: External Examiner for the Doctorate in Educational Psychology (University of Nottingham) 

2003 -2006: External Examiner for the MSc in Educational Psychology (University of Nottingham) 

I have also examined doctoral theses at the Universities of Bangor, Bristol, Essex (Tavistock Institute, London), Exeter and Sheffield.  

From 1997 to 2007 I was a Senior Educational Psychologist in North Yorkshire with management responsibility for a team of 10 psychologists.

Memberships 

BPS (Chartered Educational Psychologist, Associate Fellow);
Association of Educational Psychologists;
Chartered Scientist.

Honours and Awards

Honourary Research Fellow, University of York
http://www.york.ac.uk/res/crl/sgibbs.html

Informal Interests

Mountains and horses (separately).

Research Interests

The development of phonological awareness and word reading.
Dyslexia.
Teachers' perceptions of their efficacy.
Teachers' attributions.

Other Expertise

Systemic Consultation; Management; Supervision.

Current Work

Beliefs and definitions in practice about reading difficulty (aka Dyslexia);
The role of teachers' attributions and beliefs in influencing inclusion and responses to children's behaviour.

Postgraduate Supervision

Several DAppEdPsy and DEdPsy students.

Esteem Indicators

Editor of Educational and Child Psychology
Honorary Research Fellow, University of York www.york.ac.uk/res/crl/sgibbs.html

Postgraduate Teaching

DAppEdPsy; DEdPsy