Research Centre for Learning and Teaching

Staff Profile

Emeritus Professor Ann Briggs

  • Professor of Educational Leadership
  • Email: ann.briggs@ncl.ac.uk
  • Telephone: +64 (0)27 550 3748
  • Address: 97B Aranui Road, Mapua, 7005, New Zealand New Zealand

 

Introduction

My teaching, research and writing link leadership themes with learning: the management of teaching and learning, the accessibility of learning, learning environments and learning resources. I am particularly interested in the professional identities of middle leaders in colleges, schools and universities, as these leaders can strongly influence learning. My work has a strong focus on post-compulsory education; I was involved in a baseline study of 14-19 education in England, and have researched educational partnerships which offer academic and vocational learning routes to young people, and investigated student transition to university. I am co-editor of Research Methods in Educational Leadership and Management, and a past Chair of BELMAS.

I am now retired and living in New Zealand, where I am National Secretary of NZEALS. My most recent research has been on educational partnerships, and I have mentored teacher research into modern learning environments.

Background

I joined Newcastle University in October 2006 from the University of Leicester, where I was Deputy Director of the Centre for Educational Leadership and Management. Before moving into higher education, I worked in secondary schools and further education colleges as a teacher, lecturer and middle manager. By highlighting the work of further education college managers in my research, I hope that I have contributed in some small way to the understanding and recognition of this sector. My most recent work on institutional partnerships has confirmed my belief that education is a national and regional co-responsibility, not simply the remit and concern of single institutions.

Qualifications

  • PhD, 2004, University of Leicester
  • MBA in Educational Management (with distinction), 1997, University of Leicester
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Education, 1971, University of Bristol
  • BA Hons English Language and Literature, 1969, Royal Holloway College, University of London
  • Memberships
  • I am currently National Secretary of the New Zealand Educational Administration and Leadership Society (NZEALS)
  • I am a member of the Commonwealth Council for Educational Administration and Management (CCEAM)

Research Interests

My research interests are: leadership and management of post-compulsory education, 14-19 education, middle leadership in colleges, schools and universities, professional identities in educational settings, the accessibility of learning and learning resources, leading teaching and learning in innovative settings, and institutional partnerships.

Other Expertise

  • Consultancy on the development of middle leaders in schools and colleges
  • Leadership and management of 14-19 education provision

Funding

  • Lumby, J. and Briggs, A.R.J., with Wilson, M., Glover, D. and Pell, T. (2002) Sixth Form Colleges: Policy, Purpose and Practice. Funded by the Nuffield Foundation. 
  • Bush, T., Briggs, A., Glover, D. and Middlewood, D. with Blackburn, S., Heystek, J. and Stephen, J. (2003) External evaluation of the pilot ‘New Visions: introduction to headship programme' cohort one. Funded by the NCSL. 
  • Bush, T., Briggs, A., Glover, D. and Middlewood, D., with Clemence, J., Storr, T. and Young, M. (2004) External evaluation of the New Visions: introduction to headship pilot programme, cohort two. Funded by the NCSL
  • Lumby, J., Harris, A., Morrison, M., Muijs, D., and Sood, K., Gover, D., and Wilson, M., with Briggs, A.R.J., and Middlewood, D. (2005) Leadership, development and diversity in the Learning and Skills Sector. Funded by the Learning and Skills Development Agency.
  • Briggs, A.R.J, Hall, I, Mercer, D, Smith, F, Swann, T. and Falzon, C. Leading partnerships for 14-19 educational provision. Lancaster: Centre for Excellence in Leadership, (2007)
  • Hall, I. and Briggs, A.R.J. Evaluation of FCP2 programme in Tyne and Wear (2007)

Publications

  • Briggs, A.R.J., Gabites, B., Mackenzie, S., McIntosh, J., Shelley, J., Verstappen, P. Teacher Leadership report: How student-led pedagogy in modern learning environments (MLEs) can improve literacy learning. Journal of Educational Leadership, Policy and Practice, 2017, 32(1), 62-69.
  • Hayes, J., Briggs, A.R.J. Leading together: Exploring contexts for collaboration. Journal of Educational Leadership, Policy and Practice, 2015, 30(2), 80-91.
  • Briggs A.R.J., Clark J, Hall I. Building bridges: Understanding student transition to university. Quality in Higher Education, 2012, 18(1), 3-21.
  • Briggs, A.R.J. Emerging ideas about system leadership, Journal of Educational Leadership, Policy and Practice, 2012, 27 (2), 65-75.
  • Briggs, A.R.J., Coleman, M., Morrison, M. eds. Research Methods in Educational Leadership and Management. (3rd edn.) London: Sage. 2012.
  • Briggs, A.R.J. Leading educational partnerships: new models for leadership? Chapter 13 in Bush, T., Bell, L. and Middlewood, D. (eds) The principles of educational leadership and management, 3rd Edition, London: Sage. 2010