Professor Peter Wolstencroft
Faculty Director of Education
My profile
Biography
After initially working in roles in the public sector, I moved into the world of education where I have had a variety of roles, all linked to the enhancement of the student experience. I believe passionately that a high quality education should be available to everyone and always want to work towards this goal.
I initially worked in a School of Education, specialising in both Initial Teacher Education (in particular in the post compulsory sector) and Educational Leadership. After completing my PhD at the Centre of Lifelong Learning at Warwick University I became an Associate Head of School responsible for the Student Experience at Coventry University and then loved to Liverpool John Moores University. As part of both roles, I was responsible for ensuring that the learning experience for the student was a positive one and that the faculty modelled innovative, effective teaching. I moved to my current role in 2023 where I am very pleased to be Faculty Director of Learning. My responsibilities include working the the Education Leads in each department to ensure that all our students have a great experience here at Manchester Metropolitan University.
I have numerous external roles including being an external examiner, sitting on the editorial board for the Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, advising the Department for Education on matters concerning the recruitment of lecturers within post-compulsory education, reviewing for a number of journals and being a member of many professional bodies including BELMAS, BERA, BESA and ARPCE. I am also a Certified Management and Business Educator (CMBE)
I have written extensively on subjects as diverse as educational leadership, innovative teaching, widening participation and digital literacy and I am the co-author of the bestselling textbook ‘The Trainee Teachers Handbook’. The third edition of this book is due out shortly.
Research outputs
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Books (authored/edited/special issues)
Wolstencroft, P., Thompson, C. (2024) The Trainee Teachers Handbook - A Companion for Initial Teacher Training (2nd edition). SAGE: Learning Matters.
Thompson, C., Wolstencroft, P. (2024) The Trainee Teacher's Handbook: A companion for initial teacher training.
Thompson, C., Wolstencroft, P. (2021) Being a Teacher The Trainee Teacher′s Guide to Developing the Personal and Professional Skills You Need. Learning Matters Limited.
Wolstencroft, P., De Main, L., Cashian, P. (2020) Achieving Teaching Excellence: Developing Your TEF Profile and Beyond.
Thompson, C., Wolstencroft, P. (2018) The Trainee Teacher’s Handbook A Companion for Initial Teacher Training. Learning Matters.
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Chapters in books
Wolstencroft, P., Thompson, C. 'No More Superheroes ...... only Avatars? Survival Role Play in English Post Compulsory Education.' In Merrill, B., Gilimberti, A., Nizinska, A., Jose Gonzalez, M. (ed.) Continuity and Discontinuity in Learning Careers.
Wolstencroft, P., Dinning, T.M. (2023) 'Leading a large and disparate school in higher education.' In Outhwaite, D.E.B.O.R.A.H., Simon, C.A.T.H.E.R.I.N.E. (ed.) Leadership and Management for Education Studies. Taylor & Francis,
Wolstencroft, P., Darnell, J. (2022) 'The Impact of Widening Participation on Further Education Settings in England.' In McCaig, R., Rainford, J., Squire, R. (ed.) The Business of Widening Participation Policy, Practice and Culture. Emerald Publishing Limited, pp. 147-165.
Wolstencroft, P. (2020) 'Achieving Teaching Excellence: Developing your TEF Profile and Beyond.' Achieving Teaching Excellence: Developing Your TEF Profile and Beyond. London: Open University Press,
Wolstencroft, P. (2019) 'Any which way but PowerPoint: motivating and engaging learners without the use of slides.' In Simmons, C. (ed.) Teaching and Learning Excellence.
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Reports
Wolstencroft, P., Whitfield, E. (2023) Will England’s universities and students embrace lifelong learning?. THE - Times Higher Education.
Cronshaw, S., Wolstencroft, P. (2023) Student Engagement Guidelines: Learning from innovative practices introduced in response to COVID-19 A collaboration of 10 UK modern universities. Quality Assurance Agency.
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Internet publications
Allen, M., Wolstencroft, P. (2024) Diplomatic manoeuvres: how those in leading from the middle become a conduit for change. https://www.belmas.org.uk/blog/diplomatic-manoeuvres-how-those-in-leading-from-the-middle-become-a-conduit-for-change/.
Wolstencroft, P., Dinning, T. (2024) Sticking together: how glue guys work in education. https://charteredabs.org/sticking-together-how-glue-guys-work-in-education/.
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Journal articles
Wolstencroft, P., Whitfield, E., Dinning, T. (2023) 'A tale of two objectives: the challenge of meeting diverse targets in UK Business Schools.' PRISM,
Gandy, R.J., Wolstencroft, P., Geer, K., de Main, L. (2023) 'Clear vision: a step towards unravelling student recruitment in English universities?.' Benchmarking: An International Journal,
Silverwood, J., Wolstencroft, P. (2023) 'The Ruskin Speech and Great Debate in English education, 1976–1979: A study of motivation.' British Educational Research Journal, 49(4) pp. 766-781.
Zhou, X., Wolstencroft, P. (2022) 'A home away from home: building an organic online support community for Chinese students using WeChat.' Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education,
Lloyd, C., Wolstencroft, P. (2022) 'Yes, but what happens next? Succession planning in English further education colleges.' Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 27pp. 391-412.
Wang, S., Wang, S., Wang, H., Wolstencroft, P. (2021) 'Growth rate of US state-level biomass consumption.' Renewable Energy, 179pp. 911-917.
Wolstencroft, P., Gretton, G.A. (2021) 'Eyes on the Prize: Creating Lifelong Learners Through Engagement with Assessment.' Impact Journal of the Chartered College of Teaching, 12
Zhou, X., Wolstencroft, P., Orim, S.M.I. (2020) 'Please don’t put your phones away: the application of learning technology in UK Higher Education, presenting a Framework for Implementation.' Compass: Journal of Learning and Teaching, 13
Wolstencroft, P., De Main, L. (2020) 'The Role of Further Education in Widening Participation.' BERA Research Intelligence,
Wolstencroft, P., de Main, L. (2020) '‘Why didn’t you tell me that before?’ Engaging undergraduate students in feedback and feedforward within UK higher education.' Journal of Further and Higher Education,
Wolstencroft, P., Lloyd, C. (2019) 'Process to practice: The evolving role of the academic middle manager in English further education colleges.' Management in Education, 33pp. 118-125.
Wolstencroft, P., Darnell, J. (2018) 'The best of both worlds: investigator greed, pragmatism, personality, confidence, self-identity and the multi-skills set in the choice of mixed methods research.' University of Warwick WRAP,
Thompson, C., Wolstencroft, P. (2018) 'Trust into mistrust: the uncertain marriage between public and private sector practice for middle managers in education.' Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 23pp. 213-230.
Wolstencroft, P., Thompson, C. (2017) '’Chained and Engrained’ – Breaking the PowerPoint Dependency Cycle in English Education.' Journal of Pedagogical Development, 7
Thompson, C., Wolstencroft, P. (2015) 'Promises and lies: An exploration of curriculum managers’ experiences in FE.' Journal of Further and Higher Education, 39pp. 399-416.
Thompson, C.A., Wolstencroft, P. (2014) '’Give ’em the old razzle dazzle’ - surviving the lesson observation process in further education.' Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 19pp. 261-275.
Toulson, R.E. (2013) 'The meanings of red envelopes: Promises and lies at a Singaporean Chinese funeral.' Journal of Material Culture, 18(2) pp. 155-169.
Wolstencroft, P., Thompson, C. (2012) 'A Year on the Frontline: Dispatches from New FE Teachers.' Journal of Pedagogical Development,
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Conference papers
Wolstencroft, P., De Main, L. (2021) 'Clearing the Final Hurdle: Getting Students to Engage with Feedback in Higher Education.' In International Scientific Conference “Delivering Impact in Higher Education Learning and Teaching: Enhancing Cross-Boarder Collaborations” (DIHELT 2021). 99. Russia, 6/4/2021 - 9/4/2021. EDP Sciences, pp. 01008-01008.
Wolstencroft, P., Calver, K., Hall, F. (2019) '“You’re not like a real professor”: Informalising and personalising support in UK higher education.' In AdvanceHE Teaching and Learning Conference. Newcastle, 2/7/2019 - 4/7/2019.
(2019) 'EDULEARN19 Proceedings.' In 11th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies. 1/7/2019 - 3/7/2019. IATED,
Crossan, M., Wolstencroft, P. (2019) 'HIGHER EDUCATION - WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR? KNOWLEDGE OR EMPLOYABILITY.' In 11th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies (EDULEARN). Palma, SPAIN, 1/7/2019 - 3/7/2019. Chova, L.G., Martinez, A.L., Torres, I.C. (ed.) IATED-INT ASSOC TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION & DEVELOPMENT, pp. 166-169.
Wolstencroft, P., Crossan, M. (2018) 'Putting Students at the Heart of CPD.' 24/4/2018 - 25/4/2018.
Wolstencroft, P. (2017) '’If You Stand for Nothing, You Will Fall for Anything’ The maintenance of self-identity in times of change.' In Exploring Learning Contexts: Implications for Access, Learning Careers and Identities. University of Rennes, 16/10/2017 - 18/10/2017.
Wolstencroft, P., Thompson, C. (2017) 'Empowerers, Inspirers, Knowledge Providers #living the dream FE Teachers’ Professional Identity in Challenging Times.' In Exploring Learning Contexts: Implications for Access, Learning Careers and Identities. University of Rennes, 16/10/2017 - 18/10/2017.
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Other
Wolstencroft, P., Zhou, X. The Digital Native Myth: Not all are Natives.
Wolstencroft, P. Peering through the looking glass: Making sense of the observation process in HE.
Wolstencroft, P., Zhou, X. Digital masters? Reflecting on the readiness of students and staff for digital learning.
Wolstencroft, P., Zhou, X. Community in a Time of Crisis: Fostering Support for Displaced Students.
Wolstencroft, P., Whitfield, E., Talbot, D. (2023) Joyful Influencers: A day at the University of Greenwich Learning and Teaching Festival.
Wolstencroft, P., Silverwood, J. (2023) The easy option: How the Ruskin Speech has become a cipher for change in British education.
Wolstencroft, P., Whitfield, E., Dinning, T.M. (2023) Convergence in the English and French education systems: Vive la difference!.
Dinning, T.M., Wolstencroft, P. (2023) It takes two: Co-leadership in British higher education.
Wolstencroft, P., Whitfield, E., Dinning, T.M. (2022) But what do the numbers say? How the movement towards datafication might change English higher education.
Gretton, G., Wolstencroft, P. (2022) When the subject becomes the object: Redefining the teacher standards as learner standards.
Wolstencroft, P., Beech, R. (2022) From passivity to partnership: how the student-university relationship has evolved in the era of the National Student Survey.
Wolstencroft, P., Kivits, R., De Main, L. (2021) Finding a balance: Leadership in a time of chaos.
Wolstencroft, P. (2021) Knowledge is Power: The Struggle for Education for All.
Wolstencroft, P., Gretton, G. (2021) Thinking like a teacher: Is the early career framework the answer to early career teachers’ prayers?.
Wolstencroft, P., De Main, L., Kivits, R. (2021) “Sorry about the mess” – vulnerability and authenticity in an online world.
De Main, L., Wolstencroft, P. (2021) Value for Money or a Transformative Experience: What do students actually value about university?.
Wolstencroft, P., De Main, L., Cashian, P. (2021) Dealing with something completely different: How further and higher education leaders responded to the unexpected.
McGrath, L., Wolstencroft, P. (2021) ‘I Want to Break Free’ How Online Breakout Rooms have Become a Modern Educational Curse,.
Gretton, G., Wolstencroft, P. (2020) Situated professionalism and its influence on the university–school divide within initial teacher education.
Wolstencroft, P., Crossan, M. (2019) Push Me, Pull You: Personalising the Learning Experience in Higher Education.