Released: 16.07.10

Final year Primary BEd students took part in the second annual 'Challenging Stereotypes' conference day recently which looked at preparing them for their forthcoming careers as primary teachers. Speakers from across the country came to work with the students on what proved to be a highly successful day.

Speakers involved in the day were Professor Ruth Merrtens who opened the day with a key note speech, Mark Jennett from the 'No Outsiders' project looking at challenging homophobia and promoting sexualities equalities within the primary classroom, Stella Taylor and Richard Ensor from local Special Needs schools looking at the range of special needs catered for within different SEN schools, Lizzie Isaacs from Plymouth and Devon Racial Equality Council who worked with the students on supporting Gypsy and Traveller children within the primary classroom, David Oddie who talked about his work with the ARROW project, and Finn Greig from Gendered Intelligence who considered Gender Variance within the primary school. The day culminated with a symposium panel where students were able to pose questions to any of the speakers and student representatives on the panel.

The conference day was organised by Katherine Hamley, Senior Lecturer in Primary Education, who herself has been involved in work specifically involved in challenging stereotypes with the 'No Outsiders' project and knows firsthand how important it is to prepare primary school teachers to teach in a diverse society. Trainees who attended the day commented on how valuable they felt a day such as this was in preparing them for their own jobs for the future. Comments were made on how the topics covered and discussed enabled them to question their own knowledge and understanding and to be made aware of where to go for further support and guidance when they are teaching; something that they would not have been aware of prior to this day.