Department of Education

We have been educating educators for more than a century. Our graduates transform lives through their reflective, inclusive and research-engaged practice.

We are No.2 in the UK for Education in the Guardian University Guide (2022).

Our supportive community is learner-centred, and you will have career-enhancing opportunities to collaborate with other students, educational settings, sector partners and health and social care professionals.

Follow us on Twitter at @KUEducation.

About us

We believe in enabling our students to transform the lives of their learners and we do this by making sure we do the same for them. We offer a very special friendly environment in which to become an educational practitioner and take students' individual learning needs very seriously.

A key feature of all our courses is the personalised learning experience students receive at the university and while on placement at their school or setting. The strong tutor and mentoring support is consistently rated highly by students across all our education programmes. We offer courses that adapt to our very diverse students, with courses that are employment-based, online and offering weekend delivery.

We are based at Kingston Hill, a beautiful campus with excellent access by public transport, a free university bus, bike hire scheme and free car parking. There are excellent learning resources including a highly regarded library with a specially designed education library.

We have an outdoor learning environment and Forest School on campus, which are greatly appreciated by both our students and partners.

Our history

We've been educating educators for more than a century. Our roots are in the Gipsy Hill Teacher Training College. We were founded by leading educationalists as the Gipsy Hill Teacher Training College in 1917 and were led for 30 years by Lillian Daphne de Lissa, a pioneer in early years education. We moved to Kingston Hill in 1947 and following many years of expansion we merged with what is now Kingston University in 1975.

We work in collaboration with many educational partners across south west London, Surrey and surrounding London boroughs including Harris Federation, Babcock Education and Linguaphone Group. These partners choose to work with us because of the quality of what we do and our innovative approach to learning.

Our partnerships

The Department of Education prides itself on the strong partnerships that we have developed with settings, schools and colleges. We are committed to the development of effective working relationships and build on opportunities presented to work collaboratively with our partners.

We believe that through effective partnership we are able to support trainees at schools or settings in enabling, empowering and recognising the positive contributions that can be made to the world of education, and beyond.

We currently work with over 200 partnerships in a range of educational settings. We are always keen to develop these further, so please contact us to discuss the possibilities by emailing educationplacements@kingston.ac.uk.

We have school and setting experience placements, franchise programme opportunities and research collaboration in the following areas:

  • EYITT
  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Work based learning
  • School Direct
  • SCITTs

If you are one of our partners, you can access our Partnership Area here with your password.

Our courses

We have a range of educational courses, from initial teacher training to specialist teaching areas and postgraduate research.

Why choose Kingston's Department of Education

Reputation

We have a rich history of educating educators; providing a strong foundation for learning and teaching.

Putting you first

We recognise your needs and aspirations, personalise your learning experience and putting you at the heart of everything we do.

Expert educationalists

Our staff are research-engaged educationalists, making knowledge accessible for you to incorporate in your professional practice. 

Inter-professional collaboration

Our faculty brings valuable experience and insight from other professionals that work with children and young people. 

Kingston Hill

The Kingston Hill campus features an outdoor learning environment where trainee teachers lead curriculum-linked natural sciences activities with children. It includes a specially built 'cubby house', outdoor pond, beehive and nature trail. It offers early years students the opportunity to simulate teaching and learning with natural materials.

There are a number of teaching rooms set up to replicate actual classrooms. Each classroom is subject based – such as an art room, science lab, and each is equipped with all the relevant facilities you will need to practise your lessons before taking them into school.

Our library (the Nightingale Centre) has an excellent range of teaching resources to help you plan and teach your lessons, such as a range of children's topic books, music and nursery rhymes, as well as artefacts and kits that can be used to illustrate historical periods, different religions, science, maths and music.

Academic staff in the Department of Education

Education Research

The Department of Education aims to improve the lives of learners in all settings and to enhance the wellbeing of communities in education-related fields. Our collaborative work with teachers, education professionals and partner institutions underpins our research activity.

Our academic staff have developed research expertise within various contexts and settings across the education sector, from nursery to higher education; work-based and intercultural learning to the formation of inclusive and international curricula.

Current areas of interest include professionalism and inter-professionalism in Early Years' provision, citizenship education, technologies-enhanced learning and digital literacies, mathematics education and curriculum policy in the primary and secondary years.