Hilary McConnell B.Ed MA

 Hilary McConnell

University Link Tutor

School of Education

Contact Details

Profile

Hilary McConnell is a Link Tutor in the School of Education at Aberystwyth University.

Additional Information

Hilary, a fluent Welsh speaker, obtained her B.Ed. degree at Cardiff and as well as teaching across the 3 – 7 years age group (single and mixed age classes) in Rhondda Cynon Taf and Ceredigion, she has experience of being a Head of Early Years Unit and Foundation Phase Leader. Hilary supplemented her qualification with the National Professional Qualification for Headship in 2004 and an M.A. in Education in 2009 researching ‘Listening to the Voice of the Young Learner and became an Estyn inspector in 2013.

She also has 20 years’ experience of working in an advisory role for Early Years/ Foundation Phase across Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire LAs and also trained staff on the initial roll out of Foundation Phase training. She also has experience as Lead for Personal and Social Education within Ceredigion LA (FP/ KS2/ KS3/ KS4). 

Hilary has coached many practitioners and trained other teachers to become coaches and has presented her work on developing Thinking Skills at National and International Conferences.  She has a particular interest in Foundation Phase pedagogy and her interest led her to undertake a study week in Reggio Emilia, Italy (2007), and to visit kindergartens around Christchurch, New Zealand (2004). 

Research

Her focus upon Foundation learning pedagogy, together with her interest in continuous professional development, informs her provision and current DProf research.