Nikki Sharratt
Primary PGCE Curriculum Area Lead & Schools Partnership Facilitator

Profile

Biography

I joined the Department of Education at the University of York in 2025 in two roles: Primary PGCE Curriculum Area Lead and Schools Partnership Facilitator. My role as CA Lead involves planning and delivering the ITE curriculum to enhance Beginning Teachers' knowledge across a range of subjects and supporting Beginning Teachers in school placements when they put this into practice. As Schools Partnership Facilitator, I work directly with partner schools to build and maintain partnerships. I carefully match Beginning Teachers to school placements and support mentors through CPD and individual guidance, ensuring a high-quality, coherent and bespoke training experience for all.

I have a particular interest in the teaching of English in primary schools, with a strong focus on Phonics, Early Reading, and Reading for Pleasure. I regularly attend CPD around this subject to further my own knowledge and practice and run a OU/UKLA Teachers’ Reading Group for local teachers who wish to develop their own pedagogy around developing a love of reading in their classrooms.

Career

I completed my undergraduate degree in English Language at the University of Leeds before training as a teacher through the PGCE route. I then spent 12 years teaching in primary schools across the York area, during which time I specialised in Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Key Stage 1, and held whole-school leadership responsibility for English across the full primary age range. I also worked on school-to-school improvement teams, supporting staff in a range of school contexts to develop their practice and improve outcomes for pupils.

Primary teaching is, for me, one of the most rewarding careers in education - challenging, but rich with purpose and possibility. As a teacher educator, I am genuinely motivated by the opportunity to support Beginning Teachers as they develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to thrive in the profession: I know that well-supported teachers go on to make a meaningful difference to their pupils, their schools and their wider communities and I am so pleased that I can play a part in this.

Departmental roles

• Primary PGCE School Partnership Facilitator
• YSIS Link Tutor
• School Mentor Training

Teaching

Postgraduate

• PGCE - Primary and Secondary

Other teaching

• YSIS Plus
• UKLA & OU Teachers’ Reading Group