Brian Rock

Dr Brian Rock serves as a Senior Lecturer in Initial Teacher Education at York St John University's School of Education, Language and Psychology. He joined the institution in 2022 after extensive experience in secondary education and teacher training. His academic responsibilities span both undergraduate Primary Education BA and postgraduate Secondary School Centred PGCE programs.

Rock holds a BA (Hons) in English and History from University College Dublin (2001), an MA (Hons) in Anglo-Irish Literature and Drama (2022), a PhD in English Literature from University of Stirling (2010), and a PGDE in Secondary English from University of Edinburgh (2012).

His research focuses on oracy in English secondary education, teacher formation, selection and development, mentoring and coaching, and social justice and LGBTQ+ inclusive practices. Previously, his scholarly work centered on literary studies, particularly examining Irish author Brian O'Nolan's fiction through postcolonial and minor literature frameworks. He leads the ITE Research Group: Teacher Selection, Formation and Development, and contributes to the Critical Literacies Research Group's UKLA-funded project on critical media literacies.

Rock serves as Academic Tutor for Primary Education BA and Secondary School Centred PGCE students, acting as Module Director for QTS5006M The Research Informed Professional 1 and PGC7017M The Developing Professional. As Lead Mentor, he quality assures secondary school placements and supervises doctoral research, including Ginny Doxey's EdD on teacher reading identity.

He is an active member of professional organizations including NATE, UKLA, and the Chartered College of Teaching. His institutional roles include membership on the School QR Funding Panel and leadership of General and Lead Mentor training across the ITE Partnership. Rock also serves on the Pathfinder Teaching School Hub Regional ITTE Steering Group and Primary and Secondary ITE Partnership Strategic Groups.