Catherine Whitley

Catherine Whitley is a Senior Lecturer and Senior Teaching Fellow at the University of Strathclyde's School of Education. She holds a B.Sc. in Psychology (Hons), PGCE, M.Ed., and is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her roles include Director of School of Education and Local Authority Partnership and Outreach, PGDE Course Leader, and Co-Chair of the National Student Placement Management Group. She pioneered initiatives like the Strathclyde Enhanced Partnership Initiative (SEPI), influencing national educational frameworks. Her research focuses on educational partnerships, teacher training methodologies, and student teacher development. She has led curriculum reviews for the PGDE program and contributed to policy implementation post-Donaldson Review. Awards include Excellence in Professional Learning (2019) and recognition as a Principal Fellow (2020). Her work integrates on-campus and school-based learning, emphasizing rigorous teacher education standards.

• Education Background: B.Sc. Psychology (Dundee), PGCE (Northern College), M.Ed. (Strathclyde)
• External Roles: Co-Chair National Student Placement Management Group, Former External Examiner at University of Dundee (2013–2016)

Her teaching innovations, such as the Pedagogy and Placement Learning modules, were nationally acclaimed and adopted in Scotland’s National Framework. She oversees over 1,000 PGDE students annually and is redesigning the PGDE with Integrated Masters program to meet Scottish Government standards.