Tess Baylis-Smith

Tess Baylis-Smith is a Senior Lecturer in Primary Education and Programme Leader for Primary Employed Based Routes in Initial Teacher Training (ITT) at the University of Wolverhampton, Faculty of Education, Health & Wellbeing, School of Education. She leads the Primary Schools Direct Salaried and Primary Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship programmes and teaches across both undergraduate and postgraduate teacher training courses.

Her educational background includes a BSc in Psychology from Worcester University and a Primary PGCE with a specialism in Science from Birmingham City University. She also holds a PG Cert in Higher Education and is currently completing an MA in Education. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).

Her research focuses on employment-based routes into teaching, professional identity transitions among trainee teachers, barriers to accessing ITT, and the integration of technology in higher education learning. She has a strong commitment to enhancing the skills of school-based educators and improving access to teacher training for working professionals.

As an External Examiner, she contributes to quality assurance at the University of Brighton for their Primary and Secondary Employment Based ITT programmes, reflecting her national engagement in teacher education standards.

Her prior professional experience includes roles as a Primary Teacher, Lead Teacher for Worcestershire LEA, Senior Leadership Team member, and STEM ambassador, providing her with extensive practical insight into primary education and school leadership.

She is actively involved in curriculum development and pedagogical innovation, particularly in the areas of Primary Science, Primary Computing, and Professional Learning for trainee teachers.