Rebecca Taylor

I teach across all higher education courses in the Education department, including Childhood Education studies, Primary Education studies, Early Childhood studies, and our MA Education course. My expertise encompasses primary education, teacher training, coaching and mentoring, as well as teaching and learning.

I have a background as a primary school teacher, spanning the full primary age range from the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) through Key Stages 1 and 2. This experience is complemented by time spent teaching in informal education settings with students of all ages. This breadth of experience enables me to effectively connect educational theory with classroom practice, supporting students in preparing for diverse careers in education.

I’ve had work published in THE (Times Higher Education) on invested mentorship, co-authored a piece on free school meals for Nursery World, and co-authored a chapter on teacher development for BigBrum Schools of Recovery on the impact of teacher development. 

A myth about our industry that I come up against time and time again is that teachers finish at 3pm and have the summer off work. In fact, it’s a challenging profession requiring continual effort - but it’s also deeply rewarding. I particularly enjoy those ‘lightbulb’ moments when children or students grasp a concept for the first time - it’s such a privilege to support someone else’s learning.

Whenever we hear from a former UCB student about what part of their training has stayed with them in their teaching career - whether a class, assignment, or just a nugget of wisdom, we feel proud to have played a part in their journey. As a former UCB student myself, I understand the value of strong support and strive to offer the same to our students. My advice to my students is to understand that progress isn’t necessarily linear - there will be ups and downs, but what’s most important is to keep moving forward. 

Outside of work, I enjoy outdoor activities, such as walking my dog and horse riding. I’m also an avid reader of Jojo Moyes’ books. I find this quote, often attributed to Albert Einstein, very apt: “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”