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Dr David Littlefair

Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor

School: Communities and Education

I am Deputy Head of the Department of Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing, Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA) and an internationally recognised figure in the field of Teacher Education (Education).

I lead professional development for teachers nationally and internationally by designing innovative curricula and delivery models via stakeholder co-production with serving teachers and headteachers. Through service on the Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers’ (UCET) Executive and CPD Committees, I have influenced policy and practice via the Department for Education, including in areas such as the development of the Master of Teaching and Learning (MTL). I have secured £2.3m in external CPD income to establish a number of learning hubs via university and school consortia in the UK as well as international programmes, such as in provinces of China. I am regularly invited to speak internationally on this work. I have a growing body of research in the field of inclusive education, which involves national and international collaborations with Australia, Germany, and Romania.  

I have made significant theoretical and pedagogical contributions to my discipline of teacher education through my pioneering ‘pupil voice’ pedagogical paradigm and strategic leadership of the Inclusive Education Research group. My creation of the Pupil Voice research programme has impacted policy and practice in areas such as Physical Education.

I am always keen to collaborate with colleagues within and outside Higher Education to advance excellence in teaching and to support research on this topic, including via doctoral study.  

David Littlefair

  • Jennifer Hicken Start Date: 01/10/2025 End Date: 17/10/2025
  • Fiona Nicholls A School Participation and Connectedness Intervention for Neurodivergent Children in Mainstream UK Primary Schools. Start Date: 01/10/2023
  • Sophie Johnson What difference can classics make to primary school student self-efficacy? Pupil voice and the power of storytelling Start Date: 01/10/2023
  • Jennifer Hicken Start Date: 01/10/2025
  • Fiona Nicholls A School Participation and Connectedness Intervention for Neurodivergent Children in Mainstream UK Primary Schools. Start Date: 01/10/2023 End Date: 17/10/2025
  • Sophie Johnson What difference can classics make to primary school student self-efficacy? Pupil voice and the power of storytelling Start Date: 01/10/2023 End Date: 17/10/2025

  • Education PhD October 25 2021
  • Education MA (Hons) September 08 1994
  • Physics BSc (Hons) September 01 1986
  • Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy PFHEA 2018
  • Senior Fellow (SFHEA) Higher Education Academy (HEA) 2015


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