Julian Brown

Julian is the Head of Education and has successfully led the Initial Teacher Training at the University of Northampton through an OfSTED inspection and the Market Review accreditation process. Previously he was the Programme Leader for the National Award in Special Educational Needs Coordination for  six years and a module leader for the Postgraduate Diploma in SpLD and Inclusion. Special areas of interest for Julian, in a teaching and research capacity, include the promotion of inclusive attitudes through professional development and school improvement. He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a member of the Northamptonshire PATOSS group, a Trustee for the Skylark Partnership (a multiacademy trust) and holds an SpLD Assessment Practising Certificate for teaching and assessing dyslexia and assessments for Disabled Student Allowance.

Prior to joining Northampton in 2010, Julian spent fifteen years in primary, middle, secondary and special-school classrooms in a diverse range of roles from supporting learners, as a teaching assistant, to managing provision and supporting colleagues as a teacher, SENCo and Senior Leader.

Research

Julian has been a researcher on two funded research projects, including ‘Success at School’, a European project which examined methods for supporting young people who are at risk of not being in education, training or employment. Currently, he is involved in non-funded research investigating the impact of postgraduate training for Special Educational Needs Coordinators and the Northampton Town Education Challenge. Julian has supervised undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations since he joined the University of Northampton.

Julian is currently completing his Professional Doctorate in Education about inclusive education in higher education. The title of his research is, 'Exploring university lecturers’ perceptions of inclusion, inclusive practice and their professional development needs'. Julian's research interests also include the leadership of inclusion in schools and the role of the Special Educational Needs Coordinator.