Key details
Michelle Best
Senior Lecturer Teacher Education (FET)
Michelle Best is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education, Faculty of Education, Health and Human Sciences at the University of Greenwich. She is also Phase Quality Lead for Further Education and Skills Sector, Link tutor for Network colleges and Mentor and Distance Coordinator.
Michelle joined the University in 2015 and delivers Initial Teacher Training (ITT) programmes across three academic framework pathways: The Professional Certificate in Education (PCE, Level 5), The Professional Graduate (ProfGCE, Level 6) and Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE, Level 7). Her professional affiliations include as a Senior Fellow HE Academy and Fellow Society for Education and Training.
In addition, she delivers the Professionals as Researchers Enquiry project which introduces a range of research techniques to experienced teachers in schools and colleges; she also delivers topics on the Literacy and ESOL specialist pathway.
Michelle previously taught on the Professional Certificate in Education (PCET) and BA Hons Education degree, in her role as Programme Leader in Education Studies. She was also an Advanced Practitioner, leading on and sharing with colleges' teaching staff innovative approaches to delivering English in the curriculum. As part of the Quality Team, Michelle monitored teaching through Learning Walks and the promotion of the student voice within the College and was also member of the Higher Education Teaching and Learning Committee. Her previous role included working in partnership with the University of Sussex, liaising with the Dean and other members of the Sussex Education and Research Consortium to investigate current government policy on ITT. Michelle has conducted two validations for new ITT programmes and developed specifications with the University of Sussex and City and Guilds, maintaining quality and structure to benefit trainee teacher success.
Michelle has achieved Student-led teaching awards at University of Greenwich and accredited as Advanced Practitioner in 2011 for teaching excellence at the University Centre Croydon.
Michelle is currently studying towards the Doctorate in Education, and her interests include the professional development of Further Education teachers and teacher identity. Michelle also works closely with the Education and Training Foundation as a Reviewer for Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status and Advanced Teacher Status (ATS).
Posts held previously:
- 2013-2015 External Examiner, Initial Teacher Training Lifelong Learning, University of Greenwich
- 2010-2015 Programme Leader for Education Studies and Advanced Practitioner, University Centre Croydon, Croydon College
- 2001-201 Lecturer (Croydon College)
Responsibilities within the university
- Senior Lecturer & Module Leader ITE in PGCE Further Education &Training Sector for full-time and part-time programmes
- Lecturer MA Education – Enquiry skills in Education
- Supervisor MA Education Dissertation
- School of Education Research Ethics Panel (SREP) panellist
- Link tutor for Network college (NESCOT) PGCE programmes
- Mentor Coordinator
- Part-time Coordinator
- ECT lead
- QTLS lead
- RPL Lead
Recognition
- Fellow Society for Education and Training
- BERA student member
- Reviewer for Research in Post-compulsory Education Journal
Research / Scholarly interests
Michelle's research interest stems from her thesis focus of investigating teachers' awareness of their teacher identity.
- Beginner Further Education teacher identity
- Professional development of Further Education teachers
- Professional Formation process leading to QTLS status
This interest derives from previous research on digital literacy and how the social identity of a student shapes their e-learning experience. The exploration of the influences of identity linked to how learners respond to education and how social participation contributes to the learning process. Ultimately, investigations into cognitive and motivational aspects of intergroup differentiation has supported teachers in designing and delivering a range of sessions.
Additional research projects include: - the study of motivational concepts and active learning tasks to promote learner participation, specifically of English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students.
- and the promotion of collaborative learning and innovative use of Information & Communications Technology to prepare learners for successful lives in an increasingly societal and technological world.
Key funded projects
2018 Seedling fund project - 'investigating teachers’ perceptions of QTLS holders in secondary schools' (University of Greenwich).
Recent publications
Journal article
Best, M., Ade-Ojo, G. O. & McKelvey, C. (2019) 'Last among Equals: Perceptions and Prospects of Further Education Trained PGCE Holders in the Age of 'Parity' Research in Post Compulsory Education, Issue 24.4 (Winter 2019)
Books
Best M, Magaji A and Smith L.D., (2021), Outdoor Learning, in McDonald, R., & Gibson, P. (Eds). Inspiring Primary Learners: Insights and Inspiration Across the Curriculum (1st ed.). Routledge, pp 293-306. Magaji A, Smith L.D., and Best, M (2021), Science: Children as Inventors, in McDonald, R., & Gibson, P. (Eds)
Inspiring Primary Learners: Insights and Inspiration Across the Curriculum (1st ed.). Routledge, pp 48-66.
Best, M., Ade-Ojo, G. O. & McKelvey, C. (2019) 'Last among Equals: Perceptions and Prospects of Further Education Trained PGCE Holders in the Age of 'Parity' Forthcoming in Research in Post Compulsory Education, Issue 24.4 (Winter 2019)
Presentations
- BERA Conference, University of Sussex (September 2025) Creating inquiry-rich teacher education: leading or being led
- UCET Conference, Leeds (November 2025) Creating inquiry-rich teacher education: leading or being led
- MEDWAY LEARNING AND TEACHING Conference University of Greenwich (June 2025) Creating inquiry-rich teacher education: leading or being led
- SHIFT Conference University of Greenwich (2025) A Tale of Two Phases: inquiry in different spaces
- SHIFT Conference University of Greenwich (2018) Mentoring in different milieus