Mrs Sonia Tomlinson

After completing my degree in Mathematical Sciences, I joined the Graduate Teacher Programme to train as a Primary School Teacher at a Primary School in Ash. After completing the programme, I remained teaching there for fifteen years. As well as being a Classroom Teacher, I also had responsibility for leading Mathematics across the school and covered the role of Deputy Head.

I have worked at the university since 2012 when I joined the Primary Mathematics team as an Academic Sessional alongside working in school. In 2016 I joined the university taking on a permanent position as a Senior Lecturer in Primary Education. One of my first roles was to write the materials for an online Subject Knowledge Enhancement Course for Primary Mathematics and teach the course over several years.I am a mathematics specialist and teach predominantly on Primary Mathematics in both the undergraduate and postgraduate courses. I am also the Placement Lead for the PGCE FT Primary Education.

I have worked in primary education since 2001 in a range of roles including classroom teacher, mathematics subject lead and Deputy Head Teacher. In 2008 I became a ‘Lead Teacher in Mathematics’ which involved supporting and coaching colleagues in primary schools to develop their subject and pedagogical knowledge in mathematics. In 2010, I was seconded to the Advisory Service for Kent as a Primary Mathematics Consultant delivering training and supporting schools with developing mathematics across their school.

My research interests lie within all aspects of primary mathematics.

I have joint-authored a chapter of a book on mentoring trainee and newly qualified primary school teachers. The chapter is based around issues within mentoring trainee teachers of primary mathematics.

PUBLICATIONS

King, H., Donaldson, G. and Tomlinson, S. (2021) ‘Mentoring for mathematics’, in Howells, K., Lawrence, J. and Roden, J. (eds.) Mentoring Teachers in the Primary School. Abingdon: Routledge. pp. 158-170.

I am currently a 'Co-opted' governor for a local primary school.