Dr Rob Savage appointed Head of Psychology and Human Development

Dr Savage completed his PhD at the IOE and also trained to be an Educational Psychologist in its Psychology and Human Development department. 

Speaking of his appointment, Dr Savage said:

"Given the strength in depth both of this university and this department, I have no doubt that many rich, productive scholarly, pedagogical and administrative working relationships will ensue.

"As a leader and advocate for this, the premier applied developmental psychology department worldwide, I bring both familiarity and innovation. I am a graduate of this department (I hold both a masters in Professional Educational Psychology, and a Ph.D in Developmental Psychology from the forerunner of PHD).

"I have spent 15 years in Quebec Canada as well as carrying out research around the world - Australia, Hong Kong, and the U.K. Excellence, an international outlook, and core human values of supporting and facilitating the creative individuals who make this unit what it is, and will be, underpin my vision for the department."

Commenting on his appointment, Professor Becky Francis, Director of the IOE, said:

"I'm delighted that we will be welcoming Dr Savage back to the IOE, to lead the department in which he originally trained. He returns with a hugely impressive record of research, particularly on early literacy and the identification of interventions that can help young children learn to read, as well as exciting plans for large-scale trials in this area.

"His work - across literacy but also primary pedagogy and inclusive education more broadly - is a fantastic example of what the IOE offers: robust, theory-driven interventions and a concern with how the findings from research can be effectively translated to classroom practice."