Laurence Thomas
Background
Laurence Thomas is a trained primary teacher with teaching experience in London, the Middle East, and Wales. Throughout his career, he has led a range of subject and AoLE areas, including Literacy, Numeracy, and Expressive Arts. His particular interests lie in curriculum design, professional learning, and assessment.
Since 2022, Laurence has worked in Initial Teacher Education with the Athrofa Professional Learning Partnership (APLP). He leads the partnership’s mentoring provision, supporting schools and colleagues to ensure student-teachers are well supported during placements. His role includes developing mentors’ skills, promoting high-quality and consistent practice, and creating opportunities for sharing expertise. He is also a member of the APLP Leadership Group, contributing to the strategic development of the partnership and its engagement with schools across Wales.
In addition, Laurence is a trained peer inspector with Estyn and has undertaken inspections, bringing valuable insights from these visits into his professional practice.
Specialist Subjects
- Professional Practice (Student-Teacher Learning on Placement)
- Teaching Numeracy in Initial Teacher Education
- Policy and Social Justice in Education
Professional and/or Research Experience
Alongside this, his work examines mentoring and professional development, investigating strategies that support both student-teachers and their school-based mentors in fostering reflective, skilled, and confident practitioners. He is also interested in attainment grouping and differentiation practices, considering how teachers plan and adapt learning to meet the diverse needs of pupils while promoting equity and inclusion in the classroom.
Qualifications
- BA in History
- MA in Modern History
- Currently undertaking a Doctorate in Education (EdD)