Education and Society – Integrated Foundation Year

Welcome to Integrated Foundation Education and Society pathway 2026.

Congratulations on receiving an offer to study with us. We are really excited to offer this Education and Society specific foundation year that has been developed to provide you with the skills required to thrive in your degree, developed by lecturers who are experienced teaching on the Education and Society degree pathways.

The family of subjects you will meet includes:

• BA Early Childhood Studies
• BA Education Studies
• BA Sociology
• BA Physical Education and Sport
• BA Working with Children, Young People and Families

The Integrated Foundation Year is designed to support you as you begin your university studies and prepare you for progression onto your chosen degree. Throughout the year, you will develop the academic, personal and professional skills you will need for successful study at university, while also exploring your chosen subject area.

You will study three modules across the year. These will help you develop your academic and study skills, build your subject knowledge and apply what you have learned through a project. Although students from different degree routes will share some aspects of the Integrated Foundation Year, your learning and activities will be linked to your chosen subject area.

Your Integrated Foundation Year is structured in the following way:

Semester 1:

• Foundations in Education and Society (Dr. Imane Tiahi)
• Professional and Academic Skills for University Study (Dr. Imane Tiahi)

Semester 2:

• Applied Learning Project: (Dr. Imane Tiahi)
• Professional and Academic Skills for University Study (Dr. Imane Tiahi)

Teaching will be face-to-face and will include tutor-led sessions, group activities, independent study and opportunities to apply your learning. Your assessments are designed to help you build your skills throughout the year, with opportunities for formative feedback and guidance along the way.

During Welcome Week, you will meet your teaching team and other students, find out more about your course and become familiar with the University and the support available to you.

We look forward to welcoming you and supporting you as you begin your university journey.

Course leaders

Dr Imane Tiahi

Senior Lecturer in Integrated Foundation Year and Education

Imane.tiahi2@northampton.ac.uk

James White

Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Course Leader

James.White@northampton.ac.uk

Your Course Leader is here to support you throughout your studies and is a key point of contact for any matters relating to your course. They can help with academic guidance, course-related queries, progression advice, and signposting you to appropriate university services when additional support is needed.

If you have questions about your modules, assessments, attendance, or your overall experience on the course, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We are committed to helping you make the most of your time at university and achieve your academic goals.

Additional staff

• Julian Brown, Head of Subject for Education and Society
• Dr Tanya Richardson, Course Leader for Early Childhood Studies
• Natasha Evans, Course Leader for Working with Children, Young People and Families degree
• Samantha Weeks, Course Leader for Education Studies
• James Mason, Course Leader for PE and Sport