Dr Rachel Wallis

Professional biography

Rachel is a Curriculum Tutor on the Primary PGCE Programme, an alternative route into teaching (via a part-time or salaried route), at the Open University in Wales. Rachel undertook a degree in Pure Mathematics before becoming a primary teacher.  She was a primary teacher for 15 years, and worked in Initial Teacher Education in Wales for 10 years before joining the Open University in September 2020. 

Research interests

Rachel has recently completed a PhD in design based research focusing on measures as a context for learning the multiplicative relationship.  Her main research interests are mathematics learning and teaching, curriculum and pedagogy. 

Teaching interests

Rachel teaches on all modules of the PGCE programme encompassing units with a focus on curriculum, understanding learners, pedagogy, planning, assessment and professional learning.  Rachel supports research activity of PGCE student-teachers for their Masters level module. 

Impact and engagement

Since 2012, Rachel has worked on various Welsh Government groups to support Mathematics and Numeracy education development in Wales, including the Mathematics Task and Finish Group, National Numeracy Expert Group and the National Network for Excellence in Mathematics. 

Between 2016 and 2020, Rachel worked as part of the Camau team, facilitating the development of a progression framework for Mathematics and Numeracy within the Curriculum for Wales and has worked alongside Mathematics and Numeracy pioneers since the publication of the Curriculum for Wales to support curriculum and pedagogy development in Wales, for example, the development of materials to support understanding of the Proficiencies 'Principles of Progression' in Mathematics and Numeracy

External collaborations

Rachel is a member of the Welsh Government supported Collaborative Research Network for Curriculum and Pedagogy. 

Rachel is a member of  a Welsh Government Mathematics and Numeracy expert panel