Dr Andy Pitchford

Dr Andy Pitchford


I'm the Head of the Centre for Education and Teaching Innovation. I arrived at Westminster in early 2021 after a career as a leader, teacher and researcher at the Universities of Bath and Gloucestershire. I'm a National Teaching Fellow and have taught at all levels of higher education over the past 25 years. I've also had a successful research career including a 4* Impact Case Study in the 2014 REF. I have a particular interest in transformative and authentic learning, and enjoy building partnerships that create distinctive and challenging student experiences. 


I continue to research in the fields of education, pedagogy and community sport. In the early 2000s I was part of a team of researchers who investigated safeguarding in sport, and particularly in football, and this led to a series of publications including a book - Child Welfare in Football - that was published by Routledge in 2007. More recently, I've worked with colleagues on another Routledge text, The Handbook of Authentic Learning, which reflects my more recent interest in pedagogies that give students power and agency.