Biography – Dr Barry Hymer
Barry is an experienced teacher and chartered psychologist, currently practising as a freelance educator (he is the Director of Still Thinking (UK) Ltd.) and an author of educational material. He holds the position of Visiting Fellow at Newcastle University’s Centre for Teaching and Learning and is Consultant Editor for the journal Gifted Education International. As part of his freelance work Barry regularly runs hands-on enrichment workshops with young people in school (usually in the area of gifted education, thinking skills and/or Philosophy for Children), and he is a national trainer for Osiris Educational and for SAPERE (The Society for the Advancement of Philosophical Enquiry and Reflection in Education). He has delivered keynote and workshop presentations at numerous national and international conferences, and worked in a training and consultancy capacity with many thousands of teachers, students, parents, governors, teaching assistants and inspector-advisers. Barry’s commitment to inclusive, holistic and child-centred approaches to education underpins his writing, teaching and his in-service presentations, and he eschews quick educational fixes and a focus on teaching in favour of deep learning experiences and a focus on learning. He has particular interests in thinking skills and creativity, intrinsic learning motivation and independent learning, wise learning environments and in contextual, growth-oriented approaches to gift-creation.
Barry received his undergraduate degrees in English and psychology from the universities of Cape Town and Port Elizabeth (cum laude). He obtained his MPhil from Cambridge University and an MSc from Southampton University – where he also obtained his PGCE (with distinction). Barry’s doctoral thesis at Newcastle University took the form of a ‘living theory’ action research enquiry into his practice as an educator in the field of giftedness.
Barry taught in secondary and primary schools in North Yorkshire and Hampshire, before practising as an educational psychologist with Cumbria LA from 1991 to 2001. Barry also established and co-ordinated this LA’s Able Pupil Project from 1996 to 2001, during which period he studied part-time at the University of Newcastle, obtaining a modular qualification in working with more able learners (awarded with merit). From September 2001 to August 2004 Barry had a part-time contract as a senior educational psychologist in the Barrow Education Action Zone, co-developing a number of projects and CPD initiatives (e.g. Philosophy for Children, the BarroWise Project, Dilemma-Based Learning) for teachers and other educators.
Barry has served on the National Committee of NACE (the National Association for Able Children in Education), and for five years he was the book review editor for the NACE journal Educating Able Children. In 1999 Barry was asked to provide oral and written evidence to the House of Commons Select Committee Inquiry into the education of able children. He has also been an Associate Tutor at Oxford-Brookes University. In 2003 Barry’s work received international recognition when he received the ICPIC (International Council for Philosophical Inquiry with Children) Award for Excellence in Interpreting Philosophy with Children. The citation for this award noted that his work “Speaks to the richness of children’s imaginative play and their ability to stretch sensory images to the fullest”.
Barry lives on the borders of North Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire with his wife and daughters. His passions for Van Morrison, walking, wild camping, chess, poultry-keeping and foraging for edible fungi, are only minimally shared by other members of his family.
Barry is an experienced teacher and chartered psychologist, currently practising as a freelance educator (he is the Director of Still Thinking (UK) Ltd.) and an author of educational material. He holds the position of Visiting Fellow at Newcastle University’s Centre for Teaching and Learning and is Consultant Editor for the journal Gifted Education International. As part of his freelance work Barry regularly runs hands-on enrichment workshops with young people in school (usually in the area of gifted education, thinking skills and/or Philosophy for Children), and he is a national trainer for Osiris Educational and for SAPERE (The Society for the Advancement of Philosophical Enquiry and Reflection in Education). He has delivered keynote and workshop presentations at numerous national and international conferences, and worked in a training and consultancy capacity with many thousands of teachers, students, parents, governors, teaching assistants and inspector-advisers. Barry’s commitment to inclusive, holistic and child-centred approaches to education underpins his writing, teaching and his in-service presentations, and he eschews quick educational fixes and a focus on teaching in favour of deep learning experiences and a focus on learning. He has particular interests in thinking skills and creativity, intrinsic learning motivation and independent learning, wise learning environments and in contextual, growth-oriented approaches to gift-creation.
Barry received his undergraduate degrees in English and psychology from the universities of Cape Town and Port Elizabeth (cum laude). He obtained his MPhil from Cambridge University and an MSc from Southampton University – where he also obtained his PGCE (with distinction). Barry’s doctoral thesis at Newcastle University took the form of a ‘living theory’ action research enquiry into his practice as an educator in the field of giftedness.
Barry taught in secondary and primary schools in North Yorkshire and Hampshire, before practising as an educational psychologist with Cumbria LA from 1991 to 2001. Barry also established and co-ordinated this LA’s Able Pupil Project from 1996 to 2001, during which period he studied part-time at the University of Newcastle, obtaining a modular qualification in working with more able learners (awarded with merit). From September 2001 to August 2004 Barry had a part-time contract as a senior educational psychologist in the Barrow Education Action Zone, co-developing a number of projects and CPD initiatives (e.g. Philosophy for Children, the BarroWise Project, Dilemma-Based Learning) for teachers and other educators.
Barry has served on the National Committee of NACE (the National Association for Able Children in Education), and for five years he was the book review editor for the NACE journal Educating Able Children. In 1999 Barry was asked to provide oral and written evidence to the House of Commons Select Committee Inquiry into the education of able children. He has also been an Associate Tutor at Oxford-Brookes University. In 2003 Barry’s work received international recognition when he received the ICPIC (International Council for Philosophical Inquiry with Children) Award for Excellence in Interpreting Philosophy with Children. The citation for this award noted that his work “Speaks to the richness of children’s imaginative play and their ability to stretch sensory images to the fullest”.
Barry lives on the borders of North Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire with his wife and daughters. His passions for Van Morrison, walking, wild camping, chess, poultry-keeping and foraging for edible fungi, are only minimally shared by other members of his family.
