Eleanor Pullen-Webb

Courses taught:

• Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) (Undergraduate)

Eleanor is a Senior Lecturer Practitioner on the BEd (Hons) Primary Education with QTS degree at ARU Peterborough. With extensive experience across Primary, Secondary, Special, and alternative education settings in Cambridgeshire, she has taught from EYFS through to Year 13. Eleanor specialises in Geography, Early Years, SEND, and outdoor learning, bringing a broad and practical perspective to teacher education.

[email protected]

Background

With a strong passion for environmental education, Eleanor began her teaching career as a Secondary Geography Teacher at a local secondary school, where she quickly progressed to Head of Department. In this leadership role, she was responsible for developing and implementing new curriculum content across Key Stages 4 and 5, organising and leading field trips, mentoring Early Career Teachers (ECTs), and founding the school’s Green Team—a student-led environmental initiative. Eleanor’s long-standing interest in Special Educational Needs led her to transition to an autism specialist through-school in Peterborough, where she taught learners from EYFS to Key Stage 4. In this setting, she harnessed her enthusiasm for outdoor education to create inclusive and engaging learning opportunities. She introduced formal qualifications in Geography and History for KS4 students and continued to run a thriving student environmental group.

Building on this experience, Eleanor moved into Early Years education within a mainstream school with a high intake of children with Special Educational Needs. There, she held curriculum leadership responsibilities for PSHE and Geography, successfully embedding the Bounce Forward–Think Equal programme within EYFS and Key Stage 1. She has also contributed to other mainstream primary schools as a subject lead for Music. Throughout her varied teaching career across all age groups, Eleanor has developed a deep understanding of children’s mental health and wellbeing, particularly for those with additional needs. She recently completed her Mental Health First Aid qualification and remains committed to creating inclusive, supportive learning environments. Eleanor is especially passionate about utilising outdoor learning to deliver the formal curriculum in innovative ways, recognising its positive impact on young learners and those who may find traditional classroom settings challenging. She is currently studying to complete her qualification in Forest School Leadership.

Research interests

• Outdoor Education from EYFS to Secondary
• Supporting SEND students in mainstream settings
• Young people’s mental health and wellbeing

Teaching

Eleanor is currently teaching the following modules:

• Core Curriculum 1
• Key Professional Skills 1
• Personal Development Tutorial 1

Qualifications

• PGCert in Lead Mentoring for Initial Teacher Training (currently completing)
• Forest School Leader (currently completing)
• PCGE in Secondary Education in Geography, The University of Southampton
• MSc Integrated Environmental Studies, The University of Southampton
• BSc Geological Hazards, The University of Portsmouth