Dr Leanne Gray

Beginning her teaching career in 2005, Leanne has spent over 15 years teaching across the whole primary age range in schools in London and Essex. She became an Advanced Skills Teacher in mathematics and early years before moving into a senior leadership role. She was a deputy head in primary schools in both Southwark and Tower Hamlets before moving to a headship in Essex. She has extensive experience of working with pupils with English as an additional language.

• Early counting
• Primary mathematics
• Early years education
• Outdoor learning
• Learners with English as an additional language in mathematics
• Mentoring

Leanne’s doctoral research focused on preschool counting and explored what development looks like in counting for a child during the nursery year. She is interested in early years and primary education, with a particular focus on mathematics, outdoor learning, and learners with English as an additional language. 

Leanne currently teaches on the following modules:

• MOD009353 Mentoring for Initial Teacher Training
• MOD010376 Mentor Training for ARU School Mentors

• Educational Doctorate, The University of Birmingham
• MBA Educational Leadership, Anglia Ruskin University
• National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH)
• MEd, The University of Birmingham
• PG Cert, Anglia Ruskin University
• PGCE (Primary), The University of Birmingham
• BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance, The University of Birmingham

• Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy
• Member, British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics (BSRLM)
• Member, EECERA
• Member, British Education Studies Association (BESA)
• Member, British Educational Research Association (BERA)

• 2024-2025: “Exploring Early Childhood Studies students' beliefs about mathematics” BA/Leverhulme Small Research Grants (£9,909)

Gray, L., Sau, J. and Challiss, T. (2026) 'Exploring undergraduate early childhood studies students' beliefs about mathematics', European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 1-14. doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2026.2714202.

Minett, R., Gray, L, & Ward, O. (2026). Designing accessible professional development for ITT mentors: Applying the Universal Design for Learning framework. Impact 26.

Minett, R., Sau, J. and Gray, L. (2025). Building a new school–university partnership: using theory of change methodology as a collaborative tool. School-University Partnerships, 18 (3), pp 428-446. doi.org/10.1108/SUP-07-2025-0038.

Fogarty, J. and Gray, L. (2025) ''Keeping us warm': trainee teachers' perspectives on school to university transition activities', Future Review: International Journal of Transition, College, and Career Success, 6(1).

Fogarty, J. and Gray, L. (2024) ‘A modern twist on an old classic: innovative and transformative pedagogy for new trainee teachers’, AMPS Proceedings Series 38, San Francisco (California), 10-12 June.

Gray, L and Harris, M. (2024) Enjoyment, Confidence, and Broader Experiences of Teaching Mathematics to the Under-fives: accounts from students of Early Childhood Studies, European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, doi:10.1080/1350293X.2024.2331219

Gray, L and Wisbey, M. In Bradbury, A. Musgrave, J. & Perkins, H. (2023) A Practical Guide To Early Childhood Studies Graduate Practitioner Competencies. London. Learning Matters.

Wood A, Gray, L, Bowser-Angermann, J., Gibson, P., Fossey M. and Godier-McBard, L. (2022) Social media and Internet-based communication in military families during separation: An international scoping review, New Media and Society, doi:10.1177/14614448221117767

Wood, A., Bowser-Angermann, J., Gray, L, Fossey, M. and Godier-McBard. L. (2022) ‘Dropping in and out’: social media and internet-based communication amongst Naval families during separation. Naval Children’s Charity.

Gray, L. (2026) ‘Exploring Trainee Teachers’ Perspectives on their Initial Meeting with their School Mentor’. Presented at European Education Research Association Conference. Tampere, Finland, August 2026.

Fogarty, J. and Gray, L. (2026) ‘Nurturing New Teachers: Connecting School Mentors through Online Collaboration'. Presented at The Learning Ideas Conference, Columbia University, New York, June 2026.

Gray, L. (2025) ‘Fostering positive mentoring relationships: primary school mentor perspectives.’ Presented at British Educational Research Association (BERA), University of Sussex, September 2025.

Gray, L. (2025) ‘Exploring Early Childhood Studies students' beliefs about mathematics’. Presented at European Early Childhood Education Research Conference (EECERA), Bratislava, August 2025.

Fogarty, J. and Gray, L. (2025) ''Keeping us warm': trainee teachers' perspectives on school to university transition activities'. Presented at Chicago International Summit on Education, Ad Astra Research Institute, Chicago, June 2025.

Fogarty, J. and Gray, L. (2024) ‘A modern twist on an old classic: innovative and transformative pedagogy for new trainee teachers’. Presented at Learning. Life. Work., California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, June 2024.

Gray, L. (2023) ‘Enjoyment, confidence, and experience of teaching mathematics to the under-fives: Reports from students of Early Childhood Studies’. Presented at European Early Childhood Education Research Conference (EECERA), Lisbon, Portugal, August 2023.