Stephanie Kirkham

Currently on maternity leave: Senior Policy Officer, National Schools Programme

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

About

Experienced in Higher, Further and Secondary Education, Student Experience, Quality Assurance and Learning and Teaching with a demonstrated history of working diverse roles within the tertiary sector. Skilled in Strategic Planning, Consultancy, Project Management, Relationship Management, Outreach, Event Management, Teamwork, Research, and Public Affairs.

Experience

  • Senior Policy Officer, National Schools Progamme at Scottish Funding Council
    Jul 2023 - Present · 3 yrs

    Working across the tertiary education sector in Scotland to manage and deliver the National Schools Programme. The programme contributes to working toward the First Minister’s Widening access targets for Scotland.

  • Access Manager: Schools’ Outreach and Engagement at University of St Andrews
    Aug 2022 - Aug 2023 · 1 yr 1 mo

  • Student Experience and Curriculum Officer at The University of Edinburgh
    Aug 2019 - Aug 2022 · 3 yrs 1 mo

    With a focus on Student Representation, manage a programme to enhance the learning experience of c.9500 students within the College of Science and Engineering alongside ensuring the Section’s provision of high quality, efficient and customer-focused academic services. Provide expert advice and guidance on Curriculum Development and Approval, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Academic Misconduct, Scholarships and Student representation.

  • Development Consultant at sparqs
    Nov 2017 - Aug 2019 · 1 yr 10 mos

    Support the development of partnerships in Scotland’s colleges and universities that promote and facilitate student engagement resulting in enhancement to the student educational experience. With a particular focus on policy. My main work area is around building partnerships with national sector agencies, Schools, Colleges and Universities to support a culture of student partnership within quality arrangements. I oversaw sparqs' work around the QAA Enhancement Themes and Student Partnership Agreements.

  • University of Surrey (1 yr 10 mos)
    • Higher Education Outreach Network Coordinator
      Jan 2017 - Nov 2017 · 11 mos

      Responsible for planning and organising the overall outreach programme delivery and external relations for the Higher Education Outreach Network, a partnership consisting of The University of Surrey, University for the Creative Arts, Farnborough College of Technology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Guildford College, North East Surrey College of Technology (NESCOT), Surrey County Council, and Surrey Sports Park. HEON is part of the National Collaborative Outreach Programme (NCOP) funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and aims to identify students from target wards within Surrey and Hampshire, with a specific aim of supporting the government’s target to double the participation of students from disadvantaged backgrounds in higher education by 2020.

    • Higher Education Outreach Network Assistant Coordinator
      Feb 2016 - Jan 2017 · 1 yr

      Selected to join the HEON coordinator to work collaboratively with the University of Surrey, Royal Holloway, University of Creative Arts and the University Centre Farnborough to raise the aspirations and attainment of students from groups underrepresented in Higher Education. Responsible for event organisation and implementation, schools liaison and resource building to support HEON’s objective of developing outreach resources that can be used sustainably by universities and schools after the end of the HEON funding period (December 2016). Secured £800,000 of additional funding for the network and was promoted to Coordinator in January 2017.