
Professor Graeme Nixon
MA, BD, PGCE, PHd, Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Personal Chair
- About
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Room 523 School of Education University of Aberdeen MacRobert Building 5th Floor King's College Aberdeen AB24 5UA t: +44 (0)1224 274644 e: g.nixon@abdn.ac.uk
Biography
MA Philosophy (University of Edinburgh) 1987-1990
BD Ecclesiastical History (University of Glasgow) 1991-1994
PGCE Religious Education (University of Strathclyde) 1994-1995
Teacher and Principal teacher of RMPS 1995-2005
PHd (University of Aberdeen) 2012
Interests:
- Mindfulness
- Hillwalking
- Rugby
- Cricket
Qualifications
- PhD The Emergence of Philosophy in Scottish Secondary School Religious Education2012 - University of Aberdeen
- PGCE Secondary Religious Education1994 - University of StrathclydeDistinction
- BD Ecclesiastical History1993 - University of GlasgowHonours 1st Class
- MA Philosophy1991 - University of Edinburgh
Memberships and Affiliations
- Internal Memberships
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Programme Director MSc Studies in Mindfulness
Course co-ordinator for Mindfulness
Course co-ordinator for Compassion
Course co-ordinator for Insight
Subject leader for all RME/RMPS inputs across MA and PGDE programmes
Course co-ordinator for MA1 Global Perspectives on Education course
Course co-ordinator for MA2 Belief Matters course
Tutor on Thinking Skills elective courses within PGDE and BEd programmes
CPD co-ordinator for RME/RMPS and thinking skills
- External Memberships
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External Examiner for Queen's University Belfast 2021-ongoing (PGCE Religious Education and English)
External Examiner for University of Coventry 2020-ongoing (MSc Mindfulness and Compassion)
External Examiner for Newman University 2018-21 (PGCE Religious Education)
Reviwer for Journal Religions
Reviewer for Routledge (Publisher)
Peer Reviewer for Springer Journal Mindfulness (Journal)
Peer Reviewer for Religious Education (Journal)
External Examiner for Dublin City University (2016)
Peer Reviewer for Religious Education (Journal)
Key Witness for Commission on Religion and Belief in British Public Life (April 2015, University of Glasgow)
Initial Teacher Education representative on National Forum for RE/RME (2015)
Peer Reviewer for ESRC (2014)
Reviewer for Journal of Language and Intercultural Communication (2013)
Reviewer for Scottish Educational Review (Journal) (2013)
Consultant on Monitoring Standards process for Scottish Qualfications Authority (February 2013)
Member of RME Reference group as part of Education Scotland's Curriculum Impact Project (November 2012)
External Review member for Irish Teaching Council review of St Patrick's Teaching College, Thurles (2012)
Member of editorial review board of Leadership and Policy Quarterly (July 2012)
Writer of RMPS materials for Education Scotland on the Dalai Lama and Aung San Suu Kyi (for senior secondary pupils) (2012) Weblink:https://education.gov.scot/improvement/Documents/rme14-buddhism.pdf
External Examiner for University of Strathclyde (BEd1 RME, Health and Well-being and electives) (2011-14)
External Review member for Irish Teaching Council review of Mater Dei Institute, Dublin (2011)
Scottish representative on European Forum for Teachers of Religious Education (2010 - present)
Convener of Scottish Joint Comittee for Religious and Moral Education curriculum group (2008 - 2014)
SQA marker for Higher RMPS (2001 - 2015)
Member of Curricular Area Review Group (CARG) for Religious and Moral Education (2010 - 2013)
Writer of subject summary material for CfE review (SQAm 2010)
Writer of exemplar material for Religious Observance review (2007)
External Examiner for RMPS inputs at the University of Edinburgh (2006-2009)
General Teaching Council (Scotland) member of accreditation team for University of Glasgow (MA in Religous Education) (2005)
Latest Publications
Are RE teachers losing their religion?: Contrary to popular belief, RE teachers are less likely to be religious than your average adult, research shows
Non-textual Forms: Web Publications and WebsitesIrreligious Educators? An Empirical Study of the Academic Qualifications, (A)theistic Positionality, and Religious Belief of Religious Education Teachers in England and Scotland
Religions, vol. 12, no. 3, 184Contributions to Journals: ArticlesReligious Education Curriculum Constructions in Northern and Western Europe: A Three-Country Analysis
Religious Education in a Post-Secular Age. Franck, O., Thalen, P. (eds.). 1 edition. Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 57-82, 26 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47503-1_4
Religious literacy in the curriculum in compulsory education in Austria, Scotland and Sweden - a three-country policy comparison
Journal of Beliefs and Values, vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 132-149Contributions to Journals: ArticlesMindful Heroes: Stories of Journeys that Have Changed Lives
Vol. 1, Inspired by Learning, Aberdeen. 310 pagesBooks and Reports: Books
Prizes and Awards
Clelland Rae Medal for Ecclesiastical History, University of Glasgow (1994)
Principal's Awards Nominations 2021 - Best Postgraduate Teacher, Best Undergraduate Teacher, Most Inspiring Teacher and Contribution to Blended Learning. Shortlisted for best Postgraduate Teacher
Winner of Principal's Excellence Award 2021
- Research
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Research Overview
- The Emergence of Philosophy in Religious Education
- Secularisation and education
- The impact of faculty management structures on secondary schools
- Faith education
- Comparative studies in Religious Education
- Thinking skills approaches in schools
- Mindfulness in education
- Religious Observance in Scottish education
- Mindfulness; secular and/or spiritual?
- The sanitisation of religion in education
- Using e-portfolios in initial teacher education
Research Areas
Accepting PhDs
I am currently accepting PhDs in Education, Philosophy.
Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your research ideas further.
Divinity
Religious Studies
Research Specialisms
- Religious Studies
- Education Studies
- Religion in Society
- Education Policy
Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is HESA open data, published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
Current Research
PhD (completion Sept 2011); what factors have influenced the emergence of philosophy in Scottish secondary school Religious Education?
Mindfulness in Schools
The student and probationer experience of faculty style management structures in Scottish secondary schools
Mindfulness and reflective teaching
Mindfulness as secular analogue for religious experience in the Religious Education classroom
The conscience clause and Religious Education. How often are children withdrawn and why?
Mindfulness in Contexts(s); the perfect storm for mindfulness?
Religious Education in an age of Diversity (READY): European project looking at preparation for teachers of Religious Education in multiuple jurisdictions and how facilitate safe dialogic space in the RE classroom
Schools and the santising of religion
Past Research
See list of publications
Knowledge Exchange
Various CPD events for academics, businesses and teachers on thinking skills, Religious Education and Mindfulness
Media engagement - BBC Scotland and BBC Radio 4 appearances discussing mindfulness (2018, 2019)
Part of consortium presenting at the Scottish Parliament (2019) to launch the Mindful Nation Scotland initiative
Collaborations
Erasmus Plus project Religious Education and Diversity (READY) is a three year European Union project involving universities of Aberdeen, UCL, Karlstadt, Vienna and Tuebingen, as well as the Comenius Institute. This project aims to develop approaches to teaching about and training for dealing diversity in classrooms.
Currently collaborating with Dr Jo Pearce at University College London on a series of papers about the sanitising of religion in schools; qualifications for Religious Education teaching, and purpose of Religious Education.
Supervision
My current supervision areas are: Education, Philosophy.
PhD Students
Heather Bond - Mindfulness and Compassion with adolescents
Clayton Micallef - The Adverse effects of Mindfulness
Alison Speakman - Lineages of Secular Mindfulness
Fiona Brannigan - Mindfulness and the Strategic Development Goals
Louise Haynes - Developing thinking skills in schools for the Internet Age
Sara Kadir - Mindfulness and Islam
Moira Godfrey - Mindfulness and Inclusion
Susan Brimmer - Online Working and Flourishing
Jennifer Obbard - Nature Connection, Wilderness and Micro-Phenomenology
MSc Students
Currently I am working with 12 MSc students looking at various applications of mindfulness and related concepts in fields such as creativity, higher education, inclusion training, secondary schools, treatment for addiction recovery and mindful eating.
Funding and Grants
Dates
Award holder(s)
Funding body
Title
Indicate if you are the Principal Applicant or a Co Applicant
Total Value of award
Applicant contribution (if appropriate)
2015
Erasmus Plus READY consortium
European Union
Religious Education and Diversity
Co-applicant
€295682
2013
Graeme Nixon
Scottish Joint Committee for Religious and Moral Education
Withdrawal from Religious Education research
Principal Applicant
£2,498
2006
Graeme Nixon
Scottish Government
Religious Observance exemplar materials
Principal Applicnt
£15,422
- Teaching
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Courses
Teaching Responsibilities
Supervision
Currently supervising 6 PhD and 16 Masters students
Teaching
Programme Director for MSc Programme Studies in Mindfulness (teaching and co-ordinating courses ED505A Mindfulness, ED555B Compassion and ED505L Insight)
Subject leader for all RME/RMPS inputs across MA and PGDE programmes
Course co-ordinator for MA1 ED101B Global Perspectives on Education (mandatory course)
Course co-ordinator MA2 ED251C Belief Matters (mandatory course)
Tutor on Thinking Skills elective courses within PGDE and BEd programmes
CPD co-ordinator for RME/RMPS and thinking skills
Tutor on ED50BA Discovering Mindfulness course
- Publications
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Page 1 of 5 Results 1 to 10 of 41
Are RE teachers losing their religion?: Contrary to popular belief, RE teachers are less likely to be religious than your average adult, research shows
Non-textual Forms: Web Publications and WebsitesIrreligious Educators? An Empirical Study of the Academic Qualifications, (A)theistic Positionality, and Religious Belief of Religious Education Teachers in England and Scotland
Religions, vol. 12, no. 3, 184Contributions to Journals: ArticlesReligious Education Curriculum Constructions in Northern and Western Europe: A Three-Country Analysis
Religious Education in a Post-Secular Age. Franck, O., Thalen, P. (eds.). 1 edition. Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 57-82, 26 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47503-1_4
Religious literacy in the curriculum in compulsory education in Austria, Scotland and Sweden - a three-country policy comparison
Journal of Beliefs and Values, vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 132-149Contributions to Journals: ArticlesMindful Heroes: Stories of Journeys that Have Changed Lives
Vol. 1, Inspired by Learning, Aberdeen. 310 pagesBooks and Reports: BooksMindfulness and Liminality - watching thoughts become thinking
Contributions to Conferences: Other ContributionsThe Demographics of RE teachers in England and Scotland in 2017: An Empirical Study
Contributions to Conferences: PapersWho is teaching RE in England and Scotland? An Empirical Study of English and Scottish Religious Education Teachers
Contributions to Conferences: PapersHow RE teachers see religion - and why it can be bad for pupils
The ConversationContributions to Specialist Publications: ArticlesBad Religion as False Religion: An Empirical Study of UK Religious Education Teachers’ Essentialist Religious Discourse
Religions, vol. 9, no. 11, 361Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/rel9110361
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/11458/1/religions_09_00361.pdf