Simon Hood

Simon leads the Academic Development team within Student Learning and Academic Registry (SLAR). The team utilise a project-based approach to lead on a number of institutional projects along with promoting teaching excellence and nurtuting talent through the Advance HE Accredited Professional Development Framework. The team also coordinates engagement with TNE partners to deliver service excellence in our interface with partners across the globe. 

Simon graduated from Teesside with a BSc (Hons) Sports Science in 2001 going onto complete an MSc Sport and Exercise Science in 2002. After completing the MSc, Simon was appointed as a Teaching Fellow at Leeds University delivering in the field of Biomechanics and Motor Control. Moving back to the Teesside area in 2003, he took up a dual role teaching at Middlesbrough College and the University delivering further and higher education programmes where he coordinated the higher education provision delivered by college staff at the University.

From 2003-2013 Simon held the position of Academy Goalkeeper Coach at Middlesbrough Football Club, helping to develop goalkeepers aged from 8-19 years, some of whom have gone on to play at a professional level. Simon was able to apply the theoretical knowledge gained from his academic career in his applied work and vice versa, bringing knowledge from the field to inform teaching on the degree programmes.

In 2004 Simon moved to the University on a full-time basis, working as a Senior Lecturer in the Sport and Exercise department and his role involved the delivery on biomechanics and coaching modules across a number of degree programmes. In 2011 Simon took up the role of Principal Lecturer for Collaborative Provision in the School having oversight of the work with the School's TVHEBP and Regional College network, before being appointed as Head of Department (Psychology, Sport & Exercise) in January 2017, then leading Sport & Exercise Science, Paramedic and ODPs in the School of Health. In September 2019 Simon embarked on a secondment in Academic Registry to work on a number of key institutional projects including Academic workload management, before becoming a permanent member of the department in March 2020.

Simon’s primary research interests include the measurement of human movement, with a specific interest in how kinematic variables can be used to address research questions to enhance physical performance (youth soccer goalkeepers).

In addition to his research in sport and exercise, Simon has conducted research projects in relation to Learning gain, collaborative provision and quality enhancement in higher education. More recent interests include the development of academic teams to support an outstanding student experience, along with the use of data to inform decision making.