Claire Ball-Smith is Director of Initial Teacher Training at the University of York, & co-chairs the University's Professional Programmes Forum as well as sitting on University Education Committee as a co-opted member. She has worked in initial teacher education (ITE) for 25 years across university settings as a PGCE history education lecturer, Deputy Director of a Faculty of Education and Childhood Studies and as a firm advocate for high-quality ITE through excellent university-school ITE partnership. During her career, Claire has taught in England, Kenya and Canada, with a successful decade in secondary schools working as a teacher of History and English, Head of Year & Head of Department prior to working in ITE. Claire is currently the Chair of UCET's Assembly & sits on the UCET National Executive Committee. Claire's research interests lie in history education, early career teacher development/mentoring, & the experiences of LGBTQ+ teachers, beginning teachers & pupils.