Edge Hill University

Edge Hill opened in 24th January 1885 in a large house on Durning Road, Liverpool. It was after the district in which it was sited, Edge Hill, and was ranked in the first class in 1890. It was the first non-denominational teacher-training college for women in the county.

Due to its success, the college grew rapidly in size during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Various additional buildings were acquired but the college finally outgrew the site in Liverpool in 1925. Edge Hill was handed over to Lancashire Education Committee on the understanding that a new building would be provided as soon as possible. Lancashire Education Committee bought 34 acres of the present site on St Helens Road in Ormskirk, and the Foundation stone was laid on 26th October 1931 by J.T. Travis-Clegg, Chair of Lancashire County Council.

The college has continued to grow and develop at the Ormskirk campus. Lectures resumed on 31st January 1946 after the Second World War, with 280 students attending Edge Hill by 1947. The late 1950s saw this figure rise to 400, coinciding with another expansion in education provision with the change to a mixed college, the introduction of a three-year course and new accommodation and teaching facilities. Lancaster University became the validating body for Edge Hill in 1973 and by 1985 there were 2000 students attending courses at the institution.

On the 31st March 2006, after a 121-year history of providing education and training, the Department of Education and Skills confirmed that Edge Hill had met the criteria for university status. Today, Edge Hill offers over 170 MA, MSc, BA and BSc degree programmes, as well as MPhil and PhD research awards. Over 11,000 are now enrolled on Edge Hill Courses.

To find out more about the Edge Hill University click on the following link:

Edge Hill University

Dr Mike Davis: Director of PsYonline

Dr Mike Davis is the Director of PsYonline, having overall responsibility for the development of the project. It was Mike and his wife Christine Davis, who came up with idea of developing a complete web-resource for psychology students.

After a career in Secondary Education (1972-1990) and then in Higher Education - University of Manchester, University of North London, Edge Hill University (1990 - 2005), Mike became a full time freelance consultant in continuing medical education in October, 2005 - work which he began in 1996.

Julia Phillmore: Research Assistant

Julia Phillmore is a research assistant, working full time at Edge Hill University. Julia began working from PsYonline when the project started in September 2003, spending her time searching through the Internet to find resources that are relevant to the A-level course. She also played an important part in structuring the content of the site, co-ordinating the launch event and the day-to-day running of the site. Since September 2005 Julia has taken on a more managerial role, over-seeing PsYonline website developments and initiatives including the introduction of the Teachers' Area.

Julia is originally from the south-coast of England. She moved to the north-west in September 2000 to start her degree at Edge Hill University, in Ormskirk. Having just graduated in July 2003 with a 1st class honours degree in mathematics and education studies, Julia has now turned her attentions to working towards a PhD. She fits this around her work for PsYonline and the other research projects that she is involved in.

Julia remains excited about the future of PsYonline:
"Working for PsYonline and being involved in such an innovative project has been very exciting. It has been a privilege to be part of team who have produced a successful web-tool which has been so well received by teachers and pupils."

Emma Keane: PsYonline Administrator

Emma Keane is a third year undergraduate student, working 12 hours a week for PsYonline. Since joining the project in 2005, her key roles at PsYonline include coordinating and updating resources, dealing with the central email account and general upkeep of the site content.

Originally from Wigan, Emma stayed close to home to study at Edge Hill University in Ormskirk. She is currently working towards completing her BSc(Hons) degree in Psychology this year and considering her options for future study or employment relating to the field of Psychology.

Having studied A-level Psychology at Sixth Form College before the development of the PsYonline website, Emma recognises the difficulties that students face at this level in finding relevant and useful resources. She feels it to be a tremendous privilege to be involved in the development and progress of PsYonline and the enormous support it provides for both students and teachers of Psychology.