A Day in the Life of Andy Ash: My Contribution to UCL200

Documenting My Professional Journey

I've been selected to write for the ASCR's contribution to the upcoming UCL200 bicentenary celebration. I was invited to choose one day in the week commencing 2nd February 2026 to describe my activities throughout that day. This reflection aims to capture my working hours, travel details, work environment, core activities, and social interactions, illustrating my specific role at UCL.

Tuesday 3 February 2026

This account documents a typical working day within my current professional practice. It illustrates the interconnected nature of teaching, research engagement, professional leadership, and external cultural activity that characterises my role at UCL.

Morning Routine and Commute

I am based in Brighton and begin my working day at 06:30. I travel to London via the 07:56 Thameslink service from Brighton Station, following an 18-minute walk from my home. The commute of approximately 1 hour and 24 minutes provides an important transitional working space. During this time, I routinely undertake administrative tasks, including responding to UCL correspondence. On this occasion, I also engaged in professional dialogue with Colonnade House Gallery in Worthing regarding the forthcoming installation of a public artwork of mine. This reflects the ongoing integration of external cultural practice within my academic role.

Arrival at UCL

I arrive at London St Pancras at 09:20 and walk to the UCL Institute of Education (IOE), Faculty of Education and Society, at 20 Bedford Way. This 15-minute walk follows a route I have taken regularly for over two decades. It serves as a familiar transition into the institutional environment. My department, Art, Design and Museology, is located on Level 8, Core B. This space functions as my primary working environment for teaching, student support, and collaboration with colleagues.

Teaching Focus

The core focus of the day is teaching on the PGCE Secondary Art & Design programme. At 10:00, I teach a cohort of 48 trainee teachers, supported by two colleagues, in Studio A. The session is structured around the theme of Assessment in Art & Design. It integrates current research, theoretical frameworks, and examples of practice drawn from our extensive network of over 40 partnership schools across London. This approach reflects a commitment to research-informed teaching and the contextualisation of theory within professional practice.

Within seminar tutor groups of 16 students, I work closely with my allocated group to critically examine approaches to Monitoring, Assessment, Recording, Reporting, and Accountability. Particular emphasis is placed on preparing students for their forthcoming second school placement. The session includes structured interrogation of online video material showing pupils discussing their GCSE coursework. This enables trainee teachers to analyse learner voice, assessment language, and the relationship between assessment practices and pupil understanding.

Lunch and Afternoon Activities

At 13:00, I take a lunch break, preparing food in the CCM staff kitchen on Level 8, Core A. On returning to my office at 13:30, I engage in a series of pastoral conversations with students, addressing health and wellbeing concerns. This is followed by meetings with colleagues focused on school placement logistics. These discussions highlight the pastoral and administrative dimensions of teacher education that sit alongside formal teaching.

At 14:00, the department hosts two representatives from Pearson (formerly Edexcel). They lead a presentation and workshop on GCSE marking. This session uses exemplification materials from the previous examination cycle. It supports both staff and trainee teachers in developing shared understanding and consistency in assessment standards. The activity contributes directly to professional credibility and alignment with national assessment frameworks.

Evening Engagement

I leave the IOE at 16:00 and travel to Bow Arts Studios at 20 Gillender Street. I use the Metropolitan and District Underground lines to Bromley-by-Bow, followed by a short walk. This visit reflects the outward-facing nature of my role and the importance of maintaining active engagement with contemporary artistic practice.

At Bow Arts, I meet with artist Liaqat Rasul (see image above) to discuss a potential collaboration linked to UCL and the National Society for Education in Art and Design (NSEAD), where I hold the role of President. Mr Rasul has curated an informal presentation of his work, enabling critical discussion of his practice across different geographical and cultural contexts, including Derbyshire, Delhi, and Blackburn. Our dialogue focuses on potential contributions to the MA module Contemporary Art & Artists in Education, as well as broader plans for professional development, teacher CPD, and strategic advocacy for art and design education nationally. This meeting exemplifies the reciprocal relationship between academic leadership, professional networks, and contemporary artistic practice.

Return Journey

I depart Bow Arts at 18:45 and return to Brighton via Farringdon, arriving at 20:43. During the return journey, I receive confirmation of a forthcoming meeting with a curator at WRAP Brighton to discuss an exhibition planned for March in support of the Sussex Bay charity. This reinforces the continuity between academic work, public engagement, and socially engaged cultural practice.

Conclusion

Overall, this day illustrates the multifaceted nature of my role at UCL. It encompasses teaching, student support, institutional responsibilities, professional leadership, and sustained engagement with the wider art and education sectors. My commitment to pushing the boundaries of contemporary art through innovative sculpture and performance is evident in every aspect of my work.

---wix---