Research in the Department of Educational Studies
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Research activity within the Department of Educational Studies is concerned with how young people’s learning from early childhood onwards can be supported in the home and the community as well as in the school setting. Within this context a social justice perspective on the formation of identities and the politics of social processes is taken with a rigorous and critical examination of the processes of education and schooling, often with a view to hearing youth voice. We have a particular focus on how learning can enhance the lives of children, young people and adults from multilingual and multicultural communities in disadvantaged urban contexts. Expressing our commitment to social justice, core research themes include interrogations of gender, race, class and the politics of teaching and learning.
Research is conducted into learning in different subject domains including arts practices and their potential for developing and promoting social and cultural understanding. The Department embraces a wide range of research approaches including ethnography, case study and other quantitative and qualitative methods. Our research involves working in partnership with different communities, teachers, schools and policymakers as well as with educators from galleries, museums and faith groups, to inform teaching, learning and educational policy and practice.
Over 60% of the Department’s research activity was judged internationally excellent or world-leading in the last REF.
Much of the work carried out within the Department is coordinated through three research centres, each with its own aims, publications and grant funding from research councils and charities. Visiting speakers, research fellows, as well as over 50 PhD and postdoctoral students contribute to a lively programme of research seminars.
