The School's research is focused on transforming policy and professional practice, with users and beneficiaries spanning UK local and national governments, international organisations and governments, professional associations and learned societies, voluntary and commercial organisations, activist communities and individual practitioners. The School is a hub for the exchange of ideas on research, policy and practice. We hold regular seminars and invite guest speakers from academia, public bodies and think tanks to share their expertise with members of the School.
We collaborate with a wide range of organisations. Examples include: Department for Education, Science Museum Group, Natural England, Royal Society, Tate galleries, NHS England, NHS Education for Scotland, National Education Union, National Youth Agency, Centre for Youth Impact, Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Bell Foundation, English for Action, Disability Rights UK, Terre des Hommes, Lebanon Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Secondary and Basic Education, The Gambia, OECD, UNESCO and UNICEF.
Research themes
Research in the School is organised around four major themes:
- Curriculum, pedagogy and assessment – work in this theme is concerned with the critical interrogation and development of curriculum and assessment policy in the UK and internationally.
- Professionalism and workplace practice – work in this theme investigates the roles, identities, values and practices of public service professionals with a view to strengthening workplace professionalism across sectors including education, health, social care and youth work.
- Globalisation and identity – work in this theme seeks to advance understandings of the global dimensions of education policymaking and the implications of mobility, migration, and shifting notions of personhood and citizenship for education.
- Diversity, inclusion and social justice – work in this theme analyses and responds to inequalities in access to and experiences of learning, personal development and social participation.
Research centres
These themes bring together and support the work of our three research centres.
Find further details about the School’s research centres and their programmes of work here.