In my role as Associate Head of School, I have strategic and operational responsibility for the full suite of Programmes in the area of children, young people and education. These are three undergraduate Programmes: BA (Hons) Education, SEN and Mental Health; BA (Hons) Children Young People and Society; BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care (with graduate competencies). Our Education Master's level suite: MA Education (full time and part time) and our MRes Education. Plus our professional doctorate - Doctor of Education.
After a career in senior management in the private sector, I returned to education as a mature student in 2011. Following completion of a Foundation Degree in Supporting Learning (distinction) at York St John University, I gained a BA Hons (first class) in Children, Young People and Families and was awarded the Faculty of Education and Theology Vice Chancellor’s Medal in 2014.
During my studies, I worked in a primary school in North Yorkshire supporting children with Special Educational Needs.
I then went on to successfully gain a funded studentship to allow me to carry out my doctoral research. The focus of my PhD was the use of narrative inquiry to examine how the force of centralised, mandated school change can be challenged at a local level.
My current research interests develop the use of narrative participatory methodological approaches to explore a range of areas concerning education, children, young people and families.
I teach across a range of modules in the Children, Young People and Education suite. My main areas of teaching are in Special Educational Needs and Inclusion, Qualitative Research Methods, Critical Studies in Education and the role of the State in the lives of families.
As a narrative inquirer, I develop the use of narrative methodological approaches to explore education through a cultural geographical lens. My use of narrative supports the notion that we all live storied lives. Through narrative inquiry in-between spaces are created where researcher and participant can share a collaborative encounter.
My research focus is on the politics and ethics of co-production; place, space and landscape; geographies of community and belonging; place based education and critical pedagogy.
I am currently supervising the following doctoral researchers: Denise Brogden; Hannah Cutting; Luke Dale; Jake Goodwin; Suzanne Lane; Alec Scott; Iain Sirrell.
I also supervise a number of Master's students.
I would be interested in supervising MRes/ Doctoral Researchers in theses relating to place based education, identity and belonging, cultural geographies of education - in particular those wishing to take narrative inquiry methodological approach. Please get in touch to discuss.
I have two doctoral completions:
- Dr Brett Wilkie: Ecological dynamics: a theoretical framework for understanding physical literacy in children.
- Dr Keither Parker: Diminishing inequalities? A critical feminist genealogy of education policy and practice in post-World War II England.
Recent publications
I am co-convener of the Research into Professional Practice in Learning and Education (RIPPLE) Group. I am co-Chair of the York St John University Postgraduate Supervisors' Network. I am Deputy Chair of York St John University Research Degrees Committee. I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
