UoA 25 Education

Since 2008 the University of Exeter has continued to demonstrate its role as a leading centre for educational research.

The Graduate School of Education generates educational knowledge of the highest quality, drawing on a range of methodological, theoretical and disciplinary perspectives, and is committed to securing the widest possible impact, both academically and socially.

Key results

  • 44 per cent of our research was assessed as world-leading (4*), representing a national ranking of 6 out of 76.
  • 87.5 per cent of our research was ranked 4* for 'environment'.

Impact case studies

NameSummary
Improving the teaching of pupils with special educational needs Successive research studies carried out by Professor Brahm Norwich in the Graduate School of Education have addressed the development of policy for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), shaped professional understanding of how best to teach pupils with SEN, and generated a resource to support teacher-educators and teacher trainees in meeting the needs of pupils with SEN. The research has driven a fundamental re-appraisal of how children with SEN should be taught, showing that many children with SEN do not require specialist teaching, but rather an intensification of the same general teaching methods used for non-SEN pupils. The research has resulted in the creation of a practical training tool for SEN teaching and a teacher-training tool designed on this basis has been disseminated nationally to teacher training providers. Testimonials indicate that the tool has contributed directly to improving the quality of teaching for pupils with SEN.
Informing best practice in education Research by Martin and Griffiths has had an impact on public and professional understanding of donor-recipient relationships and neo-colonial power structures in global education partnerships and has fostered understanding of global partnerships and study visits as sites for intercultural, transformative learning. Specifically, it has had impact by:
  • The use of research findings by professional bodies to inform best practice in global learning.
  • Stimulating practitioner debate about global partnerships.
  • Developing resources to enhance professional practice in the teaching of geographical and intercultural education.
Shaping policy and practice in the teaching of grammar and writing Two successive ESRC studies by Professor Debra Myhill and Dr Susan Jones have shaped national policy and practice in the teaching of writing in the UK and internationally, by establishing an appropriately evidenced rationale for grammar in a pedagogy for writing. Rapporteur A (Study 2) noted that: "The grant-holders should be congratulated for their activities in ensuring that relevant policy-makers are aware of and take in to consideration appropriate empirical evidence that they have gathered," and Rapporteur B believed that the research: "Has had more impact than any other UK educational project." The two studies have had an impact by:
  • Shaping national and international policy on grammar and the teaching of writing,
  • Developing teachers’ understanding of, and practice in, the teaching of grammar and writing,
  • Influencing the work of a commercial organisation, Pearson Education, developing new materials and CPD, and
  • Stimulating practitioner and public debate about grammar and writing.

Research centres

Our research centres are hubs of research activity with tightly-organised groups of researchers working together to create capacity for multiple bidding, co-authorship, running Masters programmes, and recruiting PGR students to vibrant research communities.

CentreAbout the centre

The Centre for Research in Writing has been established to promote writing research which crosses boundaries – disciplinary, methodological, philosophical and contextual.

 

This Centre provides a forum for the sharing, development and interrogation of inter-disciplinary perspectives on writing.

Centre for Science,  Maths and Technology Education The Centre for Science, Maths and Technology Education brings together academics and research students concerned with aspects of education in the fields of science, technology  and mathematics (STEM). The STEM Centre includes our technology enhanced learning research.
(SEND)

The SEND research centre promotes research and development in the fields of special needs and inclusive education.

 

The Centre is a forum for examining perspectives and developing practices in this field.

The Centre for Teaching Thinking and Dialogue has been established to develop research into teaching high quality thinking, including creative thinking, critical thinking, self-efficacy, metacognition, distributed thinking with technology and dialogue. The Centre works with a network of practitioners both in the UK and globally.
The Centre for Research in Higher Education brings together academics with an interest in post-compulsory education, broader education philosophy and policy, and continuing professional development (CPD).

Research groups

The boundaries of these research centres and groups are permeable and collaborative research across groups and disciplines is encouraged.

GroupAbout the group
Global Education (Re-Place)

This research group is founded on the premise that the geographical concepts of space and place offer productive lenses through which to explore the nexus between sustainability and education.

It is the home of research on global education.

Creativity Research in Education This research group provides a flexible space in which researchers (university and school-based) engage in creativity in education research and develop shared interests. Strands of our work are funded by AHRC and ESRC.

 

We have a strong staff, student and affiliated community engaged in creativity in education teaching and research.

Research networks

NetworkAbout the network
The Neuro-Education Network explores all questions where neuroscience is relevant to understanding education and where education is relevant to understanding neuroscience.
Religion, Spirituality and Education

This network brings together researchers with an interest in the areas of religion, spirituality and education and provides a space to explore and develop themes across these areas.

In addition we have a reading group that meets regularly:

  • Living with Difference Reading Group

Research projects

Please see the Graduate School of Education website for more information on our research projects.

UoA 25 Education

Since 2008 the University of Exeter has continued to demonstrate its role as a leading centre for educational research.

The Graduate School of Education generates educational knowledge of the highest quality, drawing on a range of methodological, theoretical and disciplinary perspectives, and is committed to securing the widest possible impact, both academically and socially.

Key results

  • 44 per cent of our research was assessed as world-leading (4*), representing a national ranking of 6 out of 76.
  • 87.5 per cent of our research was ranked 4* for 'environment'.

Impact case studies

NameSummary
Improving the teaching of pupils with special educational needs Successive research studies carried out by Professor Brahm Norwich in the Graduate School of Education have addressed the development of policy for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), shaped professional understanding of how best to teach pupils with SEN, and generated a resource to support teacher-educators and teacher trainees in meeting the needs of pupils with SEN. The research has driven a fundamental re-appraisal of how children with SEN should be taught, showing that many children with SEN do not require specialist teaching, but rather an intensification of the same general teaching methods used for non-SEN pupils. The research has resulted in the creation of a practical training tool for SEN teaching and a teacher-training tool designed on this basis has been disseminated nationally to teacher training providers. Testimonials indicate that the tool has contributed directly to improving the quality of teaching for pupils with SEN.
Informing best practice in education Research by Martin and Griffiths has had an impact on public and professional understanding of donor-recipient relationships and neo-colonial power structures in global education partnerships and has fostered understanding of global partnerships and study visits as sites for intercultural, transformative learning. Specifically, it has had impact by:
  • The use of research findings by professional bodies to inform best practice in global learning.
  • Stimulating practitioner debate about global partnerships.
  • Developing resources to enhance professional practice in the teaching of geographical and intercultural education.
Shaping policy and practice in the teaching of grammar and writing Two successive ESRC studies by Professor Debra Myhill and Dr Susan Jones have shaped national policy and practice in the teaching of writing in the UK and internationally, by establishing an appropriately evidenced rationale for grammar in a pedagogy for writing. Rapporteur A (Study 2) noted that: "The grant-holders should be congratulated for their activities in ensuring that relevant policy-makers are aware of and take in to consideration appropriate empirical evidence that they have gathered," and Rapporteur B believed that the research: "Has had more impact than any other UK educational project." The two studies have had an impact by:
  • Shaping national and international policy on grammar and the teaching of writing,
  • Developing teachers’ understanding of, and practice in, the teaching of grammar and writing,
  • Influencing the work of a commercial organisation, Pearson Education, developing new materials and CPD, and
  • Stimulating practitioner and public debate about grammar and writing.

Research centres

Our research centres are hubs of research activity with tightly-organised groups of researchers working together to create capacity for multiple bidding, co-authorship, running Masters programmes, and recruiting PGR students to vibrant research communities.

CentreAbout the centre

The Centre for Research in Writing has been established to promote writing research which crosses boundaries – disciplinary, methodological, philosophical and contextual.

 

This Centre provides a forum for the sharing, development and interrogation of inter-disciplinary perspectives on writing.

Centre for Science,  Maths and Technology Education The Centre for Science, Maths and Technology Education brings together academics and research students concerned with aspects of education in the fields of science, technology  and mathematics (STEM). The STEM Centre includes our technology enhanced learning research.
(SEND)

The SEND research centre promotes research and development in the fields of special needs and inclusive education.

 

The Centre is a forum for examining perspectives and developing practices in this field.

The Centre for Teaching Thinking and Dialogue has been established to develop research into teaching high quality thinking, including creative thinking, critical thinking, self-efficacy, metacognition, distributed thinking with technology and dialogue. The Centre works with a network of practitioners both in the UK and globally.
The Centre for Research in Higher Education brings together academics with an interest in post-compulsory education, broader education philosophy and policy, and continuing professional development (CPD).

Research groups

The boundaries of these research centres and groups are permeable and collaborative research across groups and disciplines is encouraged.

GroupAbout the group
Global Education (Re-Place)

This research group is founded on the premise that the geographical concepts of space and place offer productive lenses through which to explore the nexus between sustainability and education.

It is the home of research on global education.

Creativity Research in Education This research group provides a flexible space in which researchers (university and school-based) engage in creativity in education research and develop shared interests. Strands of our work are funded by AHRC and ESRC.

 

We have a strong staff, student and affiliated community engaged in creativity in education teaching and research.

Research networks

NetworkAbout the network
The Neuro-Education Network explores all questions where neuroscience is relevant to understanding education and where education is relevant to understanding neuroscience.
Religion, Spirituality and Education

This network brings together researchers with an interest in the areas of religion, spirituality and education and provides a space to explore and develop themes across these areas.

In addition we have a reading group that meets regularly:

  • Living with Difference Reading Group

Research projects

Please see the Graduate School of Education website for more information on our research projects.