Mapping the influence of teachers’ peer relationships on retention in rural schools

Despite of attempts to improve the financial and non-financial attractiveness of teaching over nearly two decades, teacher retention is in crisis with approximately 40% of practitioners choosing to leave teaching within the first five years of practice, resulting in the loss of vital professional experience. However, studies have focused on those teachers who make the decision to leave the profession ignoring the strengths that should be enhanced in order to retain a strong and experienced teaching profession.

This project will build on initial findings from a study conducted by Kington, Blackmore and other members of the Social Psychology of Education Research Group (SPoE) to explore the influence of these peer relationships on primary school teachers, by identifying, analysing and mapping ways in which they draw on the strengths of these professional relationships to sustain their sense of commitment to remain in the profession. Thus, this study will be innovative in examining an important issue from a new direction, acquiring contextualised empirical data from teachers in rural schools in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Further, by employing a methodological stance informed by educational, social (and discursive) psychology, will allow exploration of individual experiences in relation to profession wide contextual and policy-related issues.

Application Process

To begin the application process please go to Education MPhil/PhD Webpage and click on ‘How to Apply’ in the top menu. This PhD could be caried out on a part time or full time basis so please select the relevant application link. On the application form, please make it clear that you are applying for one of our advertised projects so we can direct it straight to the relevant people.

The Interview

All successful applicants will be offered an interview with the proposed Supervisory Team. You will be contacted by a member of the Research School Team to find a suitable date. Interviews can be conducted in person or over Microsoft Teams.

Funding your PhD

For more information about Doctoral Loans please visit: https://www.worc.ac.uk/study/fees-and-finance/doctoral-loans.aspx

During your PhD you can access the Research Student Support Scheme to support dissemination costs associated with your research, up to £500 a year.

Research Group

Social Psychology of Education Research Group

The Social Psychology of Education Research Group was formed to share research and good practice amongst a wide range of academics from across Education and Psychology. We have partners in a number of professional fields and third sector organisations as well as in local government.

Our research focuses on the importance of social and learning relationships across all phases of education, in both formal and informal settings, and how these impact on the effectiveness and retention of practitioners, and the quality of children’s learning experiences. We are united by our interest in how social psychology can be applied to teaching, learning, and other experiences in educational contexts, producing research which is cross-disciplinary in its theoretical and methodological approaches, which not only contributes to knowledge generation within the academic community, but also informs policy and practice.

Our research is organised around four interconnecting themes: educational identities; classroom behaviours and interaction; Individual differences and adult-child / peer relationships.

Widening Participation:

As part of its mission statement the University is committed to widening participation for its higher degrees. Although most candidates will have an undergraduate and/or a Masters degree, the University is happy to accept applications from candidates with relevant professional qualifications and work related experience.

Supervisory team

Professor Alison Kington and Dr Karen Blackmore

Director of Studies:

Professor Alison Kington, The Social Psychology of Education Research Group, School, University of Worcester

Supervisors:

Dr Karen Blackmore, The Social Psychology of Education Research Group, University of Worcester

The Social Psychology of Education Research Group

For further information or an informal discussion on this project, please contact Professor Alison Kington (Director of Studies) via email at a.kington@worc.ac.uk