Positive Secondary School Transitions: Improving multi-agency working with school pupils identified as being at risk of making a poor transition at University of Edinburgh on FindAPhD.com

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Dr Autumn Roesch-Marsh No more applications being accepted Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Edinburgh United Kingdom Public Policy Social Work

School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh

About the Project

Social Science: Social Work and Social Policy

In Scotland, much like the rest of the United Kingdom, young people move from primary to secondary school around the age 11-12. Transition experiences can have far reaching consequences throughout secondary school and beyond into adult life (Jindal-Snape et al., 2019). A negative transition experience has been shown to impact attainment, particularly in literacy and numeracy, and this can result in a lowering of self-esteem (Jindal-Snape et al., 2019). Low self-esteem in combination with other challenges such as poor peer relations, depression and anxiety can lead to further struggles both academically and socially (West et al., 2010). Working with the social innovation charity People Know How’s Positive Transition Service, this participatory action research (PAR) (Chevalier and Buckles 2019) project will explore the transition needs of children and families deemed to be ‘at risk’ of making a poor transition to secondary school in Edinburgh and East Lothian. This knowledge will be used to develop and test out innovations in practice and local policy to improve transition experiences and outcomes (including improved school attendance, enhanced social and emotional wellbeing, and educational attainment). The project will also be comparative, exploring how interventions vary between two very different local authorities, one a large urban setting and the other a more rural setting. This will allow the project to explore the way local context, organisational culture and interagency relationships shape transition support. The findings of the project will inform the development of the Positive Transition Service and provide a model of practice for similar projects across the UK. Findings will also enhance theories of secondary school transition, which has been under theorised (Tobbell 2003). Intersecting issues such as class, ethnicity, gender, culture and disability will also be explored in order to ensure the any practice model for transitions developed by the project meets the needs of a wide range of children and their families (Sutton et al., 2018).

Eligibility

Essential:

Achieve (or expect to achieve) a minimum of a 2.1 Undergraduate Honours degree in psychology or relevant social science discipline.
Experience of, or interest in, research or work in school and/ or social work settings.
Qualitative design, data collection and analysis skills.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Enthusiasm and a conscientious approach to work.
Be able to organise own work and meet deadlines.
Be able to work within a team and show an interest in working across academic and non-academic settings.
Be able to initiate and take opportunities for collaborative working with People Know How and the team of staff, volunteers, interns and placement students.

Desirable:

Achieve (or expect to achieve) a Masters degree in psychology, education, or relevant social science discipline.
Experience of research/work with children or teenagers.
Experience of conducting action research.
Confident user of NVivo
Experience of presenting information in different formats and styles to reach different audiences.
An interest in the work of People Know How and a passion to promote its charitable aims.
Professional qualification in teaching, community education or social work.

Please note that all applicants must also meet the ESRC eligibility criteria. ESRC eligibility information can be found here.

For full details and to apply for this studentship, please visit the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (SGSSS) website here.

Applications will be ranked by a selection panel and applicants will be notified if they have been shortlisted for interview by 16th April 2021. Interviews will take place on 21st April 2021.

All scholarship awards are subject to candidates successfully securing admission to a PhD programme within University of Edinburgh. Successful scholarship applicants will be invited to apply for admission to the relevant PhD programme after they are selected for funding.

Funding Notes

The scholarship is available as a +3 (3 year PhD) or a 1+3 (Masters year and 3 year PhD) studentship depending on prior research training (this will be assessed as part of the recruitment process). The programme will commence in October 2021 and the full ESRC studentship package includes, as advised by ESRC:
• An annual maintenance grant (stipend)
• Fees at the standard institutional home rate
• Students can also draw on a pooled Research Training Support Grant (RTSG)

References

Applicants will be asked to provide contact details for two referees during the application process. SGSSS will then contact them (automatically) and ask that they each complete a reference template and return this to applicants intended institution. Applicants should seek permission from their referees in advance of providing their details to SGSSS.

Where will I study?

University of Edinburgh

One of the world''s top universities, consistently ranked in the world top 50 and placed 20th in the QS World University Rankings 2020. We provide a stimulating working, learning and teaching environment with access to excellent facilities and attract the world''s best, from Nobel Prize winning laureates to future explorers, pioneers and inventors.