About the Project
This project is based on the ongoing work of the Mansfield and Ashfield Education and Skills Group. The group, which comprises influential policymakers which includes two local MPs, district and county councillors, employers and school leaders, has been carrying out small research projects with the educational and employer community in Mansfield to look at opportunities to raise educational standards and develop skills across the area.
Ambitions of the group include understanding the progression routes for young people, identifying potential barriers and then influencing policy and practice in order to reduce or eliminate those obstacles. Work to date has included a review of alternative provisions in the area (for children excluded, or at risk of exclusion, from schools), and an investigation of pupils’ and teachers’ perceptions of barriers to progression.
In the absence of centralised career guidance and support, schools have to rely on devising their own solutions, often without a clear understanding of employers’ needs. Conversely, our work with employers has shown that they have a narrow understanding of the work of secondary schools. Changes to local policy have the potential to change practice in schools and transform outcomes, and therefore lives, of young people in the region, as well as potentially influencing policy nationally.
This project proposes a qualitative investigation into disjuncture (as defined by Jarvis 2008) and the opportunity structures (Roberts 2009) that may be significant for young people approaching the transition from education to employment. This is applied specifically in an area where the incidence of adults who are not economically active is high, which can have significantly negative life consequences including, but not limited to, economic disadvantage (Ralston et al. 2021). It is known that being out of education or employment is “sticky” and difficult to change (Gadsby 2019), so this academic study also seeks to find solutions and support better transitions in future, reducing the adverse effect of the silent system background (Downes 2014). Lorinc et al. (2019) suggest that the risks of unemployment are structural in nature, though we would suggest they cannot be “de-individualised”; on the basis of pilot studies we hypothesise that strong family factors are key determinants in avoiding or achieving lasting employment.
This project has been co-created and is supported by researchers from Nottingham Trent University, the University of Nottingham and partners at the Mansfield and Ashfield Education and Skills Group. The successful candidate for this project would be enrolled at Nottingham Trent University.
Project Aims
This project aims to address the following research questions:
- What are the barriers to ongoing education or employment that are faced by young people in the former coalfields area?
- How are these currently being addressed by schools and other agencies, and what is the impact of this work?
- What part can and do parents and families play in supporting the education to employment transition?
Project Supervisors
- Dr Chris Rolph, NTU - [Email Address Removed]
- Dr Charlie Davis, UoN - [Email Address Removed]
- Mrs Kate Watson, Aspire Multi Academy Trust
What is Co(l)laboratory?
Co(l)laboratory is pioneering new programme supported by Nottingham Trent University, the University of Nottingham and the Universities for Nottingham partnership. The programme aims to bring together researchers, community-focused organisations and local citizens to deliver meaningful change for the people of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. All our studentships have been developed through collaborations between academics and local, community-focused organisations to shape the research projects around the priorities of local communities.
Who are we looking for?
Co(l)laboratory aims to bridge the gap between academia and communities through a holistic programme of co-created research that actively engages with public groups. As we work to build a different way of doing PhD research, we need candidates who are socially conscious and invested in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire communities to join us. If you are an inspired individual with practical experience and a passion for creating positive change, Co(l)laboratory can help you elevate your knowledge and skills and make a lasting impact.
How to Apply
Applications to all Co(l)laboratory 2023 PhD studentships must be submitted through through our online applications portal HERE. This also applies to Co(l)laboratory studentships which are hosted at the University of Nottingham. Applications open at 12pm on Thursday 22nd December 2023 and close at 12pm on Monday 6th February 2023.
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