Making a Positive Difference: Teacher Professional Judgement and the Role of Innovative Pedagogies in Promoting Greater Equity

The University of Stirling invites applications from appropriately qualified students interested in pursuing a PhD project in the area of teacher professional education.

Project Overview:

This research is concerned with identifying key assumptions underpinning teachers’ professional judgements in practice and with enhancing support for beginning teachers in developing more inclusive practice. The research has a dual focus in relation to:

(i) a cohort of 10 teachers undertaking a 2 year Master’s level course to acquire the critical capacities necessary to engage in considered practice that enhances the educational capital of all young people in their classes

(ii) how these teachers - as mentors - support student and beginning teachers within their own communities of practice. The intention is to identify both the drivers and barriers to promoting practice that has a positive impact upon the learning and attainment of children and young people from different backgrounds.

Findings from this research will also feed into the overarching research project that encompasses eight universities in Scotland (see below).

Context and Background

The Scottish Government has agreed to fund a suite of research projects concerning innovative pedagogies and curricula in relation to teacher education and induction to complement and support the Government’s Attainment Challenge. These projects will be conducted by eight Scottish universities over the next three years under the title ‘Making a Positive Difference: A Scottish Attainment Challenge Research Project’. The projects share a logic of iterative design-based research to facilitate contextualised interventions at the level of practice in both teacher education and classrooms, with a layer of rigorous research to generate, document and analyse evidence of change, for better and for worse, and share the professional learning.

As part of this research agenda, the Scottish Government has agreed to fund three PhD studentships hosted by the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling. Stipends to support living costs will be in line with UK Research Council rates (currently £14,777 pa) and studentships will cover tuition fees for three years.

The questions underpinning these government projects are:

1. AUDIT: What do we in teacher education institutions collectively do currently to support early career practitioners to work effectively with pupils from SIMD 1-40 backgrounds?
2. EVALUATE: Of our current practice, what do we do well and what could we do better?
3. RESOURCE: What other practice or research might assist us in our purpose?
4. REFORM: How can we improve teacher education so our early career teachers are more effective in improving the engagement and attainment of pupils?

Entry Requirements:

Applicants should have, or be expected to obtain, a first-class honours degree and/or a Master’s degree in education or a cognate discipline. Home/EU residents are eligible to apply. The award is offered on a full-time basis only.
How to apply:
Applicants are asked to send in all the documentation listed below, attached as a single email, to [Email Address Removed] using the subject header ‘Scottish Attainment Challenge Research Project Application’. Deadline is 11:59pm. 14th September 2018.
Documents to attach include:
• Academic Transcript(s) and Degree Certificate(s): Final or current degree transcripts including grades and degree certificates (and official translations, if needed) - scanned copy in colour of the original documents.
• References: Two references on headed paper (academic and/or professional). At least one reference must be academic. The other can be academic or professional. Your references should be on official headed paper. These should also be signed by the referee. [If your referees would prefer to provide confidential references direct to the University then we can also accept the reference by email, from the referee’s official university or business email account to [Email Address Removed] clearly labelling the reference e.g. [: Scottish Attainment Challenge Research Project Reference]
• Copy of CV: detailing relevant education and work experience.
• Applicant Statement: A brief 2-page document outlining your research interests and proposed contribution to the research agenda.
Contact: Dr John I’Anson – Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Stirling ([Email Address Removed])
Selection process: Applications will be assessed by the project team and shortlisted applicants may be invited to an interview. The successful candidate will be based in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Stirling.