I am a research associate in the Strathclyde Institute of Education interested in understanding innovation in educational settings and exploring localised responses to addressing social inequality. I am Co-Director of Intergenerational Mentoring Network, Cic which develops research-informed practical projects to support schools and communities serving high numbers of pupils from working-class backgrounds. Past and current projects include the following themes:

• Understanding working-class pupil experiences of navigating post-school transitions and orientating to Higher Education
• Developing Intergenerational Mentoring to support working-class transitions to Higher Education and the professions
• Developing Intergenerational Mentoring to support literacy development in primary schools
• Adapting a social practice model of adult literacy for adults with learning difficulties
• Exploring the availability of music education for under 25 year olds in different localities

My responsibilities centre on the design, development and delivery of research informed teaching and supervision at doctoral, post graduate and undergraduate levels of education.

Since 2019 I have led two modules in the Strathclyde Institute of Education, Culture Society Formation and Adult Education with Placement for BA Joint Honours Students. I am also module leader for the pre-entry Access to Education course in Strathclyde’s Centre for Lifelong Learning.  I also tutor across research methods courses for undergraduate and masters level courses. I currently lecture and tutor on the first year module Education and Society for BA Primary Education and Leading Pedagogies and the Curriculum: Working Alongside Children and Families for BA Childhood Practice. In each I apply learning from funded research activity to support practitioners in their understanding of issues related to understanding and addressing inequality and education.  

I am a member of the Poverty and Education Network, Scottish Education Research Association (SERA) and a member of the Cross-Party Group on Families Supporting Children’s Learning, Scottish Parliament