WISERD Education

Name and Institution	Email Address	Areas of Expertise
Gail Parker University of Wales Trinity Saint David	gail.parker@uwtsd.ac.uk	Foundation Phase, Outdoor Learning, Well Being Within The Early Years, Experiential Learning, Early Years Provision, Foundation Phase Pedagogy
Subhi Ashour Open University in Wales	subashour@gmail.com	Action Research, Qualitative Research, Interviewing, Qualitative Data Analysis Literature Review, Case Study, Interviewing, Document Analysis, Ethnography
Dr Manuel Souto-Otero Cardiff University	Souto-OteroM@cardiff.ac.uk	Education Policy and Policy Evaluation, European Education Policy, Education and Work, Higher Education, Sociology of Education, Comparative Methods, Case Studies, Surveys, Statistical Analysis, Ex-ante; Interim and Ex-post Evaluation
Dr Jane Dorrian Cardiff Metropolitan University	jdorrian@cardiffmet.ac.uk	Early Years Education, Early Years Education Policy, Early Years Education Practice
Amanda Thomas University of South Wales	amanda.thomas@southwales.ac.uk	Early Years, Schematic Behaviours, Play, Mixed Methods, Action Research, Case Studies, Observations
Dr Susan Jones Bangor University	s.w.jones@bangor.ac.uk	Scientific Literacy, Numeracy and Science, How Student Teachers Learn, Dyslexia, Science Education, Action Research, Questonnaires, Semi-structred Interviews
Jessica Clapham Bangor University	eds075@bangor.ac.uk	Linguistics, Bilingualism, Education, Intercultural Awareness, ESL, Qualitative Research, Qualitative Interviewing, Narrative Inquiry, Case Study, Critical Discourse Analysis
Dr Howard Tanner University of Wales Trinity Saint David	howard.tanner@uwtsd.ac.uk	Mathematics Education, Assessment For Learning, Numeracy, Dialogic Approaches, Thinking Skills and Metacognition, Action Research, Quantitive Methodology, Qualitative Methodology, Case Study, Video-stimulated Reflective Dialogue
Peredur Williams Bangor University	i.p.williams@bangor.ac.uk	Design, Design and Technology, Creativity
Prof Sally Power Cardiff University	powers3@cf.ac.uk	Sociology of Education, Education Policy, Higher Education, Social Inequalities and Education Interviewing, Questionnaire Design, Qualitative Longitudinal Research
Mair Lloyd Open University in Wales	mair.classics@gmail.com	Latin Pedagogy, Language Learning Theories Mixed Methods, Autoethnography, Participant Observer, Statistical Analysis
Dr Peter Hemming Cardiff University	HemmingPJ@cardiff.ac.uk	Faith Schools, Religion and Education, Children and Religion, Citizenship Education Ethnography, Qualitative Interviews, Child-centred Methodologies
Dr Karen McInnes University of South Wales	karen.mcinnes@southwales.ac.uk	Early Years Education, Play and Playfulness, Play Therapy and Therapeutic Play, Qualitative
Dr Carmel Conn University of South Wales	carmel.conn@southwales.ac.uk	Autism, Inclusive Education, Special Educational Needs and Disability, Play, Socialisation, Research with Children, Participatory Research, Ethnography, Disability Research, Conversation Analysis
Junnine Thomas-Walters University of Wales Trinity Saint David	junnine.thomas-walters@uwtsd.ac.uk	Early Years Play, Mentoring and Coaching, Additional Learning Needs, Teaching and Learning Early Years Play
Graham French Bangor University	g.k.french@bangor.ac.uk	Outdoor Education
Dr Yvonne Barnes Cardiff University	barnesy1@cardiff.ac.uk	Teacher CPD, Primary Edu and Pedagogy, Primary Mathematics, Early Years Mathematics Teacher Inquiry, Qualitative Methods
Kathy Evans University of South Wales	Kathy.Evans@southwales.ac.uk	Special Education, Social and Emotional Learning, Looked After Children, Gender Violence Comparative European Research, Evaluations, Participatory Research
Alison Murphy University of South Wales	alison.murphy@southwales.ac.uk	Early Years Education and Practice, Children’s National Identity, Children’s Perceptions of Welsh National Identity, Multimodal Research, Child Centred Research Methods
Dr Nicola Birdsey University of South Wales	nicola.birdsey@southwales.ac.uk	Socio-cultural Appraoch to Learning, Play Mixed-methods, Quantitative Research, Qualitative Research (Interviewing and Thematic Analysis)
Dr Caroline Lohmann-Hancock University of Wales Trinity Saint David	c.lohmann-hancock@uwtsd.ac.uk	Education, Offender Learning, Meritocracy, Agency, Exclusion, Particapitory Research, Visual Analysis, Qualitative, Ethnography
Prof Alan Felstead Cardiff University	alanfelstead@cf.ac.uk	Skills, Training, Learning, Job Quality Survey Design, Secondary Data Analysis, Case Study Research
Dr Jacky Tyrie Cardiff Metropolitan University	jtyrie@cardiffmet.ac.uk	Children’s Rights, Childrens Gender Equality, Early Years, Mixed Methods, Research with Young Children, Focus Groups
Dr Jane Waters University of Wales Trinity Saint David	jane.waters@uwtsd.ac.uk	Early Years Education, Foundation Phase, Early Years Pedagogy, Adult-child Interaction (education) Qualitative Socio-cultural, Analysis of Educative Interaction, Thematic Analysis, Socio-constructivist Grounded Theory, Analysis of Audio and Video Data
Rhiannon Packer University of South Wales	rhiannon.packer@decymru.ac.uk	Bilingualism, SpLD/Dyslexia
Amanda Kelland University of South Wales	amanda.kelland@southwales.ac.uk	Dyslexia, Specific Learning Difficulties, Assessment, SEN Psychometric Assessment, Profiling
Dr Mahruf Shohel Aberystwyth University	mcs11@aber.ac.uk	Technology in Education, International Development, School Transition, Nonformal Education, Teachers’ Professional Development, Mixed Methods, Qualitative Methods, Visual Methods, Case Study, Ethnography
Dr Buddug Angharad Hughes Aberystwyth University	bah6@aber.ac.uk	Language Planning and Policy in Education , Welsh Medium Education, Bilingualism, Literacy Practices Linguistic Ethnography
Dr Anne-Marie Smith Bangor University	amsmith@bangor.ac.uk	Concepts of Childhood, Children’s Rights (political/ Participation), Pedagogy of Childhood Studies, Ethnography, Qualitative Research, International Fieldwork, Reflexivity in Research
Prof Enlli Thomas Bangor University	enlli.thomas@bangor.ac.uk	Psycholinguistic Approaches to Language Acquisition (morphology, Syntax and Vocabulary), Bilingualism, Bilingualism in Education, Bilingual Assessment, SES, Literacy, Executive Function and Bilingualism, Quantitative, Qualitative, Mixed Methods, Exerimental, Psychometric
Prof Chris Taylor Cardiff University	taylorcm@cardiff.ac.uk	Geography of Education, Higher Education Participation, Education Organisation and Provision, Policy Evaluation, Child Development, Longitudinal Data Analysis, Secondary Data Sets, Mixed Methods Research, Surveys, Interviews
Dr Dean Stroud Cardiff University	stroudda1@cardiff.ac.uk	Workplace Learning, Vocational Education and Training, Skills Policy, Trade Unions, Comparative Political Economy, Qualitative, Interviewing, Use of Interpreters and Translators
Dr Alison Bullock Cardiff University	bullockad@cardiff.ac.uk	Medical Education, Dental Education, Education of Healthcare Professionals, Knowledge Mobilisation Case Studies, Realist Approaches, Mixed Methods
Prof Janet Laugharne Cardiff Metropolitan University	jlaugharne@cardiffmet.ac.uk	Teacher Education, Literacy Education, Welsh and Bilingualism, Narrative As a Methodological Tool, Text-based Analysis, Connected to Literary Criticism
Dr Judith Kneen Cardiff Metropolitan University	jkneen@cardiffmet.ac.uk	ICT in English Teaching, Reciprocal Peer Teaching in Initial Teacher Education, Problem-based Learning in Initial Teacher Education, Systematic Classroom Observation
Dr Kevin Smith Cardiff University	smithk26@cardiff.ac.uk	Curriculum Theory, Curriculum Development, Teacher Professeional Development, Teacher Education, Educational Leadership, Ethnography, Critical Discourse Analysis, Narrative Methods, Case Studies
Prof Emma Renold Cardiff University	renold@cf.ac.uk	Sexual and Gender-based Bullying and Violence, Sex and Relationships Education, Feminism in Schools and Youth Groups, LGBTQ+ and Young People, Social Justice and Young Activism, Creative Methods, Affective Methods, Ethnography, Participatory Methods, Visual Methods
David Thomas Glyndwr University	d.thomas@glyndwr.ac.uk	Additional Learning Needs, Supporting Challenging Behaviour, SPLD/Dyslexia, Teaching Assistants
Dr Glenda Tinney University of Wales Trinity Saint David	g.tinney@uwtsd.ac.uk	ESDGC, Widening Access and Flexible Provision, Outdoor Learning
Jo Bowers Cardiff Metropolitan University	jbowers@cardiffmet.ac.uk	Literacy in Primary Education, Children’s Literature, Philosophy For Children, Thinking Skills Case Study, Action Research
Dr Richard Davies Aberystwyth University	Rid11@aber.ac.uk	Online Learning, Elective Home Education, Informal Education, Continuing Professional Development, Work-based Learning, Philosophy of Education
Clare Lee Open University in Wales	clare.lee@open.ac.uk	Pedagogy, Assessment For Learning, Mathematics Education, Mathematics Resilience, Learning Theory, Action Research, Phenononology, Discource Analysis
Catherine Morgan University of Wales Trinity Saint David	c.morgan@uwtsd.ac.uk	Teacher Education, Teacher Education: Music, Teacher Education; Welsh Second Language, Teacher Education
Prof Jonathan Rix Open University in Wales	jonathan.rix@open.ac.uk	Inclusive Education, Special Education, Pedagogy, Participatory Research, Systematic Reviews, Qualitative Approaches
Martin Barclay Cardiff Metropolitan University	mbarclay@cardiffmet.ac.uk	Post Compulsory Education and Training, Post Compulsory Curriculum Studies, Post Compulsory Education Management, Qualitative Studies, Case Study, Historical Studies
Dr Gill Jones Cardiff Metropolitan University	GLJones@cardiffmet.ac.uk	Enterprise in HE, Leadership and Management of Enterprise Initiatives in HE, Enterprise Education, Qualitative Data Collection, Bilingual Data Collection
Dr Ceryn Evans Cardiff University	evansc15@cardiff.ac.uk	Higher Education, Young People, Widening Participation, Social Class Qualitative Interviewing, Focus Groups

 

Study Design

WISERDEducation has two main research dimensions:

• Cohort studies
• Data integration

In undertaking this research, we want to involve researchers across Wales.

The cohort studies

In 2012, we identified over twenty primary and secondary schools which were happy to participate in WISERDEducation by allowing us to follow the progress of a class of children over the next three years.  These schools represent the broad diversity of schools in Wales.  They are located across Wales – in rural and urban areas, they include Welsh-medium, English-medium and dual language stream schools.

In 2012 we surveyed:

• 345 Year 6 pupils in 16 primary schools
• 412 Year 8 pupils in 13 secondary schools, and
• 436 Year 10 pupils in these same secondary schools

In 2013 and 2014 we will revisit each of these students to follow their progress. In 2013, we will also seek to survey:

• 300 Year 2 pupils in xx primary schools

In our surveys, we are keen to gather data on the child’s experience of school.  In addition, we are in the process of surveying their parents and carers, to find out parents’ perceptions of their child’s school and education in general.

In 2013, we will also have completed interviews with the headteachers and governors of these 29 schools.  A teacher survey will also give us the professionals’ perspective on the strengths and weaknesses of working in Wales.

Data integration

In addition to gathering new data from pupils, parents and professionals, we are keen to ensure that we make the best use of already existing data. We are therefore in the process of seeking parental permission to link nationally held data about the child’s progress to our surveys.  We hope to extend this data integration to a range of other secondary data.

Involving researchers across Wales

The data from the cohort studies and other datasets provides a fantastic resourcefor other researchers across Wales to explore a whole range of important educational issues.  In order to maximise the use of this resource, we regularly engage in:

• Visits to education departments in Welsh universities to showcase the research and engage the teacher education community
• Invite education researchers to take up WISERDEducation placements to undertake their own analyses using the data.

Information for Participants

Welcome to the WISERD Education website.

This page contains all the information you’ll need to learn more about WISERD Education. You can see some preliminary results from our study, take part in some quick interactive surveys and you can use our forums to post any comments about our study.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! @WISERDEducation

Confidentiality and Data Protection

Each pupil has a unique ID number, and pupil names are removed from our databases once these ID numbers have been assigned. Parents are given the same ID number as their child, so that we can link the information of parent-child pairs. These IDs secure the confidentiality of participants’ identity.  In addition, all of our study schools are given code names so that they cannot be identified. All the information that staff, pupils, and parents provide will be stored on a secure server. No one outside of the research team will be able to access any of the information.

Summary

WISERDEducation is a £1m project following 1,200 pupils aged 5-17 years as they progress through their education.  

WISERDEducation is designed to strengthen educational research in Wales.  Funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW), WISERDEducation aims to:

• Increase Wales’ capacity to carry out high quality educational research
• Improve the quality of learning and the standards of teaching and teacher education in Wales

Why do we need WISERD Education?

Over the last 15 years, the Welsh Government has developed an ambitious reform agenda that is placing learning at the centre of social and economic wellbeing.  However, while the reform agenda has been backed by substantial commitment from the education community, there is as yet little evidence to suggest that this commitment has been translated into improved educational experiences and outcomes for learners in Wales.  Indeed, recent analyses (such as PISA) have suggested that the Welsh education system continues to face significant challenges.

In recent years, this ‘small and clever country’ has seen a significant decline in the volume and quality of education research activity taking place within the education departments of its universities.  This decrease in education research activity may create difficulties for Wales in the future.  We know that sound policies need to be based on sound evidence. WISERDEducation will help build that evidence base.