Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Education
Caroline Holden
352
The conference entitled ‘Collaboration & co-creation: teachers and leaders as researchers in schools’ was hosted by Kent College Canterbury and held in The Great Hall, Kent College on Friday 21 June 2024.
The conference was well attended by 76 attendees from schools, colleges, the local authority, the university and the independent sector. The full day conference placed an emphasis on teachers as central to research with presentations and round table discussions from Borden Grammar School, Kent College, Veritas Multi Academy Trust, St Claudine’s Catholic School for Girls, Blean Primary School and The John Wallis Academy.
Keynote speakers included Graham Chisnell ‘Irresistible learning – Embedding a culture of research in schools’ and Dr Louise McGowan who spoke about the challenges and successes in creating a research school.
The Education Research Schools Partnership is a consortium of eleven schools and Canterbury Christ Church University, with the joint aim to transform the relationship between the school and the university, by positioning teachers as creators of research and empowering schools to adopt ‘self-improving education systems in which teachers are research literate and have opportunities for engagement in research and enquiry’ (BERA, 2014: 5). This conference shared the experiences of research-engaged schools regarding the potential enablers and barriers to the new research policy climate.
The aim of the conference was to support school-university research relationships and impact on teachers’ professional autonomy and empowerment. We hoped to open the spaces for dialogue among schools, the university and wider stakeholders to further opportunities for research in schools.
Professor Lynn Revell spoke about the future plans for the project which include formalising the partnership to provide recognition for schools working in partnership with the university to further research. Professor Lynn Revell also shared the exciting opportunity for a funded scholarship available for those interested in applying to undertake full time doctoral studies in the field https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/fees-and-funding/scholarships-and-bursaries.
The day was a great success in celebrating the research already undertaken, but also in inspiring others to explore research initiatives in schools. If you are interested in further details of the group or becoming more involved please contact ERSP@canterbury.ac.uk.
BERA (2014) Research and the Teaching Profession Building the capacity for a self-improving education system. Available from: https://www.bera.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/BERA-RSA-Research-Teaching-Profession-FULL-REPORT-for-web.pdf (accessed 16.11.23)
