Education for Social Justice

The Education for Social Justice group works on a range of different projects with the aim of promoting wider social inclusion, improving pupils’ learning outcomes and enhancing democratic educational process and active citizenship.

Our aim

Social justice in education works on the premise that access to the same quality of educational processes should be equitable, even if there are unequal outcomes as a consequence.

As a result, researchers in the Education Department are currently involved in a range of different projects to support social justice. For example, a study carried out in Staffordshire schools investigated what influences children in their life choices and motivates the development and realisation of their aspirations. Another project is an Erasmus+ funded project partnership between 4 EU countries (UK, Italy, Portugal and Lithuania) where the aim is to boost parental engagement in schools. Through the development of innovative methods, it is envisaged the project will promote wider social inclusion, improve pupils’ learning outcomes and enhance democratic educational process and active citizenship.

Group leader

Dr Jim Pugh

Director - Inst. Of Ed. - Assoc Prof.

Jim Pugh is Head of Education here at Staffordshire University. He's worked in education for his entire career, from inspiring young learners as a primary school teacher to leading the development of education students and academics at Staffords…

Jim's profile

Researchers within Education for Social Justice

Dr Gillian Forrester

Associate Professor

Gill leads the Professional Doctorate in Education

Gillian's profile

Dr Lynn Machin

Senior Lecturer

I have 25 years teaching experience in further and higher education. For much of this time I've been involved in leadership, management and curriculum development within FE and HE.

Lynn's profile

Dr Jo Basford

Course Director

Jo has over twenty-five years' experience of working in the education sector. She began her career as an Early Years and KS1 teacher and worked in a variety of schools including a small 2 teacher village school to a large infant school where she…

Jo's profile

Dr Duncan Hindmarch

Course Director

My enthusiasm for learning led me to qualify, design and deliver to initial and subject specialist teacher training courses. I have an interest in developing virtual learning environments to support learning.

Duncan's profile

Dr Michael Burnitt

Senior Lecturer

Mike's research interests are focussed on the promotion of effective teaching and learning within the primary classroom and the overcoming of potential barriers. Mike is currently working on research which examines notions of respect from the pr…

Michael's profile

Sarah Misra

Senior Lecturer

Sarah has had a lengthy (and happy) career in Primary Education with robust experience of teaching across the entire primary age range in mixed and single age year groups and in a variety of different schools and areas. She moved to Staffordshir…

Sarah's profile

Dr Claire Kinsella

Lecturer

Claire's current area of research centres on how psychological theories of educational engagement can inform the development and evaluation of educational initiatives.

Claire's profile

Sharon Inglis

Senior Lecturer

My main teaching areas and interests learning and assessment, collaborative working in education, culture and society, and research and study skills.

Sharon's profile

Fiona Hall

Senior Lecturer

Fiona's expertise covers Special Education Needs (SEND), the history of education, behaviour management, safeguarding, and the deployment and practice of support staff in schools. She teaches the module on Safeguarding.

Fiona's profile

Ruth Hudson

Associate Dean - Recruitment

Ruth's research interests explore parental bereavement in childhood, professionalisation of the Early Years workforce and technology to enhance teaching and learning. She is a member of Staffordshire Early Years Professional Network.

Ruth's profile

Heather Eggins

P/T Lecturer (Hrly) - Education

My research interests lie in the area of policy and strategy in higher education, with a particular interest in access issues and the impact of globalisation.

Heather's profile

Education for Social Justice

Our aim