Southampton Education School

Research themes

Our researchers investigate a wide range of areas related to education. Most of these fall within 3 broad research themes.

Inclusion

Research into the theoretical understandings and practices of inclusion is conducted by the Centre for Research in Inclusion.

Mathematics and science education

Our research in this area includes topics such as early mathematics learning in the classroom and innovative pedagogies in STEM subjects. This research is coordinated by the Mathematics and Science Education research centre.  

Educational effectiveness and policy

Research in this area focuses on leadership, school effectiveness, higher education and the sociology of work. Investigations are led by the Leadership, Educational Effectiveness and Policy (LEEP) research centre.

Research environment

We cultivate a supportive and inclusive environment that encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and the exchange of ideas.

This leads to:  

• professional growth for our academics
• innovative approaches to problems
• excellent and influential research outputs
• a dynamic and enriching learning environment for all

We’re also outward facing in our engagement, collaborating with a range of partners to make a real difference in the profession. 

Our undergraduates benefit from the support of a personal tutor and flexible programmes which offer a firm foundation of theory and practice. Postgraduates can take advantage of intensive teaching while building on their skills and knowledge in an exhilarating learning environment. 

Unlike most other universities, the School offers both BSc and MSc degrees in Education. All our students and researchers work with leading academics in the field of education.

The evidence speaks for our approach. We’re ranked 11th in the UK for education by the Complete University Guide. A remarkable 92% of our undergraduates are employed within 15 months of graduation.

Professional development for teachers


We also offer projects and programmes for helping working primary and secondary teachers improve their practice. Find out about the School’s continuing professional development work.

Teacher training open evenings

Our Teacher Training Open Evenings are designed to give you all of the information you need to make informed decisions in every stage of your teaching career. 

Our commitment to diversity extends to our research, teaching, and engagement activities. This is evidenced by the work of our Centre for Research in Inclusion and Autism Community Research Network at Southampton and also the modules and content of our undergraduate and PGCE programmes. 

As a school, we are also currently working towards our application for an Athena SWAN bronze award, which recognises work on gender equality. By embracing a diverse range of perspectives, we enrich our learning community and prepare students to contribute positively to an interconnected world.