Becoming brave: Personal and professional transformation through doctoral research

An evolving identity Steadman (2023, p. 53) describes a teacher educator’s identity as ‘uncertain and complex’ but asserts that it is through the very act of delving more deeply into our...

Amplifying unheard voices through doctoral study: The value of the professional doctorate for the pracademic researcher

It is probably true to say that the process of giving voice to my ‘inner researcher’ has already taken more than two decades. As someone who has consistently straddled professional practice...

Headteacher researcher: Luxury or necessity?

Introduction At a time when there is a recruitment shortage in school leadership – due in part to high-stakes accountability, workload and inadequate school funding – this blog post is a...

Challenges for climate change and sustainability education in England: Reflections on teachers’ practices and priorities for policymakers

Climate Change and Sustainability Education (CCSE), including school-based education, is widely understood as a vital response to the triple environmental crises of climate change, biodiversity...

Breaking the link between poverty and lower educational outcomes: Some reflections from Wales

10 years of the BERA Blog

Context Throughout the history of BERA and indeed the BERA Blog, research on the association between living in poverty and not doing well educationally has been a continuing focus. In Wales,...

Digital equity in the age of generative AI: Bridging the divide in educational technology

Artificial Intelligence in educational research and practice

The rise of educational technology (EdTech) has transformed the learning landscape, with generative artificial intelligence (AI) offering a new frontier in personalised and accessible education...

The politics of handwriting: What is the purpose of prescriptive handwriting lessons in 2024?

How often do you handwrite and for what purpose? Perhaps you’ll write a birthday card, notes or a shopping list. No matter the context, is there a need for handwriting to be perfect? In English...

The fallacy of pre-submission commentary in university assessment: Let’s move to encouraging independence among our students

A scenario Imagine this: You, a university lecturer, are invigilating an exam. Students are focused on their question papers, scribbling away. With a little time left, a hand is raised. ‘Would...