The school comprises of academics and researchers who are situated within ‘Children, Young People and Families’ or our ‘Philosophy, Ethics and Religion’ provision. The research portfolio of the school is varied and underpinned by regional, national or international partnerships and collaborations with corresponding reach and significance.

The theme of social inclusion and wellbeing underpins much of the research within Children, Young People and Families. Topics include special educational needs and disabilities; childhood and adolescent mental health; gender debates within employment and employability; young parents in higher education; teachers’ professional knowledge about poverty and disadvantage; child protection for the disadvantaged and vulnerable; experiences of play therapy; care experienced young people; educational inequalities; the experiences of BAME and marginalised British families during lockdown; domestic abuse; and gender and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa.

Topics such as metaphysics; causation; moral theology; social justice; theology of indigenous religion; contemporary paganism; Christian theology; ecofeminism; and religious education are explored within Philosophy, Ethics and Religion. 

Research and knowledge exchange/RKE are central to the school’s vision and ambitions. This includes for example, submissions to the Research Excellence Framework/REF, the development of research groups, research seminar series, RKE training, mentoring, and postgraduate research events.

The school is committed to creating a positive, engaging, and supportive research environment to nurture good research practice and a culture of research integrity in alignment with ‘The Concordat to Support Research Integrity.’