Pedagogy, Policy & Practice: Terms of Reference

Focus of the Group

This Group will have a very strong emphasis on applied educational research and associated knowledge transfer activities.  Its overall commitment will be to the improvement of educational quality for all learners.  The group thus aims to engage critically and constructively with the education policy and practice communities in Scotland, the UK and beyond (including working with and in developing countries).

Under the general heading of pedagogy, policy and practice there will be a focus on curriculum and assessment especially, but not exclusively, in the school sector.  There will be a central concern with teacher learning, in ITE, in post-graduate education and in practitioner enquiry in the teaching profession, particularly in relation to school and pre-school settings.  Nationally and internationally the group will have an active interest in teacher engagement in curriculum and assessment reform.  There will also be a focus on school-university-local authority partnerships.  Research and development activities associated with the introduction of new ITE programmes will fit well into the portfolio.

The Group will include staff with qualitative and quantitative research skills who have experience in research, policy and practice contexts.  It is anticipated that the editing of three major research journals will be housed within this group.

Partnerships will be central to the work of the group:

• Research partnerships, eg, the joint research group with Strathclyde University on Teacher Education and Teachers’ Work; the UK wide Assessment Reform Group;
• Policy partnerships, nationally eg, with LTScotland, GTCS, HMIE, SQA, Local Authorities, Teachers’ Professional Organisations; internationally, through the Educational Consultancy Unit;
• Practice partnerships with learners, teachers and schools.

Teaching activities

Research students with an interest in the following topics will be sought:

• Teacher learning
• Pedagogical practices
• Pupil assessment
• Teachers’ working practices
• Curriculum and assessment reform.

The Group will seek to explore and to develop with key stakeholders post graduate programmes to support innovation in curriculum and assessment

Knowledge transfer

Knowledge transfer activities associated with research and development in curriculum and assessment and with teacher learning and development (other than leadership development) will be supported and encouraged.

Public engagement

Public engagement with a range of stakeholders such as government, LTScotland, HMIe and the GTCS will be seen as a key dimension of the work. The Group will establish a joint seminar series with stakeholders. The Group will also seek to engage with wider communities to contribute to public understanding of educational issues.