Research from the University has been cited in the House of Commons Education Committee report ‘The Role of School Governing Bodies’.
Earlier this year, the Education Select Committee held an inquiry into school governing and the role of school governing bodies and the report of the inquiry has just been published.
Professor Chris James from the Department of Education presented written and oral evidence to the Committee and his research-based contribution features prominently in the report. The report makes a number of important recommendations about the constitution, size, processes and effectiveness of school governing bodies, a large number of which reflect Professor James’s evidence.
Professor James said: “It’s very gratifying to see our research being used in this way and having a direct impact on education policy-making.”
The University is leading research in this area, for example by recently hosting a seminar for over twenty school governing experts – policy makers, researchers and practitioners – to review emerging modes of governing schools in England.
School governing has been a focus of the Department’s research for a number of years now. Four funded research projects have: reviewed school governing and in particular have analysed the contribution of the business world to school governing; investigated the effectiveness and impact of school governing bodies; reviewed school governing internationally, and researched the role of the school governing body chair. The research has a strong international profile with collaborations with researchers in the US, New Zealand, Israel, South Africa and Switzerland.