Group members

Dr Chris Comber, Dr Diane Davies, Ms Rose Griffiths, Dr Michalis Kakos, Mr Kyffin Jones (School of Education, University of Leicester and School of Education, University of Northampton) and Miss Samarita Blaggan (Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester)

SIG Convener: Dr Michalis Kakos

Aims and Objectives

• Identify barriers to educational engagement through empirical enquiry
• To subject existing and new interventions to rigorous critical analysis and empirical evaluation
• Identify and/or devise interventions designed to overcome barriers to engagement.
• Engage in public debate about policy and practice issues relating to the educational engagement of all students and vulnerable students in particular

Focus of Group

It is a well known adage that the degree to which a society provides care and support to its most vulnerable members can be taken as a measure of that society’s level of civilization. We are concerned with ways in which education systems are experienced by individuals and groups who are at particular risk of educational failure. We are especially concerned with the ways in which the social and psychological needs of certain groups may be hidden and, therefore, misunderstood, leading to educational failure social exclusion.

We are strongly committed to developing deep understandings of the challenges faced potentially marginalised individuals and ways in which such understandings can be used to inform educational intervention that will maximize opportunities for educational engagement. We are also interested in the ways that educational practices may hinder children’s rights and in the extent to which the Human rights framework informs the design and application of educational systems.

We are committed to the further development of a critical understanding of the notions of vulnerability and engagement and of the socio-political role of education.

Specific Areas of Interest

• Young people who may not be defined as presenting with special educational needs but who experience difficulties in adjusting to the formal school environment
• Students with special educational needs, particularly those associated with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties
• Looked after children (i.e. children in care)
• Children and young people with mental health problems
• Students who are excluded from or are at risk of being excluded from schools
• Children and young people from minority communities

For more information about members’ research interests please see individual profiles

Next step: Find out more about Special Interest Groups

Current text is here http://www.le.ac.uk/se/research/sig/eve.html