Our research helps drive education policy, practice and teaching. Our degree courses and professional development for teachers lead to exceptional outcomes. This commitment to excellence has kept us in the Guardian’s top 10 for education in the UK for over a decade.
Southampton Education School advances policy and practice in education, teaching and learning.
We have influence and an excellent reputation for our work, both nationally and internationally.
We’re committed to exceptional teaching and offer a full range of degrees and programmes, from undergraduate through to PhD, as well as a professional development programme for working teachers.
Our pioneering research informs and improves education policy and practice, both nationally and globally.
The main themes of this research, carried out by our research centres, are:
inclusion
mathematics and science education
leadership, effective education and policy
Our school members have a diverse range of expertise, from early childhood education to higher education and lifelong learning. This breadth of insight and experience informs our teaching, our research, and our engagement with the education community.
Our research
Our impactful, wide-ranging research addresses critical educational challenges and is internationally recognised for its contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the field. The Research Excellence Framework 2021 (REF) rates 82% of our research publications as world-leading or internationally excellent.
Research themes
Our researchers investigate a wide range of areas related to education. Most of these fall within 3 broad research themes.
Inclusion
Research into the theoretical understandings and practices of inclusion is conducted by the Centre for Research in Inclusion.
Mathematics and science education
Our research in this area includes topics such as early mathematics learning in the classroom and innovative pedagogies in STEM subjects. This research is coordinated by the Mathematics and Science Education research centre.
We cultivate a supportive and inclusive environment that encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and the exchange of ideas.
This leads to:
professional growth for our academics
innovative approaches to problems
excellent and influential research outputs
a dynamic and enriching learning environment for all
We’re also outward facing in our engagement, collaborating with a range of partners to make a real difference in the profession.
Our teaching
We’re focused on giving students a rigorous, comprehensive and empowering learning experience. This equips them to further develop their skills and knowledge and to go on to shape education policy, management, research and teaching.
Our undergraduates benefit from the support of a personal tutor and flexible programmes which offer a firm foundation of theory and practice. Postgraduates can take advantage of intensive teaching while building on their skills and knowledge in an exhilarating learning environment.
Unlike most other universities, the School offers both BSc and MSc degrees in Education. All our students and researchers work with leading academics in the field of education.
The evidence speaks for our approach. We’re ranked 11th in the UK for education by the Complete University Guide. A remarkable 92% of our undergraduates are employed within 15 months of graduation.
Our Teacher Training Open Evenings are designed to give you all of the information you need to make informed decisions in every stage of your teaching career.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where all students and staff feel valued and supported.
Our commitment to diversity extends to our research, teaching, and engagement activities. This is evidenced by the work of our Centre for Research in Inclusion and Autism Community Research Network at Southampton and also the modules and content of our undergraduate and PGCE programmes.
As a school, we are also currently working towards our application for an Athena SWAN bronze award, which recognises work on gender equality. By embracing a diverse range of perspectives, we enrich our learning community and prepare students to contribute positively to an interconnected world.
Our vision is that Southampton Education School is known for its world leading research, teaching and knowledge exchange. We work to positively influence policy and practice in service of the UN’s sustainable development goals including SDG4, quality education for all.
