29 October 2012
What can 40 000 households tell us about life in 21st century Britain?How is creativity helping tackle underachievement in primary mathematics? What is the current and future state of education with regard to inequality and social justice?
Engaging with parents, practitioners and policy makers is a key part of educational research in Bristol and we are look forward to lively discussions about education at the Thinking Futures Festival.
Four members of staff from the Graduate School of Education will be involved in ‘Thinking Futures’, a week-long Festival sharing and celebrating research from the University of Bristol's Faculty of Social Sciences and Law. The programme comprises a wide variety of events for the general public, schools, policy-makers and third sector organisations, held in Bristol and London.
Professor Patricia Broadfoot will be chairing an event on 7 November that introduces the Understanding Society study, the largest household survey of its kind in the world. Professor Fiona Steele will present important new insights along with other faculty colleagues.
On 8 November participants have the chance to engage actively with an on-going research project tackling underachievement in primary mathematics through a focus on creativity led by Dr Alf Coles. The project is a collaboration between the University of Bristol and the charity “5x5x5=creativity”.
Following this on 9 November, Professor Rosamund Sutherland will be on a panel of invited speakers who will debate the state of education today and where it might lead in future, with a focus on inequality and social justice. Joining Professor Sutherland will be Professor Stephen Ball, Karl Mannheim Professor of Sociology of Education, Institute of Education, University of London, Ms Annie Hudson, Strategic Director, Children, Young People and Skills, Bristol City Council and Ms Alison Shaw, Director, The Policy Press.
Professor Sutherland comments: “Engaging with parents, practitioners and policy makers is a key part of educational research in Bristol and we are look forward to lively discussions about education at the Thinking Futures Festival.”
Further information:
Dr Alf Coles 8 Nov 5-7pm: Tackling underachievement through creativity in primary mathematics
Professor Rosamund Sutherland 9 Nov 6.30-8pm: The Education Debate: a Policy Press roundtable
