Dr Sarah Whitehouse

• Qualifications:Dr of Education, MA in Education (UWE), SFHEA
• Position:Programme Leader for the International Doctorate in Education and Senior Lecturer : Education ＆ Humanities
• Department:ACE - Education and Childhood
• Telephone:+441173284178
• Email:Sarah.Whitehouse@uwe.ac.uk

About me

I began my career as a primary school teacher in South Wales, working in schools with high levels of social deprivation, which shaped my deep commitment to social justice in education. In 2010, I joined the University of the West of England (UWE) as a Senior Lecturer in Primary Humanities. Since then, I have completed my Doctorate and established myself as a leading researcher in anti-racist education, focusing on how teachers engage with sensitive and controversial issues in the classroom.

I am also the Programme Leader for the International Doctorate in Education, and I supervise a number of PhD and EdD students, supporting research in areas such as education policy, social justice, and anti-racist practice.

Area of expertise

As a Senior Lecturer, I train both undergraduate and postgraduate teachers, specializing in subject knowledge and pedagogy for primary history and geography. I work closely with a range of schools, supporting their teaching and research, with a particular focus on enhancing teachers’ ability to tackle sensitive and complex topics.

My doctoral research was driven by broader discourses around social justice, the construction of childhood, and the development of children's understanding of historical events. This work led to a focus on how educators navigate the curriculum when teaching topics that can be both sensitive and controversial, particularly in today’s politically charged educational climate.

Currently, I am a researcher on the RESPECT project, where I explore the impact of racism on young children. This project uses an innovative methodological approach known as body mapping, which allows children to discuss their experiences in a sensitive and creative manner. I received external funding from the Society for Education Studies which look at the impact of the reacreditation process on staff identity in univeristies across England. My current research involved collaborating with Bristol Catherdral in supporting the decolonisation of artefacts that can be used to create workshops that engage children in this important issue. I am also working with schools on embedding the teaching of tolerance through the lens of the toppling of the Colston Statue.

Publications

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