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Laura Kayes

Group Research Practitioner, Luminate Education Group

Research Bio

Laura is currently studying for her doctorate in education (Ed.D). Laura’s research interests lie in cultural heritage, social equity, and class. Her doctoral research explores practitioner interpretations of education policy, particularly in relation to class-based hierarchies of knowledge systems.

Laura has worked in the further education sector since 2013, first as a music and performing arts teacher, before moving into an advanced practitioner role with a central teaching and learning team. Laura currently teaches in Luminate University Centre’s teacher training, learning and development department and is a proud Governor with Hartlepool College of Further Education.

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Call for action

I am actively looking for colleges to participate in my doctoral research.

Research Project:

Whose knowledge matters: a critical exploration of college-based class, knowledge, and power in the education inspection framework

Invitation:

I am inviting practitioners, leaders and policy-makers working in Further Education in England to participate in a research project exploring how education policy interacts with class and belonging. I am particularly interested in how the Education Inspection Framework, which outlines a set of guidelines, standards, and expectations for Ofsted inspections, informs teaching and learning policies and practice. This research is being conducted as part of my Doctorate in Education at the University of Sheffield, and funded by the Association of Colleges' Research Further initiative.

What will happen if I take part? What do I have to do?

You will be asked to complete an online survey that should take approximately 20 minutes. The survey will ask about your experiences with the Education Inspection Framework, and your perspectives on how policies impact your teaching and learning practice. It is not necessary to be familiar with the inspection framework. It has been selected for this study as it will have directly informed your college’s teaching and learning policy(ies).

If themes arise from survey responses, some participants may also be invited for an optional follow-up interview (maximum 30 minutes) to explore these topics in more depth. This would be a recorded online meeting, and you would have the opportunity to review the transcript before it is used in the study.

For further information

For more info about the project, or to participate, please contact me on lkayes1@sheffield.ac.uk and I'll send over an information sheet.

Contact information

Website

LinkedIn profile

Blue Sky: @laurakayes.bsky.social

Research Outputs

Publications

AoC Think Further:

Activities and events:

  • Association of Colleges Annual Conference (2022)
  • Association of Colleges Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Conference (2023)
  • Learning and Skills Research Network Conference (2023)
  • The Festival of Education (2023)
  • Keynote speaker / research sharing: Coleg Sir Gar, Luminate Education Group, City of Bristol College, Ashton Sixth Form College, Exeter College, Edinburgh College, University Centre Leeds
  • Association of Colleges Annual Conference (2024)
Other:

          Research Networks

          • A proud friend and advocate of the JoyFE and AmplifyFE communities
          • Member of the British Educational Research Association