Organisation

SFRE is managed by a Planning Group which oversees the running of the project and provides expert advice and input to each of the three Forum events forming an initial cycle.

The Planning Group is chaired by Andrew Pollard, Director of the TLRP (Teaching and Learning Research Programme) based in London. Membership of the Planning Group is drawn from all areas of the UK with representatives of government and academic communities as well as the core funding organisations of SFRE.

The members of the planning group are:

  • Chair: Andrew Pollard (TLRP/Institute of Education, London)
  • Wales: Sue Davies (Trinity College, Carmarthen) and Debbie Tynen, Strategy Unit (Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills, Welsh Assembly Government)
  • Scotland: Lorna Hamilton (University of Edinburgh) and Fiona Fraser, Principal Researcher (Analytical Services Unit (schools), Scottish Government)
  • Northern Ireland: Ruth Leitch (Queen’s University Belfast/ BERA Council) and Karen McCullough (Department of Education, Northern Ireland)
  • England: Deborah Wilson (Department for Children, Schools and Families), Stephen Witt (Department for Children, Schools and Families), Richard Bartholomew (Department for Children, Schools and Families), and Sean Hayes, Head of Information, Research & Statistics (Greenwich Children’s Services, Greenwich Council)
  • UK: Andy Gibbs, Head of the Economy, Education, Business and Society Team (Economic and Social Research Council), Ann Jeffcott, Research Directorate (Economic and Social Research Council), Helen Perkins, Director (Society for Research into Higher Education), and Karen Whitby, Research Manager (CfBT Education Trust)
  • Project Manager: Jeremy Hoad, Chief Executive (BERA)
  • Researcher: Alis Oancea (University of Oxford/ BERA Council)

Attendance at SFRE events is by invitation.  For each event, invitations are issued to colleagues from each UK country and from: universities and research bodies in the public and private sectors; practitioners from all major sectors of education and children’s services; and policy makers and senior staff from government and other agencies and organisations.  Some 150 invitations are issued, and 50 to 70 people are expected to attend each Forum.  The policy on invitations is intended to achieve some continuity between the three Forum meetings, but also some transitions to reflect the changing issues being tackled.  In all cases, attempts are made to balance country representation and roles, so that a wide range of perspectives is available.  The Forum seeks to reflect relevant stakeholder bodies, but does not aspire to establish itself as a representative body.

Funding for SFRE is provided by:
British Educational Research Association
Economic and Social Research Council
Department for Children, Schools and Families
CfBT Education Trust

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