Institute of Education London

Professor David Gillborn

• Qualifications and position:
  • BA(hons), PhD, AcSS, FRSA
  • Professor of Critical Race Studies in Education
  • Editor, 'Race Ethnicity and Education' (an international peer reviewed journal on racism and education).
• Faculty:
  • Faculty of Policy and Society
• Department:
  • Humanities and Social Science
• Centre:
  • CeCEPS (Centre for Critical Education Policy Studies)
• Summary:
  • David Gillborn is best known for his research into race/racism in education. His work includes ethnographic research on racism in schools and classrooms; conceptual writing on the nature of racism in educational policy and practice; mixed-method evidence reviews; and analyses of policy initiatives at local, national and international levels.
    David is one of the leading international writers in Critical Race Theory (CRT); an approach that began in US law schools but has spread to many areas of the academy. CRT offers a systematic and insightful framework for understanding – and opposing – race inequity in education. The approach is a dynamic one that is developing through the wider application of CRT in numerous contexts nationally and internationally.
    In addition to applying CRT in his own work (e.g. his award winning book, 'Racism and Education'), David has also written several introductory pieces on CRT and co-edited the first ever collection that combines leading legal and educational CRT (with Ed Taylor and Gloria Ladson-Billings).
• Teaching:
  • David leads the MA module 'Sociology of Race & Education' and the advanced doctoral course in 'Critical Race Theory'. He also contributes occasional lectures and seminars to a range of Institute courses including several PGCE routes and the MA modules 'Understanding Education Policy' and 'Sociology of Education'
• Research Projects:
  • The Educational Strategies of the Black Middle Class
    Funded by the Economic & Social Research Council this project explores how Black Middle Class parents view the education of their children. The research extends understandings of class/race intersectionality in the lives of parents and children. Carol Vincent is Principal Investigator. Further information on the project and its findings here.
    • Recently completed projects include:
    New Deal for Communities (NDC)
    The NDC targeted the most economically disadvantaged areas of England. A range of education projects were undertaken, each with a stated commitment to raising achievement and enhancing inclusion. Professor Gillborn led the IOE team that evaluated the education projects in the NDC. The education reports can be downloaded here. More about the NDC here.
    Aiming High: African Caribbean Achievement Project
    David was part of the team (led by Professor Leon Tikly at Bristol University) that evaluated the pilot programme of 'Aiming High', an initiative dedicated to raising Black students' achievement through dedicated work with a sample of schools. Their report highlighted both successes and problems. Final report here.
    REACH: raising the aspirations and attainments of Black boys and young men
    Co-ordinated by the Department for Communities & Local Government, this project explored ways of making school inspections better suited to supporting race equality in schools. The project arose from the REACH initiative – an independent report produced by a group of practitioners and activists committed to reducing race inequality. More about the REACH project here
• Postgraduate Research:
  • Professor Gillborn works with graduate students who share his research interests, including race/racism in education policy & practice; critical race theory; critical whiteness studies; social class inequalities in education; qualitative research; school processes and social justice (especially issues relating to academic selection, 'ability' and behaviour/discipline). David currently supervises several research students but, for reasons of confidentiality, they are not listed here individually.
• Professional Activities:
  • Race Ethnicity and Education (journal)
    Professor Gillborn is founding editor of the international scholarly journal 'Race Ethnicity and Education'. REE provides a forum for the best critical research on race/racism in education. The journal is peer-reviewed and publishes a wide range of work including both qualitative and quantitative research from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds. You can learn more about the journal and read a sample copy here.
    Editorial Board Membership
    David works with colleagues on several journals, including acting as a board member for the British Journal of Sociology of Education and The Urban Review.
    Advisory Bodies and Advocacy Groups
    David works with a variety of groups seeking greater social justice and equity in education, including: London Schools & the Black Child, National Children's Bureau, The Runnymede Trust and The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust
    Honours and Awards
    Professor Gillborn is an Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences (AcSS) and a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA). He has been Visiting Scholar at the Havens Center for the Study of Social Structure and Social Change at the University of Wisconsin, Madison (USA) and Visiting Professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) of the University of Toronto (Canada).
    Book of the Year
    David has won this award twice; for the books 'Racism and Education: coincidence or conspiracy? (2008) and 'Rationing Education' (2000, with Deborah Youdell). The award is made by the Society for Educational Studies (SES) according to the following criteria: quality of research and/or scholarship; originality of analysis and argument; an ability to connect theoretical and academic considerations in Educational Studies with implications for educational policy and practice; and quality and accessibility of writing.
    Contribution to Multicultural Education
    David received an individual award for 'meritorious service promoting multicultural education' from the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Special Interest Group 'Critical Examination of Race, Ethnicity, Class and Gender in Education'.
• Conferences/presentations:
  • 'The wrong kind of special? Race, class and disability': National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME) annual meeting, Chicago, USA, November 2011.
    'Neo-liberalism, hate speech and inequality': Keynote presentation as part of the research seminar 'The Significance of Hope: education, discrimination and the future of the suburban youth'. Jonsered Manor, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden, September 2011.
    'The Myth of Colour-Blind Policy': Keynote address to the annual meeting of the English as an Additional Language Association of Wales (EALAW), Newport, March 2011.
• SIG Membership:
  • Sociology of Education