Institute of Education London

Professor Kathryn Riley

• Qualifications and position:
  • Phd
    MEd
    B.Soc.Sc(Hons)
    
  • Director of Research
• Faculty:
  • Faculty of Policy and Society
• Department:
  • London Education Research Unit - http:\\www.leru.org.uk
• Centre:
  • London Centre for Leadership in Learning
• Summary:
  • Kathryn Riley was born in Manchester and is an international scholar whose work bridges policy and practice.
    As part of her international work, Kathryn spent two years with the World Bank, heading its Effective Schools and Teachers Group. She began her work in education as a volunteer teacher in Eritrea and has taught in inner-city schools in London, held political offic(as a member of the Inner London Education Authority),and been a local authority Chief Officer. She was first appointed as a Professor in 1993.
    Kathryn's PhD is in race and gender and she is interested in how educational change takes place, particularly in challenging urban contexts, and the contribution of school leaders, communities, staff and students to the change process.
    As Director of the London Education Research Unit ( www.LERU.org.uk ) she is keen to promote new ideas in urban education policy and professional practice.
• Teaching:
  • Module Leader: Leading in Diverse Cultures & Communities Co Leader: Leading & Managing Change & Improvement Contributor: EdD Leadership programme; MBA Leadership, PGCE – urban schools
• Research Projects:
  • Recent research has included: Re-engaging Disaffected Students in Learning: A London Challenge funded research and development which involved working with vulnerable young Londoners on the margins of schooling Leadership on the Front-line which has explored which has examined the challenges and opportunities of leadership in socio-economically disadvantaged communities in Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Dublin, London, Londonderry, Liverpool, Manchester, Paris and Salford. London Lives: An innovative project which develops young people's research skills and encourages them to identify, and research, topics which are central to their lives and to their educational experience. Current new research focuses on the notion of place, examining the implications of leadership of place for school leaders in challenging areas of our cities urban.
• Postgraduate Research:
  • Urban Schools and Communities Leadership in Challenging Urban Contexts Student Voice Managing Change
• Professional Activities:
  • Editorial; Advisory Board; Improving Schools School Governor
• Conferences/presentations:
  • International Invitational Symposium St Patrick's College Dublin, 2006 Improving City Schools: Who & What Makes the Difference? The Social Capital Foundation Conference, Malta, September 2008 Harnessing Social Capital to Connect Schools & Communities in Challenging Urban Contexts: A Comparative Analysis American Education Research Association Conference, San Diego, 2009. A Lesson in Shared Leadership: Re-engaging Disaffected Students in Learning
• Personal Country Knowledge:
  • During her time at the part of her World Bank, Kathryn worked closely with Education Ministers and Ministries from both developing countries. She has carried out reviews for the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and UNICEF on a range of areas, including teacher quality, teacher education and teacher accreditation; educational reform; and school leadership and has taken in many countries, including Australia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, the Cayman Islands, Denmark, France, Guinea, Indonesia, Ireland, Jamaica, Macedonia, Senegal, Sweden, the USA, Venezuela and Vietnam.
• Languages Spoken:
  • Fluent English, Basic French & Spanish
• Languages Written:
  • Fluent English, Basic French & Spanish
• Website / Blogsite:
  • http://www.leru.org.uk