Overview

I am an educator and researcher specialising in inclusion and educational psychology. My research interests reside in the areas of inclusion, wellbeing in schools and relational approaches to education. I am particularly interested in research topics that focus on student sense of school belonging and the role of emotions in the curriculum to cultivate teacher and student socioemotional competencies; and teacher professional development through action research.

In the area of inclusion, my work lies in understanding the processes that contribute to developing an inclusive school ethos and nurturing a strong sense of belonging among students with special educational needs (SEN). In my doctorate, I explored the relationship between the inclusivity of school ethos and its effect on the social relationships and sense of school belonging of students with social, emotional, and mental health difficulties (SEMH) as a SEN category. Findings revealed a strong correlation between students with SEMH sense of school belonging and their perceived relationships with teachers. Interviews conducted with SEMH students shed light on the fact that they tend to have better perceived relationships with teachers who demonstrate approachability and exhibit proficiency in effectively managing misbehaviour. 

This has sparked my interest in research topics that promote teacher and student wellbeing in education through the use of relational approaches. I am particularly interested in research aiming to enhance teacher and student socioemotional (SEL) competencies by explicitly integrating socioemotional-oriented learning into the curriculum. Findings of my most recent pilot work showed that teachers might be more motivated to implement SEL interventions when these are integrated into their subject topic—rather than as add-on interventions not organically linked to the school curriculum.  

I am particularly interested in exploring the explicit integration of socioemotional learning in the curriculum through the use of research methodologies that actively involve teachers and students in curriculum development.

Qualifications

• UCL, Institute of Education; Department of Psychology and Human Development; PhD in Educational Psychology and SEN (funded by the Greek State)
• University of Exeter, GSE; Master of Education, SEN
• National and Kapodistrian University of Athens; Ptychion in Philosophy, Pedagogy & Psychology.

I am also an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Chartered member of the British Psychological Society.

Career

I am a lecturer in Education, having joined the School of Education, University of Exeter in 2021. Between 2018-2021, I was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Derby.

Research group links

• Centre for Special Educational Needs and Disability

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Research

Research interests

I am particularly interested in research that centres on inclusion, wellbeing in schools, and relational approaches to education. In my research projects, I have employed mixed methods, creative modes of inquiry, and action research to empower teachers and students to actively participate in school change initiatives. I am keen on supervising students in the following areas:

• Socio-emotional Learning Competencies
• Emotions in the Curriculum
• Sense of School Belonging
• School Stressors and Coping Strategies of Young Adolescents
• Behaviour Management Strategies in Schools
• Special Educational Needs and Disability
• Inclusive Education
• Teacher Education and Professional Development
• Action Research-Lesson Study

Links

• Lesson Study Network
• Children & Young People's Wellbeing
• ORCHID Profile
• Google Scholar
• ResearchGate

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Publications

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External Engagement and Impact

Editorial responsibilities

• Editorial Board of Special Educational Needs (specialty section of Frontiers in Education) as a Review Editor.
• Regular Reviewer at the Journal for Lesson and Learning Studies.

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Teaching

I am the programme lead of the SENCO Award Course, and I am teaching in different programmes offered at the School of Education. I am also supervising postgraduate students across the Masters Programmes; Doctor of Education in Psychology (DEd Psych), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes.

MA Education Online

EFPM010Z3: Critical International Perspectives on Special and Inclusive Education

EFPM013Z: Introduction to Educational Enquiry

EFPM011Z3: Special Educational Needs: Learning, Teaching and Assessment 

MA Special Educational Needs

EFPM270: SEN Teaching and Learning

MSc Psychology (Conversion) 

PSYM220: Research Project 

ERPM010: Educational Psychology

Modules

2023/24

• EFPM011Z3 - Special Educational Needs: Learning, Teaching and Assessment
• EFPM278 - SEN Organisational Contexts
• EFPM279 - SEN Leading on Teaching and Learning
• EFPM285 - Learning Outcomes Portfolio

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Supervision / Group

Postgraduate researchers

Alumni

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Office Hours:

Monday 3-5 pm, during term time; please send an email to arrange a meeting.

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