Dr Alison Black

Alison is an Associate Professor in the School of Education.  With a strong background in research and teaching, her expertise lies in the areas of diversity, educational inclusion and special educational needs (SEN).

She has an extensive research portfolio, encompassing projects and publications focused on inclusion and educational (in)equity.  Her methodological expertise spans both quantitative and qualitative approaches, including semi-structured interviews, observations, survey design, thematic analysis, and statistical analysis. Alison supervises postgraduate research (PGR) students, particularly in the fields of special educational needs and inclusive education.

In her teaching role, Alison contributes primarily to postgraduate programmes, including the online and campus-based MA Education (Special Educational Needs) and the primary and secondary Initial Teacher Education programmes. She also coordinates training for trainee teachers on inclusion and SEN, which has been recognized as exemplary. In their most recent inspection of our provision OfSTED reported that “[teacher trainees] learn extremely well how to identify and support pupils with SEND and pupils who speak EAL. By the end of the course, trainees have a deep knowledge and understanding of teaching adaptations they can make to meet the needs of pupils” (OfSTED, 2023). Alison is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. 

Before her career in Higher Education, Alison trained as a teacher at Edge Hill University College, graduating with Qualified Teacher Status in 2001. She taught as a Year 4 primary school teacher, serving as a science coordinator, and later transitioned to a secondary school setting, where she taught Year 7 and Year 9 science, gaining promotion to Head of Year 7.

Qualifications:

Doctor of Philosophy, Inclusive Education, University of Exeter, October 2009 – March 2013 (degree awarded May 2013)

Masters in Education, Special Educational Needs (Distinction), University of Exeter, Sept 2008 - October 2009

BSc (Hons) in Natural and Applied Science and Primary Education with QTS, (2.1) Edge Hill University College, Sept 1997 - June 2001

• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. August 2020. (Reg. number PR191061).
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. January 2017. (Reg. number PR121476).
• Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice. (University of Exeter). November 2016.
• Learning to Teach in Higher Education. Awarded Associate of Higher Education Academy. September 2011.