Research Centre for Learning and Teaching

Staff Profile

Professor Heather Smith

Prof Race & Language Equality in Ed

Background

Introduction

I am a passionate advocate of the transformative role of education for social justice. My teaching and research focus on developing greater understandings about and action for race and language equality. Specifically, I draw on critical race theory (CRT) and, in particular, critical understandings of whiteness. In working against discrimination of minoritized languages towards a just pedagogical approach, I have begun to draw on the theory/pedagogy of translanguaging (where all languages of a pupil are valorised and pupils are enabled to draw on all of their languages in the pursuit of learning). 

 

My recent research as PI (working alongside Professor Vini Lander as co-I) was a project entitled: 'Developing an anti-racism framework for Initial Teacher Education to mitigate racial inequities in education and to develop sustainable practices for the future'. This led to the writing of an anti-racism framework for initial teacher education/training (Anti-Racism Framework - Institute for Social Science - Newcastle University (ncl.ac.uk)).

 

I was PI for an Erasmus funded European Project, entitled: ROMtels (Roma translanguaging enquiry learning space), which improved education for Roma pupils across Europe by enabling a translanguaging pedagogy (€261,317). ROMtels was shortlisted for the Times Higher Education Awards 2020 Research Project of the Year (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences).

I am Docent Chair of Multicultural Teacher Education at Helsinki University, Finland.

Roles and Responsibilities

I am EDI lead in ECLS.

I lead the Diversity and Equality aspect of the Primary PGCE.

I am module lead for EDU 3002 Social Justice and Education, BA Education.

I supervise Masters and PhD level students.

PhD supervision

I am looking to supervise students in the areas of:

  • Critical race theory as applied to education, including critical whiteness
  • Translanguaging pedagogy for multilingual pupils
  • Education of Roma pupils

 

 

Research

Research Interests

My research focuses on developing greater understandings about and action for race and language equality. Specifically, I draw on critical race theory (CRT) and, in particular, critical understandings of whiteness. In working against discrimination of minoritized languages towards a just pedagogical approach, I have begun to draw on the theory/pedagogy of translanguaging (where all languages of a pupil are valorised and pupils are enabled to draw on all of their languages in the pursuit of learning). 


I co-lead (with Professor Peter Hopkins) 'Researching racism and anti-racism' research seminar series (as part of NISS)

I co-lead (with Lydia Wysocki and Hanain Brohi) 'Critical education and discourse studies research - Cedars' reading group, ECLS. 


Research Funding Includes:

PI: NEU Commission: Developing an anti-racism framework for Initial Teacher Education to mitigate racial inequities in education and to develop sustainable practices for the future (£10K). 2021

PI: UKRI SPF grant: Developing an anti-racism framework for Initial Teacher Education to mitigate racial inequities in education and to develop sustainable practices for the future (£20k). 2020-2021.

PI: Newcastle University Social Justice Fund: Supporting Roma in Newcastle: Access to Higher Education (£5,886.80). 2019-2020

PI: ESRC IAA: Extending ROMtels: Responding to local need (£9,853.87), 2017-2018.

PI: Erasmus plus: ROMtels (Roma translanguaging enquiry learning space) (in collaboration with Helsinki University, Catholic University of Paris, Middlesex University, Westgate Hill Primary school, People to people foundation, Romania (€261,317.00). 2014-2017


Current Postgraduate Supervision

Muhamad Ali Alsheikh Muhamad (FT NEDTC/NINEDTP (ESRC) studentship, year 1): EAL provision for resettled Syrian refugees in North East mainstream schools: challenges and opportunities for teachers and students

Nada Bin Ghali (FT, year 2): Enabling Translanguaging in the Saudi EFL Classroom: Potential Implications for Language Learning Strategies

Sabina Bllaca (PT NINEDTP (ESRC) studentship, year 4): Supporting EAL pupils in mainstream primary classrooms: How do teachers facilitate communication to enable progress within lessons?

Lydia Wysocki (PT NEDTC/NINEDTP (ESRC) studentship, year 6): British comics, British values.

 

Previous Postgraduate Supervision

Dorine Lugendo (PhD, full time): Scaffolded Assistance in Kenyan Secondary School classrooms: The case of Maseno University student teachers of English

Gail Edwards (staff PhD): The Crisis of Transcendence and the (im)possibility of teacher education
Michiko Masuya (PhD part-time): How Discourse Constructs Values in the British and Japanese TV News
Shaban Aldabbus (IPhD): An investigation into the Impact of Language Games on Classroom Interaction and Pupil Achievement in Libyan Basic Education Schools.

 

Teaching

Postgraduate Teaching - main roles

Module Leader: EDU3002 Social Justice and Education

Primary PGCE: teaching and Lead for Diversity and Equality


Publications