Newcastle University

Introduction

I have been a researcher at Newcastle for about 14 years now. Most of my work has been around interventions and support for vulnerable children and families, from a social policy perspective, but crossing disciplinary boundaries in family law, criminology, social work, and education. I am currently working in and around schools, primarily involved in evaluation, which enables me to maintain my research interests in multi-disciplinary working, parenting, and children’s participation.

Current research projects:

Evaluation of the Pupil Premium (DfE)

Narrowing the Gap: Technology enhanced learning initiatives 

Evaluation of the Diamond model: co-production of services (ILG)

 Hello in 100 tongues: connecting communities through cultural exchange with ethnic minority languages (Newcastle University Social Renewal Fund)

 Links into Language: Evaluation of projects to encourage language acquisition

  Review of Fairness in Education (ILG)

Previous Research Projects:

The participation of children and young people in research (AHRC)

 A review of research of interventions in aspirations and attitudes: influencing educational attainment (Joseph Rowntree Foundation)

 Evaluation of Sub 21 alcohol prevention project (Mentor UK)

 Just for A Laugh Evaluation of Alcohol Education (Mentor UK)

 Evaluation of the Disadvantage Subsidy in Somerset and Wiltshire

National Evaluation of Extended Schools (DfE)

 National Evaluation of the Disadvantage Subsidy (DfE)

 Understanding Child Contact in Scottish Courts (Scottish Executive).

 National Evaluation of Budget-holding Lead Professionals for Children in Care (DCSF).

 National Evaluation of Family Pathfinders with York Consulting (DCSF)

 Understanding the needs of adults, particularly parents, for relationship support (DCSF)

 The evaluation of Information Meetings and Associated Provisions under the Family Law Act 1996 (Funder - Lord Chancellors Dept.).

 Two Years On - A follow-up study of those attending an Information Meeting under the Family Law Act 1996 (Dept. for Constitutional Affairs).

 Work to support the evaluation of 'On Track' - developing a guide to assessing children at risk of offending behaviour (Home Office).

 Dysfunctional Families: A web-based toolkit for Crime Reduction Partnerships (Home Office).

 Risk, resilience and diversity: Pathways into and out of crime – Prisoners Families (ESRC Priority Network).

 Parenting under Pressure: Prison - An evaluation of a book about the family relationships of prisoners in collaboration with Young Voice (Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund) 

  National evaluation of Youth Inclusion and Support Panels (Dept.for Education and Skills).

 National evaluation of Family Group Conferencing (Youth Justice Board).

 National evaluation of Family Advice and Information Services (Legal Services Commission).

 National Evaluation of Budget-holding Lead Professionals (Dept for Education and Skills).

• Cummings C, Laing K, Law J, McLaughlin J, Papps I, Todd L, Woolner P. Can changing aspirations and attitudes impact on educational attainment? A review of interventions. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2012.
• Woolner P, Clark J, Laing K, Thomas U, Tiplady L. Changing spaces: preparing students and teachers for a new learning environment. Children, Youth and Environments, Special Issue: Reconceptualising School Design: Child and youth environments for learning 2012, 22(1), 52-74.
• Bell V, Watson P, Crawshaw P, Dunkerley E, Laing K, Todd L. Evaluation of the Diamond Model pilots: Interim Report. Newcastle upon Tyne: Teeside University, Newcastle University, 2012.
• Laing K, Clark J, Todd L. Evaluation report for Sub 21 Wallsend. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Mentor UK, 2012.
• Laing K, Todd L. Fair or Foul? Towards practice and policy in fairness in education. Newcastle upon Tyne: Centre for Learning and Teaching, Newcastle University, 2012.
• Tiplady L, Laing K. Just For a Laugh? Evaluation Report. London: Mentor UK, 2012.
• Clark J, Laing K, Tiplady L, Woolner P. Pushing the Boundaries: Theory and Practice of Using Visual Methods to Aid Children’s Participation in Educational Research. In: The European Conference on Educational Research. 2012, Cadiz, Spain.
• Clark J, Laing K. The involvement of children and young people in research within the criminal justice area. Newcastle University: Newcastle upon Tyne, 2012. AHRC Connected Communities programme: Scoping Reviews.
• Cummings C, Dyson A, Jones L, Laing K, Todd L. Evaluation of extended services Thematic review 2: local authorities and extended services. London, UK: Department of Education, 2011.
• Carpenter H, Cummings C, Dyson A, Jones L, Kassam N, Laing K, Muijs D, Papps I, Peters M, Todd L. Extended services in practice - A summary of evaluation evidence for head teachers. London: Department for Eduction, 2011. DFE-RR155.
• Clark J, Laing K. The involvement of young people in research within the criminal justice area – what do we know and what do we need to find out?. In: British Society of Criminology Conference. 2011, University of Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
• Walker J, Wilson G, Laing K, Pennington M. Care Matters: Budget Holding Lead Professionals (BHLPs) with Looked After Children in England. London: Department for Children Schools and Families, 2010. DCSF Research Briefs DCSF-RB225.
• Carpenter H, Cummings C, Hall I, Laing K, Norden O, Peters M, Todd L. Extended Schools Subsidy Pathfinder Evaluation. Final Report. London: DCSF, 2010. DCSF Research Report RR132.
• Carpenter H, Cummings C, Dyson A, Jones L, Laing K, Oseman D, Papps I, Peters M, Todd L. Extended Services Evaluation: End of Year One Report. London: Department of Education, 2010. DFE-RB016.
• Walker J, Thompson C, Wilson G, Laing K, Coombes M, Raybould S. Family Group Conferencing in Youth Inclusion and Support Panels: empowering families and preventing crime and antisocial behaviour?. London: Youth Justice Board (YJB), 2010. Youth Justice Board (YJB) Research Reports D123.
• Walker J, Thompson C, Wilson G, Laing K. Family Group Conferencing in Youth Inclusion and Support Panels: Empowering Families and Preventing Crime and Antisocial Behaviour?. London: Youth Justice Board, 2010.
• Todd L, Laing K, Cummings C, Dyson A. Issues in The Extent to Which Schools, Through Extended Services, Can Impact Upon Disadvantaged Children, Families and Communities. In: European Conference on Educational Research 2010 (ECER 2010). 2010, Helsinki, Finland: European Educational Research Association.
• Cummings C, Dyson A, Jones L, Laing K, Todd L. Local Authorities and extended services: Thematic review 2. London: Department for Education, 2010.
• Cummings C, Dyson A, Jones L, Laing K, Scott K, Todd L. Reaching Disadvantaged Groups and Individuals: Thematic Review 1. London: Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2010.
• Cummings C, Dyson A, Jones L, Laing K, Scott K, Todd L. Thematic Review: Reaching Disadvantaged Groups and Individuals. London, UK: Department for Education, 2010. DCSF Research report RR196 (DCSF).
• Laing K, Wilson GB. Understanding Child Contact Cases in Scottish Courts. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive, 2010. DPPAS 11002.
• Wilson GB, Laing K. Understanding Child Contact Cases in Scottish Sheriff Courts. Edinburgh: Scottish Government, 2010. Research Findings 27/2010.
• Walker J, Donaldson C, Laing K, Pennington M, Wilson G, Proctor S, Bradley D, Dickinson H, Gray J, Thompson C, Coombes M. Budget holding lead professional pilots in multi-agency children’s services in England: national evaluation. London: Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2009. Research Report RR143.
• Melville A, Laing K. Closing the Gate: Family lawyers as gatekeepers to a holistic service. International Journal of Law in Context 2009, 6(2), 167-189.
• Walker J, Donaldson C, Laing K, Pennington M, Wilson G, Procter S, Bradley D, Dickinson H, Gray J. Evaluating Budget-Holding in Lead Professionals within Multi-Agency Children’s Services in England. London, UK: Department of Children, Schools and Families, 2009. DCSF Research Reports RR143.
• Walker J, Wilson G, Laing K. Being There for Children at Risk of Offending: An Evaluation of the Youth Inclusion and Support Panels in Cambridgeshire. Cambridge: Cambridgeshire Children’s Fund, 2008.
• Melville A, Laing K. Personal Action Plans: evaluating self-management initiatives in family law. International Journal of Law in Context 2008, 4(2), 149-167.
• Melville A, Laing KJC. 'I just drifted into it': Family law and human capital theory. International Journal of the Legal Profession 2007, 14(3), 281-300.
• Walker J, Thompson C, Laing K, Raybould S, Coombes M, Procter S, Wren C. Youth Inclusion and Support Panels: Preventing Crime and Antisocial Behaviour. London: Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2007. DCSF-RW018.
• Laing K. 'Doing the right thing' Cohabiting parents, separation and child contact. International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family 2006, 20(2), 169-80.
• Walker J, Laing KJC, Coombes MG, Raybould SR. Evaluating the Family Advice and Information Service. London: Legal Services Commission, 2006. Family Advice and Infromation Service Final Evaluation Report.
• McCarthy P, Laing K, Walker J. Offenders of the future: Assessing the risk of children and young people becoming involved in criminal or antisocial behaviour. London: Department for Education and Skills, 2004.
• Walker J, McCarthy P, Stark C, Laing K. Picking Up The Pieces: Marriage and Divorce Two Years After Information Provision. London: Department for Constitutional Affairs, 2004.