- Centre for Social Justice Research
About me
I am a Senior Lecturer in Sociology, and I have been working at the university since 2009. I studied at the University of Cambridge (BA), Goldsmiths (MA), and The Open University (MSc, PhD). I hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (University of Westminster) as well as a Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults. I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I am Senior Tutor for BA Sociology and BA Sociology & Criminology.
Teaching
I am module leader for the modules 'Families, Intimacies and Personal Life' (level 6), 'Education Now' (level 5) and 'Researching Society' (level 4).
I have been awarded a University of Westminster Teaching Fellowship (2016) for an outstanding contribution to teaching and learning. As part of the Sociology team, I have received a Westminster Teaching Excellence Team Award (2017).
I am currently the External Assessor for The Open University module 'Children and Young People's Wellbeing'.
Research
My research interests are in the areas of the sociology of education and family studies, and in social policy. They fall into three strands:
Relationships and Sex Education: I received funding from the British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants scheme (£8,900 awarded June 2024-25) for a project on primary schools' parental engagement with Relationships and Sex Education.
Early Years Education: I received funding from the British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants scheme (£4,222 awarded March 2016 – September 2017) for a project on nursery schools and early years education policy in England.
My research has also examined young motherhood and parenting policies, in particular focusing on New Labour’s Teenage Pregnancy Strategy. My doctoral work on young mothers and education was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.
Publications
For details of all my research outputs, visit my WestminsterResearch profile.