Alison Kington – författare

Teachers Matter offers the most definitive portrait of teachers’ lives and work to date. At a time when teaching standards are high on the political and social agenda, the quality and commitment of teaching staff is seen as paramount and they are viewed as pivotal to the economic and social well being of society. But:What are the influences that help or hinder teachers’ commitment?Is there an association between commitment and pupil attainment?Why are teachers’ identities important?What are teachers’ needs and concerns in different professional life phases?Does school context count?Based on a DfES funded study of 300 teachers in 100 primary and secondary schools in England, the authors identify different patterns of influence and effect between groups of teachers, which provide powerful evidence of the complexities of teachers’ work, lives, identity and commitment, in relation to their sense of agency, well-being, resilience and pupil attitudes and attainment. This, in turn, provides a clear message for teachers, teachers’ associations, school leaders and policy makers, in understanding and supporting the need to build and sustain school and classroom effectiveness.

The book addresses issues such as the importance of career development, the relationships between school leadership, culture and teachers’ lives, maintaining a work-life balance, identity and well-being and the connection between commitment, resilience and effectiveness in the classroom.

Original and highly relevant, Teachers Matter is invaluable reading for teachers, head teachers, researchers and teacher educators.

Teachers Matter offers the most definitive portrait of teachers’ lives and work to date. At a time when teaching standards are high on the political and social agenda, the quality and commitment of teaching staff is seen as paramount and they are viewed as pivotal to the economic and social well being of society. But:What are the influences that help or hinder teachers’ commitment?Is there an association between commitment and pupil attainment?Why are teachers’ identities important?What are teachers’ needs and concerns in different professional life phases?Does school context count?Based on a DfES funded study of 300 teachers in 100 primary and secondary schools in England, the authors identify different patterns of influence and effect between groups of teachers, which provide powerful evidence of the complexities of teachers’ work, lives, identity and commitment, in relation to their sense of agency, well-being, resilience and pupil attitudes and attainment. This, in turn, provides a clear message for teachers, teachers’ associations, school leaders and policy makers, in understanding and supporting the need to build and sustain school and classroom effectiveness.

The book addresses issues such as the importance of career development, the relationships between school leadership, culture and teachers’ lives, maintaining a work-life balance, identity and well-being and the connection between commitment, resilience and effectiveness in the classroom.

Original and highly relevant, Teachers Matter is invaluable reading for teachers, head teachers, researchers and teacher educators.

Effective Classroom Practice is an original and highly relevant book with unique messages relating to teaching quality and teacher standards. Providing rigorous evidence and rich insights into teachers'' practices, the authors identify important features of effective classroom practice including, for example, interactions with students, the role of feedback, the learning climate, positive relationships, planning and meeting student needs. Moreover, they explore a number of important influences on classroom practice and teachers'' work in terms of career phase, teacher identity, self-efficacy and role of school support. This, in turn, provides powerful evidence of the contextual complexities of teachers'' classroom practice.

The book further highlights the role of core classroom competencies in terms of organization and management, pedagogical context knowledge, innovative pedagogical skills, and interpersonal qualities. It also shows that these can be enacted differently by teachers in different sectors, year groups, subject groups and socio-economic contexts. This research evidence - awarded an ''outstanding'' grade by the Economic and Social Research Council - confirms that the concept of an ''effective teacher'' is a complex one.

Innovative and unique, Effective Classroom Practice offers a detailed and holistic understanding of the influences that shape teacher effectiveness making it a significant text for teachers, school leaders, researchers, teacher educators, and policy makers.

This research methodology book advances the concept of 'Critical Realist Grounded Theory' (CRGT), building upon Glaser and Strauss' classic grounded theory whilst incorporating critical realism as its philosophical foundation. The approach reconceptualises original grounded theory methodology, enabling researchers to develop theories with causal explanations for observed phenomena.The comprehensive guide addresses crucial methodological questions including literature review timing and maintaining grounded theory integrity throughout the research process.It draws on Glaser's position that grounded theory should remain open to multiple forms of data and provides systematic yet flexible coding approaches that facilitate theory generation. Whilst not exclusively designed for mixed methods researchers, CRGT specifically accommodates qualitative and quantitative data integration, addressing a significant gap in many grounded theory methodologies.Through practical examples, the work guides readers through the stages of a complete research project, introduces updated terminology, and explains how original grounded theory terms have been adapted to incorporate critical realist philosophy. This essential resource targets mixed methods and qualitative researchers across social sciences, particularly in educational, sociological, psychological, and allied health fields.The Emergence of Critical Realist Grounded Theory serves experienced researchers alongside master's degree students completing dissertation research and postgraduate research degree students in MPhil, MRes, PhD, and professional doctorate programmes, providing both the theoretical foundations and practical guidance for this innovative methodological approach.

This research methodology book advances the concept of 'Critical Realist Grounded Theory' (CRGT), building upon Glaser and Strauss' classic grounded theory whilst incorporating critical realism as its philosophical foundation. The approach reconceptualises original grounded theory methodology, enabling researchers to develop theories with causal explanations for observed phenomena.The comprehensive guide addresses crucial methodological questions including literature review timing and maintaining grounded theory integrity throughout the research process.It draws on Glaser's position that grounded theory should remain open to multiple forms of data and provides systematic yet flexible coding approaches that facilitate theory generation. Whilst not exclusively designed for mixed methods researchers, CRGT specifically accommodates qualitative and quantitative data integration, addressing a significant gap in many grounded theory methodologies.Through practical examples, the work guides readers through the stages of a complete research project, introduces updated terminology, and explains how original grounded theory terms have been adapted to incorporate critical realist philosophy. This essential resource targets mixed methods and qualitative researchers across social sciences, particularly in educational, sociological, psychological, and allied health fields.The Emergence of Critical Realist Grounded Theory serves experienced researchers alongside master's degree students completing dissertation research and postgraduate research degree students in MPhil, MRes, PhD, and professional doctorate programmes, providing both the theoretical foundations and practical guidance for this innovative methodological approach.

One of the most important factors in pupils’ success in school are the relationships developed with teachers and other children. Not only are these relationships important in their own right, but they have considerable bearing on pupil motivation, achievement, and on their perceptions of themselves as learners. Social and Learning Relationships in Primary Schools is based upon, but not confined by, recent research projects focused on a range of relationships that exist within English primary schools. This text provides substantial evidence and rich insights into the development and ongoing influences on these social and learning relationships, relating to both the academic and affective outcomes of pupils. The book is presented in four parts: i) social interaction and the curriculum; ii) classroom relationships and the impact on learning; iii) professional identity and professional development; and iv) individual differences and inclusion. Through these sections, the authors identify important features of primary schooling including, for example, delivery of the core subjects, learning environment, role of student teachers in schools, classroom technology, and the transition between phases of education. They examine a number of social psychological influences on these relationships in terms of career phase, professional identity, adult-child and peer relationships, and self-efficacy and provide powerful evidence of the complexities of primary school life.Drawing together the perspectives of a number of authors, all of whom have served as practising teachers as well as gaining a wealth of experience in the higher education sector, Social and Learning Relationships in Primary Schools offers a detailed and holistic understanding of the influences that shape learning, policy and practice in this context.

One of the most important factors in pupils'' success in school are the relationships developed with teachers and other children. Not only are these relationships important in their own right, but they have considerable bearing on pupil motivation, achievement, and on their perceptions of themselves as learners. Social and Learning Relationships in Primary Schools is based upon, but not confined by, recent research projects focused on a range of relationships that exist within English primary schools. This text provides substantial evidence and rich insights into the development and ongoing influences on these social and learning relationships, relating to both the academic and affective outcomes of pupils. The book is presented in four parts: i) social interaction and the curriculum; ii) classroom relationships and the impact on learning; iii) professional identity and professional development; and iv) individual differences and inclusion. Through these sections, the authors identify important features of primary schooling including, for example, delivery of the core subjects, learning environment, role of student teachers in schools, classroom technology, and the transition between phases of education. They examine a number of social psychological influences on these relationships in terms of career phase, professional identity, adult-child and peer relationships, and self-efficacy and provide powerful evidence of the complexities of primary school life. Drawing together the perspectives of a number of authors, all of whom have served as practising teachers as well as gaining a wealth of experience in the higher education sector, Social and Learning Relationships in Primary Schools offers a detailed and holistic understanding of the influences that shape learning, policy and practice in this context.

One of the most important factors in pupils'' success in school are the relationships developed with teachers and other children. Not only are these relationships important in their own right, but they have considerable bearing on pupil motivation, achievement, and on their perceptions of themselves as learners. Social and Learning Relationships in Primary Schools is based upon, but not confined by, recent research projects focused on a range of relationships that exist within English primary schools. This text provides substantial evidence and rich insights into the development and ongoing influences on these social and learning relationships, relating to both the academic and affective outcomes of pupils. The book is presented in four parts: i) social interaction and the curriculum; ii) classroom relationships and the impact on learning; iii) professional identity and professional development; and iv) individual differences and inclusion. Through these sections, the authors identify important features of primary schooling including, for example, delivery of the core subjects, learning environment, role of student teachers in schools, classroom technology, and the transition between phases of education. They examine a number of social psychological influences on these relationships in terms of career phase, professional identity, adult-child and peer relationships, and self-efficacy and provide powerful evidence of the complexities of primary school life. Drawing together the perspectives of a number of authors, all of whom have served as practising teachers as well as gaining a wealth of experience in the higher education sector, Social and Learning Relationships in Primary Schools offers a detailed and holistic understanding of the influences that shape learning, policy and practice in this context.