Professor of Vocational Education
I am a Professor of Vocational Education and Director of the Centre for Excellence in Teacher Training (SUNCETT) at the University of Sunderland. My research interests include, studies in the fields of practice-focused research; vocational education; assessment; reflective practice; professional learning; initial and continuing teacher education; and approaches to educational evaluation and improvement.
Most recently, my research explores the nature of educational practice and the relationship of practice to theory in vocational education, including processes and stages in the development of different forms of knowledge, skills, and the advancement of craft.
I have extensive experience working with national UK government agencies and policy professionals in the design and development of national professional standards for teachers. I have also conducted research in joint curriculum planning and multimodal assessment in T Levels and other vocational subject specialist curricula including the development of creative pedagogic strategies across vocational subjects and disciplines.
As guest editor and author, my recent publications include two Special Issues in Post Compulsory Education for the Journal of Education Science (2020) and (forthcoming 2025). I have also co-authored and edited several books including, Reflective Teaching in Further Adult and Vocational Education (2015, 2020, Bloomsbury), Practice-Focused Research in Further Adult and Vocational Education: Shifting Horizons of Practice, Theory and Research (2020 Palgrave Macmillan).
My work is of particular relevance to policy professionals and those working in all sectors of education with responsibility for an interest in developing approaches to the improvement of educational practice that involve practitioner research.
Teaching and supervision
I was Principal Investigator for the customised National Practitioner Research Programme (PRP) from 2018-2024 funded by the Education and Training Foundation which included customized MA Short Course MPhil pathways. The MPhil which in addition to 20 sector practitioners on the customised. As Director of Studies, I currently supervise 14 PhD students.
Completed supervisions since 2014:- Dr John McVey (2014)
Co-Supervisor: Dr Lawrence Nixon Faculty of Education and Society
- Dr Ian Whyte (2015)
Co-Supervisor: Dr Lawrence Nixon Faculty of Education and Society
- Dr Sam Broadhead (2016)
Co-Supervisor: Professor Mike Collier Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries
- Dr Michael Smith (2020)
- Dr Brian Todd (2020)
Co-Supervisor: Dr Lawrence Nixon Faculty of Education and Society
- Enda McBrien (2021)
- Martell Baines (2022)
Their Defining Moments: critical influences upon progression into the Arts, considered through the lenses of Bernstein’s Pedagogic Rights - Daniel Creed (2022)
- Frances Norton (2023)
- Celia Geen (2023)
- Vasso Kontou (2023)
- Christine Osborne (2024)
Mind the Gap: Formative Assessment in GSCE English
Current PhD supervisions Director of Studies:
- Mark Beetlestone
Game On, or Game Over? An exploration of gamification in vocational education - Simon Bond
Audio-visual feedback in FE: solving problems or creating new ones? - Andrew Buglass
Engaging the Artist as the Educator: Can Representing Experiences of Educational Practice through Art Improve Pedagogical Reflection?
- Oliver Cameron-Swan
Observe, Imitate, Modify, Transcend: capturing stages and processes in the development of art and craft practices in vocational education contexts. - Will Cossey
Kaleidoscopes: Forms of Knowledge and Pedagogy in Film and Media Education - Jamine Course
Hobson’s choice: When home education is not an option but a systemic instrument of exclusion masquerading as a choice. - Martin Hoskin
Leading Educational Change and Improvement from the Ground Up: What Impact Does the Systematic Empowerment of Teacher Agency Have on Professional Development and Improvement of Educational Practice? - Linda Hunter
Caught in the Grip of a Clockwork Universe: jazz-hands, razzamatazz and the lure of techné in formative assessment in GCSE resit English. - Mark Hyde
Swimmin’ Against a Tide of Social and Cultural Prejudice in Education: Reuniting the vocational and the academic in the study of language - Tom Mudd
Character Building Builds Character: Dungeons and Dragons in the Quest for GCSE English Success in the Realms of Further Education
- Breda Shanahan
Apprenticeship: Restoring Imagination and the Senses to Vocational Education - Dawn Smith
Bridging the Gap: an investigation into English teaching in FE - Carrie Walton
But you’re a teacher too: a critical exploration of the notion of the dual professional and its consequences in practice.
Research interests for potential research students
- Teacher education
- Practitioner-research
- Practice-focused research
- Professional learning
- Vocational education
- Reflective practice
- Practice-focused research
- Educational evaluation and improvement
- Policy development and its impact upon practice
Research
Publications
Article
Gregson, Margaret and Gregson, Daniel (2024) DEEPER THAN REASON: WHY PRACTICAL AND PRODUCTIVE FORMS OF KNOWLEDGE NEED TO BE RESTORED TO VOCATIONAL EDUCATION. International Journal of Higher Education Pedagogies (IJHEP), 5 (1). ISSN 2669-2333
Gregson, Margaret and Gregson, Daniel (2023) On the Same Side: reimagining educational evaluation and improvement for a more equitable world. Comparative International Education Society Conference 2023.
Gregson, Daniel and Gregson, Margaret (2023) Arts Based Educational Research (ABER): adventures in pedagogic practice and teacher education for a more equitable world. Comparative International Education Society Conference 2023.
Baines, Martell and Gregson, Margaret (2020) Reflections of a Practitioner–Researcher in the Field of Widening Participation in Arts Education. Education Sciences, 10 (5). e133. ISSN 2227-7102
Gregson, Margaret (2020) In Practice: The Importance of Practitioner Research in Vocational Education. Education Sciences, 10 (3). e79. ISSN 2227-7102
Norton, Francis and Gregson, Margaret (2020) The Thinking Skills Deficit: What Role Does a Poetry Group Have in Developing Critical Thinking Skills for Adult Lifelong Learners in a Further Education Art College? Education Sciences, 10 (3). pp. 1-14. ISSN 2227-7102
Gregson, Daniel, Gregson, Margaret and Spedding, Patricia (2019) Top-down and Inside Out: breaking boundaries between research, theory and practice. Journal of Management Policy and Practice, 20 (3). pp. 36-52. ISSN 1913-8067
Hillier, Yvonne and Gregson, Margaret (2015) Working Together: Research and Scholarly Activity in Further, Adult and Vocational Education. International Journal of Training Research, 13 (2). pp. 106-108. ISSN 1448-0220
Gregson, Margaret and Nixon, Lawrence (2011) Unlocking the Potential of Skills for Life (SfL) Tutors and Learners: a critical evaluation of the implementation of SfL policy in England. Unlocking the Potential of Skills for Life (SfL) Tutors and Learners: a critical evaluation of the implementation of SfL policy in England. ISSN 2040-0993
Nixon, Lawrence and Gregson, Margaret (2011) The role of Phronesis and Techne in pedagogical action and dialogue. Educational Theory. ISSN 0013-2004
Gregson, Margaret and Nixon, Lawrence (2009) Assessing Effectiveness: ways of seeing impact. International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences. Assessing Effectiveness: ways of seeing impact. International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, 21 (3).
Steer, Richard, Spours, Ken, Hodgson, Ann, Finlay, Ian, Coffield, Frank, Edward, Sheila and Gregson, Margaret (2008) ‘Modernisation’ and the role of policy levers in the learning and skills sector. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 59 (2). pp. 175-192. ISSN 1363-6820
Finlay, Ian, Spours, Ken, Steer, Richard, Coffield, Frank, Gregson, Margaret and Hodgson, Ann (2008) ‘The heart of what we do’: policies on teaching, learning and assessment in the learning and skills sector. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 59 (2). pp. 137-153. ISSN 1363-6820
Coffield, Frank, Edward, Sheila, Finlay, Ian, Hodgson, Ann, Spours, Ken, Steer, Richard and Gregson, Margaret (2007) How policy impacts on practice and how practice does not impact on policy. British Educational Research Journal, 33 (5). pp. 723-741. ISSN 0141-1926
Edward, Sheila, Coffield, Frank, Steer, Richard and Gregson, Margaret (2007) Endless change in the learning and skills sector: the impact on teaching staff. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 59 (2). pp. 155-173. ISSN 1363-6820
Nixon, Lawrence, Gregson, Margaret and Spedding, Patricia (2007) Pedagogy and the intuitive appeal of learning styles in post-compulsory education in England. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, Vol 59 (1). pp. 39-51. ISSN 1363-6820
Spours, Ken, Coffield, Frank and Gregson, Margaret (2007) Mediation, translation and local ecologies: understanding the impact of policy levers on FE colleges. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 59 (2). pp. 193-211. ISSN 1363-6820
Gregson, Margaret, Elliott, Julian G, Higgins, Steve and Moseley, David (2005) Thinking Skills frameworks for use in education and training. British Educational Research Journal, 31 (3). pp. 367-390. ISSN 01411926
Book Section
Gregson, Margaret (2024) If it was Going to Work, it Would Have Worked by Now. In: Vocational Education and Training Transformations for Digital, Sustainable and Socially Fair Future. Proceedings of the 5th Crossing Boundaries Conference in Vocational Education and Training, Kaunas, 25. –26. May. VETNET, pp. 179-185. ISBN 9798390503386
Gregson, Margaret, Duncan, Sam, Brosnan, Kevin, Derrick, Jay, Husband, Gary, Nixon, Lawrence, Spedding, Patricia, Stubley, Rachel and Webber Jones, Robin (2020) Quality. How do we evaluate the quality of teaching and learning? In: Reflective Teaching in Further, Adult and Vocational Education. 5th ed. Reflective Teaching. Bloomsbury, London. ISBN 9781350102019
Gregson, Margaret, Spedding, Patricia and Kessell-Holland, Paul (2020) Bringing Practitioners Back In. In: Practice-Focused Research in Further Adult and Vocational Education Shifting Horizons of Educational Practice, Theory and Research. Palgrave. ISBN 9783030389932
Gregson, Margaret and Kessell-Holland, P. (2020) Practice! Practice! Practice! In: Practice-Focused Research in Further Adult and Vocational Education Shifting Horizons of Educational Practice, Theory and Research. Palgrave. ISBN 9783030389932
Gregson, Margaret and Kessell-Holland, Paul (2020) What Do We Mean by Good Work? issues of practice and standards of quality in vocational education. In: Practice-Focused Research in Further Adult and Vocational Education Shifting Horizons of Educational Practice, Theory and Research. Palgrave. ISBN 9783030389932
Gregson, Margaret and Todd, Brian (2019) Realizing Standards of Practice in VET. In: Handbook of Vocational Education and Training for the Changing World of Work. Springer, Switzerland, pp. 1471-1493. ISBN 9783319945316
Gregson, Margaret and Spedding, Patricia (2018) Learning Together: Evaluating and improving Further Adult and Vocational Education through practice-focused research. In: Proceedings of the European Conference on Educational Research (ECER), Vocational Education and Training Network (VETNET). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 1 . Vocational Education and Training Network VETNET, Bern, pp. 165-172. ISBN 9781723598005
Gregson, Margaret and Nixon, Lawrence (2015) 12.2 Unlocking the potential for improvement in Skills for Life teaching and learning at the local level. In: Readings for reflective teaching in further, adult and vocational education. Reflective Teaching . Bloomsbury, London, pp. 200-205. ISBN 9781472586506
Gregson, Margaret and Nixon, Lawrence (2015) 14.1 Ways of seeing impact. In: Readings for reflective teaching in further, adult and vocational education. Reflective Teaching . Bloomsbury, London, pp. 232-236. ISBN 9781472586506
Gregson, Margaret, Spedding, Patricia and Nixon, Lawrence (2015) 16.1 Helping good ideas to become good practice: Enhancing your professional practice through Joint Practice Development (JPD). In: Readings for reflective teaching in further, adult and vocational education. Reflective Teaching . Bloomsbury, London, pp. 268-273. ISBN 9781472586506
Spedding, Patricia, Gregson, Margaret and Nixon, Lawrence (2015) 15.3 Tackling Prejudice Together: What are trainee teachers' experiences of prejudice in educational contexts? In: Readings for reflective teaching in further, adult and vocational education. Reflective Teaching . Bloomsbury, London, pp. 255-259. ISBN 9781472586506
Nixon, Lawrence, Gregson, Margaret and Spedding, Patricia (2015) 2.5 Challenging the intuitive appeal of learning styles. In: Readings for Reflective Teaching In Further Adult and Vocational Education. Reflective Teaching . Bloomsbury, London. ISBN 9781472586506
Gregson, Margaret and Spedding, Trish (2005) Philosophy Goes To College: An evaluation of a thinking skills intervention in post compulsary educaton and training in the North East of England. In: Vocational Learning: Transitions, Interrelationships, Partnerships and Sustainable Futures. Australian Academic Press, pp. 248-257. ISBN 187537860X
Reports, briefing/ working papers
Nixon, Lawrence, Gregson, Margaret, Spedding, Patricia and Mearns, Andrew (2008) Practitioners’ experiences of implementing national education policy at the local level. An examination of 16–19 policy. Technical Report. Institute of Education, University of London, London.
Gregson, Margaret, Spedding, Patricia, Moseley, David and Baumfield, Vivienne (2008) Evaluation of the Northumberland Raising Aspirations In Society (NRAIS) Project. Project Report. University of Sunderland Press, Sunderland.
Nixon, Lawrence, Gregson, Margaret, Spedding, Patricia and Mearns, Andrew (2008) Practitioners’ experiences of implementing national education policy at the local level. An examination of 16–19 policy research information. Project Report. Department for Children, Schools and Families.
Davies, Jane, Elliott, Julian G, Gregson, Margaret, Harker, Elizabeth and Oglethorpe, Brian (2003) An Evaluation of the Partners for Study Support Grant Scheme. Other. University of Sunderland, with the permission of DfES on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
Conference or Workshop Item
Gregson, Margaret and Gregson, Daniel (2023) On the Same Side: reimagining educational evaluation and improvement for a more equitable world. In: UNSPECIFIED.
Gregson, Daniel and Gregson, Margaret (2023) Arts Based Educational Research (ABER): adventures in pedagogic practice and teacher education for a more equitable world. In: UNSPECIFIED.
Gregson, Daniel, Gregson, Margaret and Spedding, Patricia (2019) Top-down and Inside-Out: breaking boundaries between, research, theory and practice. In: Comparative International Education Society Annual Research Conference (CIES 2019), April 14-18, 2016, San Francisco.
Gregson, Margaret and Spedding, Patricia (2018) Improving educational practice through educational research in Post Compulsory Education and Training in England. In: 3rd International Conference of the he Association for Research in Post-Compulsory Education (ARPCE), 13-15 July 2018, Oxford.
Gregson, Margaret, Nixon, Lawrence and Kearney, Sheila (2013) Joint Practice Development: new research policy and practice partnerships in action in the FE and Skills Sector. In: British Education Research Association Conference, 3 - 5 Sep 2013, Falmer, University of Sussex.
Gregson, Margaret and Nixon, Lawrence (2013) Knowing Different: the impact of professional development on educational practice. In: American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, 27 Apr - 01 May 2013, San Francisco.
Book
Gregson, Margaret and Spedding, Patricia (2020) Practice-Focused Research in Further Adult and Vocational Education. Palgrave. ISBN 9783030389932
Gregson, Margaret, Duncan, Sam, Brosnan, Kevin, Derrick, Jay, Husband, Gary, Nixon, Lawrence, Spedding, Patricia, Stubley, Rachel and Webber Jones, Robin (2020) Reflective Teaching in Further, Adult and Vocational Education (5th Edition). Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781350102002
Gregson, Margaret and Broadhead, Samantha (2018) Practical Wisdom and Democratic Education Phronesis, Art and Non-traditional Students. Palgrave Macmillan, London. ISBN 9783319733111
Gregson, Margaret, Nixon, Lawrence, Pollard, Andrew and Spedding, Patricia (2015) Readings for Reflective Teaching in Further, Adult and Vocational Education. Reflective Teaching . Bloomsbury, London. ISBN 9781472586506
Gregson, Margaret, Hillier, Yvonne, Biesta, Gert, Duncan, Sam, Nixon, Lawrence, Spedding, Patricia and Wakeling, Paul (2015) Reflective Teaching in Further Adult and Vocational Education (4th Edition). Reflective Teaching . Bloomsbury, London. ISBN 9781780937922
- Practice-focused research
- Reflective practice
- Teacher education
- Vocational education
- Educational evaluation and improvement pedagogy
I am currently a member of three national Expert Panels for the Education and Training Foundation (ETF). I am Chair of the T-Level Professional Development Construction Expert Panel, a member of the T-Level Professional Development External Advisory Group, and a member of the T-Level Professional Development Teaching Expert Panel.
In 2013, I was invited to contribute to the work of the Commission for Adult and Vocational Teaching and Learning (CAVTL).
I am a peer reviewer for several publishers including Open University Press, Palgrave Macmillan, and Bloomsbury. I am also peer-review for several prestigious journals including, the Journal of Vocational Education and Training, the Journal of Education, Technology and Society, the Journal of Education Science, and the International Journal of Engineering Education and Lifelong Learning. I also serve on the Editorial Board of Intuition, the professional journal of the Society for Education and Training.
I have conducted research in collaboration with several other universities including, the Learning and Skills Research Network project 'Thinking Skill Frameworks for Post-16 learners: an evaluation' (led by David Moseley, Newcastle University 2004) and the ESRC project 'The Impact of Policy upon Practice' (led by Professor Frank Coffield, UCL, 2008-2011).
In 2006, with my colleague Trish Spedding, I co-designed the original SUNCETT project. This project is currently one of the longest-standing practitioner-research programmes on the FE landscape in England. I am now leading the latest ETF-funded Practitioner Research Project, which supports practitioner research at MA/MPhil level on a national scale. This project runs for five years from 2018-2023.
