Amy Edwards
Research Assistant, DECIPHer
- edwardsa26@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2087 6122
- sbarc|spark, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ
Overview
I am a Research Assistant based in DECIPHer at Cardiff University. My research experience is primarily based in education systems; as a former teacher I have a wealth of teaching experience in the further and higher education sector. My particular research interests are in the development of education policy into practice, and in the roles of health priorities within all education settings. I primarily work on projects based in schools, including the School Health Research Network at secondary and primary level, collecting, analysing and synthesizing qualitative data for stakeholder reports and publications.
Biography
My background is in teaching, I taught in further education for 5 years with students aged 16+ across a range of topics including communication, numeracy, wider key skills and the Welsh Baccaluareate. My initial teacher training was centred in community education. I am a literary specialist, working with adults to build basic skills in their personal literacy development.
I joined Cardiff University in 2015 to work on the Masters in Educational Practice in it's final cohort, bringing together Newly Qualified Teachers across Wales to study at post-graduate level.
I moved to the DECIPHer research centre in 2017 to work on the WISE project, an intervention into teacher mental health, and have since worked on the School Health Research Network (SHRN), and the new Primary network, as well as the Whole School Approach to Mental Health evaluability assessment.
Publications
2022
- Hewitt, G. et al. 2022. Review of statutory school and community-based counselling services: Optimisation of services for children and young people aged 11 to 18 years and extension to younger primary school aged children. Project Report. [Online]. Welsh Government. Available at: https://gov.wales/review-school-and-community-based-counselling-services
2021
- Reed, H. et al. 2021. Co-production as an emerging methodology for developing school-based health interventions with students aged 11-16: Systematic review of intervention types, theories and processes and thematic synthesis of stakeholders’ experiences. Prevention Science 22, pp. 475-491. (10.1007/s11121-020-01182-8)
Teaching
My teaching has centred around education programmes including Initial Teacher Education (PGCE) and undergraduate education programmes. I have also taught on undergraduate Sociology programmes, introducing students to the fundamentals of methodology and research, as well as supervising undergraduate dissertations. I also teach on courses provided by DECIPHer, including the Process Evaluation short course which gives attendees an insight into the development of research integrity.
My research interests are centred in Education and Health; I have taught and researched in a range of settings including primary and secondary schools, further education colleges, community education and higher education. I am interested in the ways in which complex education systems adapt to health policies and initiatives, including curriculum development, supporting learners and supporting teachers' mental and physical health.