Picture This visual literacy research initiative, which invites young people across the country to see, think, and create differently – using art not just as a subject, but as a powerful language for learning, expression, and connection.
Featured Project
Picture This: The Robson Orr Visual Literacy Research Initiative
Director's Welcome
Our research is centred around three themes which demonstrate our focus on learning across the life-course:
Within each theme, we have centres and research groups focusing on particular aspects of education.
The diverse community of researchers from all career stages – including early career researchers and senior academics as well as visiting scholars – contributes to the inclusive, collaborative and innovative research culture of the Department. Our research is world-leading in its interdisciplinary character and impactful in reaching out to relevant stakeholders such as policy makers and practitioners.
Some indicators of our proactive research culture are recent successes in securing funding for research and development around emerging challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic. Our Athena SWAN Bronze Award speaks to how seriously the Department takes the principles of diversity and inclusion, irrespective of any aspect of our staff’s, researchers’ and students’ identities.
Indeed, it is such representation in diversity that ensures the quality of our research by demanding robust mechanisms to critically check our ideas against different viewpoints, theoretical orientations and methodological approaches. Our research aims include not only contributions to new knowledge and impact on educational policy and practice, but also the use of educational research for activism towards social justice reform and progress.
Dr James Robson, Director of Research
Research Themes & Groups
Our cutting-edge research covers all aspects of learning across the lifespan – through early years, schooling, further and higher education, and into the workplace.
We pride ourselves on the excellence and collaboration that runs through all of our work and puts us at the forefront of the educational debate.
Research Centres
We have five specialist research centres in the Department.
Centre for Global Higher Education (CGHE)
We conduct research on global higher education, its inequalities and its futures. Supported by the UK’s ESRC, and hosted by the Oxford’s Department of Education, the centre is a partnership that brings together students and researchers from across the world.
Oxford University Centre for Educational Assessment (OUCEA)
We conduct research in a wide range of assessment issues, in different sectors and educational levels. We focus on the role of assessment in public policy and system-level change.
Rees Centre
We aim to improve the education, wellbeing and life outcomes of those who are, or have been supported by children’s social care services, with a focus on children in need, adoptive and special guardianship families and care experienced adults.
Centre on Skills, Knowledge and Organisational Performance (SKOPE)
Our central aim is to examine the links between the acquisition and use of skills and knowledge, production and product strategies and economic performance – be it of individuals, organisations or countries.
Impact Stories
Designing Better Schools
Students and teachers from Northfleet Technology College talk about how the redesign of their school building has improved their learning as a result of our research.
Roads to Inclusion
Pilot study video for a research project exploring the use of technology in science tasks to help reduce the language barriers for Syrian refugees.
Self-regulation
Ted Melhuish explains why a child's ability to self-regulate is one of the most important predictors of their later success in school and in life.
Research News
News
Major national initiative set to reshape the role of research professionals across the UK
October 10, 2025
News
New report highlights how early years practitioners can support children with stammering, speech, and language needs
October 10, 2025
News
Schools invited to take part in national visual literacy research
October 7, 2025
Explore Further
Impact
We generate impact within education policy and practice in the UK and beyond.
Research Podcasts
Listen to the latest podcasts about our research and teaching.
Oxford Review of Education
The Oxford Review of Education aims to publish important new work on educational topics of general interest in a form that is accessible to a broad educational readership.