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Personalised Learning Research Centre (PLRC)

About the team

The information that follows introduces the core team of the PLRC in alphabetical order. However the virtual team is much larger, as we collaborate with many colleagues and consultants from agencies, universities and companies.

Administrator: Ken Choi

Ken Choi
Administrator, Research
Telephone: 0207 492 5183
Email: kchoi@LSNeducation.org.uk

 

Ken is the Administrator at the Research Centre. Ken plays a key role in coordinating and carrying out a range of administrative tasks to support the projects and the team members of the Research Centre.

Project Officer: Sahqa Din

Sahqa Din
Project Officer, Research
Telephone: 0207 492 5181
Email: sdin@LSNeducation.org.uk

 

Sahqa is the Project Officer at the Learning Skills Network. Her role includes the central co-ordination of project managements systems, liaison with external customers, partners and consultants in relation to the projects in the research centre. Sahqa has over four years experience of providing project management support within the public sector and various other government bodies. Sahqa also helps manage and coordinate a VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) supporting the LSC Single Equality Scheme support programme and is currently working towards a Prince 2 practitioner qualification.

Researcher: Naomi Haywood

Naomi Haywood
Researcher
Telephone: 0207 492 5175
Email: nhaywood@LSNeducation.org.uk

 

Naomi’s main interests lie in the area of social inclusion in education, especially related to socio-economic disadvantage. Recently Naomi has completed a research and development project on improving pastoral support provision within further education across the UK. This included considering how to improve the support available within socio-economically deprived areas. The project led to the development of an online ‘toolkit’ aimed to support further education, work-based learning and sixth form providers in improving their pastoral support provision. Before joining LSN Naomi worked at the Science Museum where she contributed to increasing the social inclusion of exhibitions and educational resources for BME communities and children and young people with disabilities and special educational needs.

Development Adviser: Dr Chris Hewitson

Dr Chris Hewitson
Development Advisor, Research
Telephone: 0207 492 5162
Email: chewitson@LSNeducation.org.uk

 

Currently managing two projects based in schools developing 16 – 19 provision and progression to supported employment for young people who have learning difficulties with autistic spectrum conditions. Chris is also Project Leader (Action Working projects) for the South East and Yorkshire and the Humber regions in the LSC’s Single Equality Scheme Support Programme.

Chris's research interests are the curriculum for learners with learning difficulties and equality and diversity issues in the learning and skills sector.

Researcher: Bill Meyer

Bill Meyer
Researcher
Telephone: 0207 492 5171
Email: bmeyer@LSNeducation.org.uk

 

Bill Meyer is a Researcher in the Centre. His recent publications include joint authorship of reports on the teaching and learning of writing skills and the personalisation of learning and authorship of a book on professional development in the legal profession, including sections on educational schemes. He is currently working on projects concerning the theory and application of independent learning and the funding of Additional Learning Support.

Research Manager: Dr Gill O’Toole

Dr Gill O’Toole
Research Manager, Research
Telephone: 0207 492 5172
Email: gotoole@LSNeducation.org.uk

 

Gill O’Toole is a Research manager at the Learning and Skills Network. Gill has been involved with and led on significant aspects of research and development including programmes on implementing the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and Disability Equality Duty (DED) in the Learning and Skills Sector. Gill’s PhD was an ethnographic study of the experiences of mature students in the policy context of widening participation and lifelong learning focusing on issues relating to equity and access. Prior to working for the Learning and Skills Network Gill worked as a Researcher at Lancaster University. Gill’s research interests focus on issues around equity and access in education particularly relating to disability, gender and social class. Gill also has a keen interest in qualitative research methodologies.

Researcher: Sharon Walker

Sharon Walker
Researcher
Telephone: 0207 492 5187
Email: swalker@LSNeducation.org.uk

 

Sharon’s main interests lie in the areas of gender and race equality, particularly in relation to educational achievement, access and quality both in the UK and overseas. Sharon has worked on research projects within the context of gender, sexuality and the HIV pandemic as well as supporting research into ethnicity and access to support services. At present, as a Qualitative Researcher (Equality and Diversity) with the LSN Sharon is involved in projects focusing on issues across all equality strands. Originally with experience as a primary practitioner, curriculum manager (literacy) and English language teacher, Sharon has worked on curriculum and resource design in the 14 – 19 sector to promote race equality and the development of classroom resources on the theme of education and children’s rights for the primary age range. Sharon has also worked as a co-editor on a well established girls’ education journal produced by Oxfam and the Institute of Education.