Supporting educational equality in Portsmouth
How ERIC is helping to improve educational outcomes and life chances for local children
The Education Research, Innovation and Consultancy (ERIC) unit is an initiative developed by the University to help tackle the effects of long-term educational inequality.
The work of the ERIC unit supports the University’s Civic Partnership Agreement and aligns with the Portsmouth City Vision 2040 goal of creating a city of lifelong learning.
What the Education Research, Innovation and Consultancy unit does
While a key purpose of ERIC is to support schools in the University of Portsmouth Academy Trust (UPAT), it has a wider remit to work with all schools across Portsmouth and the surrounding areas.
ERIC works with schools to:
- embed research and innovation into their classroom practices and wider improvement journeys
- enable access the University’s academics to help raise pupils’ aspirations and enhance their educational experience
By combining the expertise of the University’s education specialists with the knowledge and experience of school leaders and classroom practitioners, ERIC aims to help schools identify and address challenges, solve problems, and improve teaching and learning.
Other objectives
Alongside its direct work with schools, ERIC is leading a programme of longitudinal research on the delivery of the University’s strategic objective to address the effects of educational disadvantage in our region. This includes monitoring the implementation and impact of its involvement in UPAT.
ERIC also provides research services and consultancy to external clients and partners on a range of education projects, evaluations and collaborations, locally and nationally.
The unit also contributes to the University’s efforts to translate and mobilise knowledge by helping to develop new initiatives that ultimately benefit schools.
Meet the team
ERIC coordinates and draws on the expertise of staff within the School of Education, Languages and Linguistics, where it's based.
The core ERIC team is:
- Rob Webster – Director
- Sophie Hall – Research Fellow