Director of Postgraduate Taught Studies 

I am delighted to present this latest edition of the PGT Social Science Student Journal. The exceptionally high standard of submissions reflects the intellectual curiosity, critical engagement, and scholarly ambition of our postgraduate taught students.

The articles featured in this volume showcase the breadth and diversity of research being undertaken across the school. Drawing on work produced within taught modules including EDU7254, EDU7219, EDU7205, EDU7185, EDU7250, SOC9024, and others, the collection spans Education, Sociology, Social Work, and related disciplines. Together, these contributions demonstrate the rich interdisciplinary character of postgraduate study within SSESW and the high quality of academic work being produced by our students.

Several articles engage with pressing questions of rights, justice, and social inequality. Research examining children’s rights in relation to gun violence and the provision of urban play spaces highlights the ways in which policy and social environments shape children’s wellbeing and opportunities. Other contributions explore the relationship between structure and agency, revisiting classic sociological debates and offering fresh theoretical perspectives. 

Issues of power, representation, and knowledge production are also prominent throughout the volume. Studies addressing epistemic injustice and the historical marginalisation of women’s voices encourage critical reflection on whose experiences are recognised and valued within contemporary society and education. Collectively, the articles challenge us all to consider how institutions, cultures, and social structures influence human experience while also revealing the potential for agency, change, and transformation.

This journal celebrates not only the achievements of its authors but also the vibrant scholarly community within SSESW and the excellent teaching our students receive from academic colleagues. We hope these articles will inform, inspire, and contribute to ongoing academic conversations across disciplines.

Dr Ian Collen 

Director of Postgraduate Taught Studies