Senior Lecturer writes chapter in book featuring education experiences of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities
A University of Chester Senior Lecturer has contributed to a new book which explores the education experiences of Traveller, Gypsy and Roma students in the UK.
The book, Gypsies, Roma, and Travellers in Higher Education: Contemporary Critical Perspectives, draws on new research, practice and lived experience of community members.
Paula Hamilton, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for the MA Education, Children and Social Justice programme at the University’s School of Education, has written a chapter for the book, titled Surviving the system? Experiences in primary and secondary education.
Drawing on research, policy and practice, the chapter examines persistent inequalities in attainment, attendance and exclusion, alongside the impact of racism, cultural misunderstanding and systemic barriers within mainstream education. Using a bioecological and intersectional lens, the chapter highlights the complex factors that shape educational engagement and outcomes, while also identifying examples of good practice and strategies that can help primary and secondary schools create more inclusive and equitable learning environments for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils.
The book, featuring the research and viewpoints of a wide range of academics, non-government organisations and students, including those from Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, and Showmen communities, is a call for discussion and critical reflection on how students from said communities access university, and have a successful and positive experience whilst studying.
Paula said: “What makes this book so important is that it brings together academic expertise, lived experience and community voices to explore the realities of higher education for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller students.
“By recognising the impact of longstanding prejudice and inequality across earlier educational journeys, it offers valuable insights into creating more inclusive opportunities in higher education that support positive experiences and environments where all students can participate, feel valued and thrive.”
Gypsies, Roma, and Travellers in Higher Education: Contemporary Critical Perspectives, which is available to buy from publishers Routledge, will be of interest to researchers and academics in higher education and for those who are interested in social justice, anti-racism and equality more generally. It has been edited by Julia Morgan, Associate Professor in Public Health and Wellbeing at the University of Greenwich; Hazel Marsh, Professor of Cultural Politics at the University of East Anglia; and Colin Clark, Professor of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of the West of Scotland.
For more information on studying MA Education, Children and Social Justice at the University of Chester, visit: https://www.chester.ac.uk/study/course-search/education-children-and-social-justice-ma/.