MA (Hons), MSc, D.Phil

Research and Projects Interests

My current research is a historical study of Indian influences on progressive education in Britain in the early 20th century. This historical interest grew out of my doctoral research into ‘private school outreach’ in contemporary India – private schools that that run outreach programmes for children out-of-school. Earlier work has focused on peer education and the use of theatre in education. These projects relate to my broader interest in alternative education, and innovative and experimental practice in schools, and a common theme throughout my work has been the bringing together of marginal and mainstream communities in educational settings through such practices. Work on the National Evaluation of the Children’s Fund and on inter-school working in my doctoral research has fuelled an interest in collegiate and partnership working between state and non-state sectors. My background is in social anthropology and I have a particular interest in anthropological, sociological and historical approaches to the study of education.

Research Grants and Awards

British Academy Small Grant, 2007-2009
ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2003-2004
British Academy Overseas Conference Grant, 2004
BAICE Edmund King Scholarship, 2003
BERA Conference Bursary, 2002
Jubilee Scholarship, St. Hugh’s College, Oxford, 2002
Sir Halley Stewart Trust Social and Educational Grant, 2002
Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (UK) and Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Rajiv Gandhi Travelling Scholarship, 2001
Melanie Ackroyd Trust Travel Scholarship, 2000
ESRC Research Studentship, 1999-2002

Other Professional Activities

I am an International Advisory Committee Member of the online journal, Research in Comparative and International Education and am an article and book reviewer for Comparative Education, Compare and Journal of Moral Education. I have also convened and chaired sections of international conferences and research workshops.

Teaching Interests

I am lead tutor for the Practitioner Inquiry in Education module (campus-based full-time Masters students) and a tutor on the undergraduate Outcast Children: A History of Moral Panics module. I additionally contribute to the Research Methods module for research students and supervise dissertations.  

Publications (selection)

Day Ashley, L. (2008) Becoming inclusive? A study of private schools in India offering education to children out-of-school. Commonwealth Education Partnerships 2008/09: Education in the Commonwealth: Towards the MDGs. London: Commonwealth Secretariat. Cambridge: Nexus Strategic Partnerships.  

Day Ashley, L. (2006) Can private schools in India offer inclusive education? Id21 Education Highlights No. 2. [Online]. Sussex: Institute of Development Studies. Available from www.id21.org/publications/edn_for_all.pdf  [Accessed 18 December 2008].

Day-Ashley L. (2006) Inter-school working involving private school outreach initiatives and government schools in India, Compare (36) 4, 481-496.

Day Ashley L. and Caddell, M. (2006) (Guest Editors) Compare Special Issue: The private education sector: towards a reconceptualisation. (36) 4.

Day-Ashley L. (2005) From margins to mainstream: Private school outreach inclusion processes for out-of-school children in India, International Journal of Educational Development (25) 2, Special Issue, 133-144.

Day-Ashley L. (2002) 'Putting Yourself in Other People's Shoes': the use of Forum theatre to explore refugee and homeless issues in schools, Journal of Moral Education (31) 1, 21-34.

Publications 2001 - 2008 [pdf]