Abstract

This seminar will support a group of eight children as they share their own small-scale research projects. These projects formed part of the reconnaissance period with the first primary school in my action research doctoral study. While the focus of my study seeks to enable children one year younger than those presenting to pursue social research for school improvement the opportunity to work with this older group proved an excellent introduction to the school and allowed the school to get to know me too. The experience was also felt to be beneficial to the children and their school and helped develop my practice. Conceptually the study arose from my experience as a primary teacher and head teacher and is located within the literature on pupil research, participation and school improvement. Methodologically it takes an action research approach despite my being an ‘outsider’ to the school prior to beginning my fieldwork.