Role
Emeritus Professor of Special Education, Equity and Inclusion
Professor Richards’ role primarily involves teaching and research that centres on professional development for teachers. This includes the National Award for SEN Co-ordination and supporting teachers to publish research carried out in their own schools. Her own recent research projects include: i) a longitudinal study of the aspirations and achievements of girls living in an area of severe disadvantage; ii) the experiences of students studying on an international course; and iii) the impact of teachers’ research in their schools.
Professor Richards is also a consultant who supports schools to develop teachers’ action research practice and inclusive whole-school practice. This currently includes working with post-graduate teaching apprentices and two recent DfE funded projects: i) to develop SENCOs' strategic practice; and ii) a research project to reduce teachers’ marking workload. She also has extensive experience as an external examiner for MA courses, an external adviser for university course developments within the UK and internationally, and an external expert adviser for professorial appointments in the Universities of Macedonia, Thessaloniki and Athens.
Career overview
Professor Richards was a teacher for 21 years, working in mainstream and special education settings. During this time, she also worked as a part-time youth leader, a part-time lecturer at Lowdham Borstal and a part-time lecturer for the Open University. Prior to joining NTU, she was the Director of Education Subjects at the University of Wolverhampton.
Research areas
Professor Richards’ research recent research projects include: i) an eight-year longitudinal study of the aspirations and achievements of girls living in an area of severe disadvantage; ii) the experiences of mature students from three countries studying on an Erasmus Intensive Programme; and iii) the impact of teachers’ research on their own professional practice, pupil achievement and school developments. She was also the ‘Research Project Lead’ for a Teaching School Alliance carrying out a DfE funded research project on ‘Reducing Teachers’ Marking Workload’.
Her previous research projects have included Government projects on special and inclusive practice in schools; and a BELMAS funded project on the impact of the new national leadership course for head teachers.
External activity
Professor Richards is a consultant who supports schools to develop teachers’ action research practice and inclusive practice with ‘vulnerable’ pupils. She also has extensive experience as an external examiner for MA courses, an external adviser for university course developments within the UK and internationally, and an external expert adviser for professorial appointments in the Universities of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Athens.
Professor Richards is a member of the Editorial Advisory Committee for the National Association of Special Educational Needs (NASEN) academic journals and the Book Reviews Editor for ‘British Journal of Special Education’ and ‘Support for Learning’ journals. She is a reviewer of: ERSC research proposals; Nuffield research project proposals; Research Grants Council's General Research Fund/Early Career Scheme (Education University of Hong Kong); book proposals for Routledge Publishers; articles submitted to the ‘British Journal of Special Education’, the ‘British Educational Research Journal’, the ‘Social Science Journal’, ‘Ethnography and Education’ and ‘Educational Studies’ journals.
Sponsors and collaborators
- Nottinghamshire County Council (National Award for SEN Co-ordination and Closing the Gap/Together for Newark pilot)
- Inspiring Leaders (Development of National College leadership course materials)
- Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation (Funded study leave in Japan)
- Canadian High Commission (Funded study leave in Canada)
Publications
Selected publications:
- Richards, G. and Wheatley, C. (2022) (eds) 'Innovative school leadership. Transforming practices', Abingdon: Routledge
- Richards, G. (2022) ‘Are we expecting too much? Aspirations and Expectations of Girls Living in an Ex-Mining Community’. Invited book chapter for Simmons, R. and Simpson, K. (2022) ‘Education, Work and Social Change in Britain’s Former Coalfield Communities, London: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Richards, G. and Starbuck, J. (2020) (eds) ‘Effective interventions and strategies for pupils with SEND’, Abingdon: Routledge
- Richards, G. and Richardson, R. (2020) (eds) ‘Reducing teachers’ marking workload and developing pupils’ learning, Abingdon: Routledge
- Richards, G. (2018) Working Class Girls, Education and Post-Industrial Britain. Aspirations and Reality in an Ex-coalmining Community, Longon: Palgrave Macmillan
- Richards, G., Symeonidou, S. and Livaniou, E. (2018) 'Designing a successful international course: what can we learn from students' experiences?' in Tsiligris, V. and Lawton, W. Exporting Transnational Education. Institutional Practice, Policy and National Goals, Longon: Palgrave Macmillan
- Richards, G. (2016) 'Un modelo de capacitacion profesional para profesores' ('A model of professional development for teachers') in Fernandez-Soria, Juan Manuel y otros (Eds.), La formacion inicial del profesorado de Secundaria, Valencia: Tirant lo Blanch Humanidades, Coleccion Margenes, ISBN: 9788416556670
- Richards, G. and Armstrong, F. (eds) (2016) Teaching and Learning in diverse and Inclusive Classrooms. Key issues for new teachers, Abingdon: Routledge
- Richards, G. and Armstrong, F. (eds) (2016) Key issues for teaching assistants. Working in in diverse and Inclusive Classrooms. Key issues for new teachers, Abingdon: Routledge
- Richards, G. (2015) ‘What is known is limited’. The intersectional experiences of young people from special education and minority ethnic backgrounds’. Race Equality Teaching Vol 33 (2):10-16
- Aspiring Girls: Great expectations or impossible dreams? Richards G and Posnett C, Educational Studies Journal, 2012, 38 (3)
- Perspectives of special educational needs: whose views count? Richards G in Cornwall J and Graham-Matheson L (Eds), Leading on Inclusion: Dilemmas, Debates and New Perspectives, 2011, 22-32, London: Routledge
- Teaching and learning in diverse and inclusive classrooms. Richards G and Armstrong F, 2011, London: Routledge
- "I was confident about teaching but SEN scared me" Preparing new teachers for including pupils with special educational needs. Richards G, Support for Learning, 2010, 25 (3), 108-115
Conferences
- 'Girl talk'. Richards G, NTU School of Education annual conference - The Future: Education without Boundaries, 2012
- Closing the Gap: Increasing participation and achievement of disadvantaged pupils in schools. Richards G, International Conference on Education, Samos, 2012
- Closing the Gap conference, 'Pupil voice: bridging the gap' Richards G, Nottinghamshire Head Teacher and Senior Leader Annual Conference, 2012
For full list click 'Go to Gill Richards' publications' link above.
Press expertise
Professor Richards can offer comment on:
- girls' educational aspirations
- inclusive education
- special education
- special educational needs and disability
- teacher education and pupils with special needs / disability / behavioural difficulties.