Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS)- what is the impact of the model on the well-being of primary school children in NI?

Summary

Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) provides education for children with social, emotional, behavioural, medical or other issues, who cannot otherwise access suitable education.

It allows children who have been expelled or suspended from their school, or have otherwise disengaged with it, to participate in education through partnership between schools and EOTAS centres.

There are currently six EOTAS centres supporting primary school aged children in Northern Ireland.

The provision of EOTAS and alternative education has been under researched to date (Bryson 2010; Duffy et al 2024), and there have been no research studies conducted on the provision at primary school level.

Research project

This project aims to research and document the Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) model currently implemented to support primary school aged children in Northern Ireland.

In particular, the research will consider the impact of the model on children's holistic wellbeing, the fulfilment of their rights and the improvement in their educational outcomes.

The focus of the research will therefore be to consider the EOTAS model ecologically (Bronfenbrenner, 1979; Ungar 2019) with the impact at the level of child, family, teacher, school and wider community in the context of current government policy and strategy.

While the project will entail a scoping of EOTAS provision and modelling at Northern Ireland regional level, it will also have a particular focus on the North West though detailed in depth case studies of provision in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.

To apply for this opportunity, a detailed research proposal and articulate personal statement are required. Please note that we will only accept one application per applicant. Multiple applications will not be considered.

AccessNI clearance required

Please note, the successful candidate will be required to obtain AccessNI clearance prior to registration due to the nature of the project.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement
• Research proposal of 1500 words detailing aims, objectives, milestones and methodology of the project

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• Masters at 65%

Equal Opportunities

The University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community, particularly from those with disabilities.

Appointment will be made on merit.

Funding and eligibility

This project is funded by:

• Department for the Economy (DfE)

This scholarship will cover tuition fees and provide a maintenance allowance of £21,000* (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).  A Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of approximately £900 per annum is also available.

To be eligible for these scholarships, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a UK National, or

• Have settled status, or

• Have pre-settled status, or

• Have indefinite leave to remain or enter, or

• be an Irish National

Applicants should also meet the residency criteria which requires that they have lived in the EEA, Switzerland, the UK or Gibraltar for at least the three years preceding the start date of the research degree programme.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies.

*Part time PhD scholarships may be available, based on 0.5 of the full time rate, and will require a six year registration period