Christine Doddington
Position/Status
Senior Lecturer in Education
E-mail Address: cd236@cam.ac.uk
Phone: 01223 767639
Qualifications
BEd, MA (Ed), MA
Membership of Professional Bodies/Associations
Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain (PESGB)
International Network of Philosophers of Education (INPE)
Association for the Study of Primary Education (ASPE)
Profile
Christine Doddington has been focused on curriculum development and educational improvement through much of her academic and teaching career, holding posts which have involved the evaluating, planning and design of a variety of educational courses at both school and university level. She was formally Director of Primary Postgraduate Studies within the faculty and continues to have a commitment and focus on Primary Education with her role as an Associate Director of the The Primary Review which will run for two years, beginning in October 2006 and is the first significant and independent national review of primary education for many years.
Her interest in the education of pupils aged 3-13 is broad and is largely based within the discipline of philosophy of education. Her curriculum area of expertise is focused on drama and English. Christine has been involved in a range of projects which have involved working closely with other researchers, academics and teachers. She directed the primary wing of the Nuffield funded project 'Improving Learning: The Pupil's Agenda', working alongside Professor Jean Ruddock. She was Director of the Ofsted funded research project: 'Sustaining Pupils' Progress at Year 3', involving Eve Bearne, Helen Dimitriou and Julia Flutter, which ran over two years. She is reviews editor of the journal 'Education 3-13' and as a member of the editorial team, has also edited a number of editions of the journal.
Christine is Associate Director for The Primary Review, which is the most comprehensive review of Primary Education for 40 years, since the Plowden Report 1967 and is independently funded by the Esme Fairburn Foundation. Her book, co-authored with Mary Hilton and entitled 'Child-centred Education: reviving the Creative Tradition' will be published by Sage later this year.
Academic Area/Links
Philosophy of Education
Professional Studies in Education
English and Drama in Education
Arts in Education
Research Topics
Philosophical approaches to professional development for teachers.
Year 3 - Sustaining Progress in the transition between KS1 and KS2.
Aesthetic understandings involved in oral and visual literacy.
School as a democratic, language-based community.
Current Research Projects
Primary Review
An independent review of primary education in Britain funded by the Esme Fairburn Foundation. Director Professor Robin Alexander, other Associate Directors Ruth Kershner and Dr. Linda Hargreaves. Website: http://www.primaryreview.org.uk/ (contains full details of the Primary Review, its remit, personnel, procedures and publications, together with contact details and guidance on how to submit evidence and participate in the debate).
A philosophical examination of critical thinking as an aim of education.
Ethical considerations of the 'person' within the professional community of the school.
Course Involvement
Christine Doddington teaches on Undergraduate Philosophy of Education courses, PGCE (Primary and Early Years) and on the Essex MEd programme on School Improvement.
Publications
Doddington, C. (2004) 'Are we in time? Some comments arising from recent research into the initial training of primary teachers in the arts', Music Education Research, 6 (1)pp 97-100
Doddington, C. (Oct. 2001) 'Testing, testing, testing - Can you hear me ? Can year 3 pupils tell us anything we don't already know about assessment', Education 3-13, Vol. 29 No 3
Doddington, C., Flutter, J. Bearne, E. and Dimetriou, H. (Sept. 2001), 'Sustaining Progress in Year 3', Report of a project funded by Ofsted, Homerton Research Unit
Doddington, C. (May 2001) 'Entitled to speak: Talk in the classroom' in Studies in Philosophy and Education, Vol. 20 No 3,
Doddington, C. , Flutter, J. and Rudduck, J. (2000) 'Taking their word for it . Can listening and responding to pupils' views give new directions for school improvement?' Education 3-13, Vol. 28 No 3
Doddington, C. (1999) 'From Minnie the Minx to Little Lord Fontleroy: Understanding Character in Fiction' in Anderson, H. and Styles, M. (eds.) 'Teaching through Text', London: Routledge.
Doddington, C., Flutter, J. and Rudduck, J. (1999) 'Exploring and explaining 'dips' in motivation and performance in primary and secondary schooling' in Research in Education, No. 61
Doddington, C., Flutter, J. and Rudduck, J. (1998) 'Improving Learning: The pupil's Agenda - A Report for Primary Schools', Homerton Research Unit.
Doddington, C., Flutter, J. and Rudduck, J. (1998) 'Year 8 - a Suitable Case for School Improvement' in Improving Schools, 1,3, 39-42
Doddington, C. (1998) 'Significant Speech', in E. Bearne (ed.) 'Language across the Primary Curriculum', London: Routledge.
Doddington, C. (1997) Senses and Health, in Coltman, P., Peacock, G. and Richardson, R. (eds.) The Longmans Science Connection Scheme, London: Longmans, pp 32-46. (Plus pupil materials.)
Doddington, C. (1996) 'Grounds for differentiation: some values and principles in primary education considered', in E. Bearne (ed.) 'Differentiation and Diversity in the Primary School', London: Routledge, pp38-51.
Doddington, C. (1994) 'Primary Perceptions: the new professional', Cambridge Journal of Education, 24, 1, 75-87.
Bonnett, M. and Doddington, C. (1991) 'Philosophy of education and primary teaching', in B. Lofthouse (ed.) 'The Study of Primary Education: A Source Book (Volume 1)', Lewes: Falmer Press, pp. 173-180.
Bonnett, M. and Doddington, C. (1990) 'Primary teaching: what has philosophy to offer?', Cambridge Journal of Education, 20,2, 115-121.