# Department of Education, University of Oxford

Based at Norham Gardens in Oxford, the Department of Education at the University of Oxford is part of the Social Sciences Division.

## History and influence

The department has contributed to educational thought and practices for over a century. An early history of the organisation was written in 1968 by Leila Tomlinson and was published in the British Journal of Educational Studies. The history describes how the University of Oxford first entered the field of teacher training in 1892, going on to establish a Diploma in Education course in 1896. In 1919 a statute was passed creating a University Department for the Training of Teachers under a directorship. It describes how in 1921 the Department took residence in Norham Gardens – where it still stands today.
Significant contributions include the development of the International Baccalaureate's educational philosophy under the leadership of Alec Peterson and research initiatives led by scholars including Harry Judge. Judge's reputation as an educational thinker was reflected in him being chosen as a member of the James Committee which reported on the reorganisation of teacher education in 1972. His formation of the Oxford Education Research Group in 1975 further solidified the department's role in advancing educational research and policy.

## Rankings and recognitions

The department consistently ranks among the top in global education studies. On 26th October 2023, it was ranked 3rd worldwide by the Times Higher Education and 1st in the UK in its World Rankings 2024 by subject. Its research quality is highly regarded, with 69% of submissions rated as "world-leading" in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF). Its Postgraduate Certificate in Education has earned an "Outstanding" rating in every Ofsted inspection since 2005. Ofsted's Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman, spoke at the Department's annual lecture in 2023 about how Ofsted uses research and its wider use in the education sector.

## Research and themes

Research at the department spans three main themes: language, cognition, and development; pedagogy, learning, and knowledge; and policy, economy, and society.
The organisation has a number of research centres, the newest of which was announced in June 2024 and is set to enhance Chinese language learning in the UK.

## Teaching and courses

The department offers a range of postgraduate courses, including DPhil, MSc, and PGCE programs, covering areas such as Applied Linguistics, Educational Assessment, and Teacher Education.

## Engagement and outreach

The department hosts an annual lecture series and a public seminar series featuring leading voices in the field.
Engagement and outreach are pivotal to the work of the department and its research. One example is Talk Together, a UKRI GCRF-funded research project which is an international collaboration looking at oral language development in young children aged 3-6 in urban areas in countries such as India and the Philippines.
Another example is the AIEOU hub which launched in December 2024 and looks to bring global stakeholders together to explore artificial intelligence in education. AIEOU aims to promote a research-informed, ethical, human-centered approach to AI in Education through collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The Department of Education actively engages with schools and educators, partnering with 39 secondary schools from across Oxfordshire and neighbouring counties. Through the partnerships they disseminate research directly into on-the-ground practices. The Oxford Education Deanery, borne from these partnerships, supports the professional development of teachers, boosts research impact and dissemination, and fosters collaboration between researchers at Oxford and educators in schools.
The organisation also collaborates with the Department for Education on national and international studies, like the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS).