King’s College London has appointed a new Head of the School of Education, Communication & Society, marking a meaningful moment for one of the university’s most interdisciplinary and outward-facing academic communities. The leadership change comes at a time of rapid change in education,media,and public discourse,as universities grapple with digital innovation,widening participation,and the global challenges reshaping how knowledge is produced and shared. The newly announced head will be tasked with steering the School’s research, teaching, and partnerships in this shifting landscape, building on King’s long-standing reputation for excellence in education and social science.
Leadership transition at Kings College London brings new vision to the School of Education Communication and Society
The appointment of a new Head marks a pivotal moment for the School, aligning academic ambition with a sharpened focus on global social impact. Drawing on a track record of interdisciplinary research and sector-wide collaboration, the incoming leader is expected to champion innovative approaches to teacher education, critical media literacy, and inclusive communication practices. Early indications from internal briefing papers highlight a commitment to strengthening partnerships with schools, cultural organisations and policy-makers, while ensuring that student voices shape the School’s strategic direction through co-created curricula and enhanced opportunities for real-world learning.
This renewed vision is already being translated into a series of concrete initiatives designed to expand the School’s reach and relevance:
- Curriculum innovation to foreground digital literacies, equity and decolonial perspectives.
- Practice-based research hubs connecting academics with practitioners in classrooms, communities and the creative industries.
- International exchanges amplifying King’s presence in global education debates and cross-border projects.
- Leadership development pathways for early-career scholars and professional services staff.
| Priority Area | Key Focus | Early Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching & Learning | Co-designed modules | New student advisory panels |
| Research | Impactful, community-led projects | Pilot partnerships with local schools |
| Global Engagement | Strategic alliances | Joint seminars with overseas universities |
Strategic priorities for teaching research and community partnership under the new head
Under the new leadership, the School is sharpening its focus on research-informed teaching and civic engagement, ensuring that academic inquiry translates into tangible benefits for classrooms, communities and policymakers.Priority is being given to cross-disciplinary projects that connect education,communication and social justice,with a particular emphasis on widening participation and amplifying underrepresented voices in research design and dissemination. Key areas of investment include innovative pedagogies, digital literacies and evidence-based approaches to tackling inequalities across early years, schools, further and higher education.
These ambitions are being embedded in a clear framework for collaboration that aligns staff expertise with the needs of local, national and global partners. The School aims to co-create knowledge with practitioners, community organisations and cultural institutions, building lasting partnerships that influence policy and practice. To support this agenda, targeted initiatives will focus on:
- Expanding co-produced research with schools, NGOs and community groups
- Embedding real-world projects into taught programmes and placements
- Strengthening policy engagement through briefings, roundtables and advisory roles
- Developing practitioner-led fellowships that link classrooms and campus
- Enhancing global networks for comparative and collaborative studies
| Focus Area | Flagship Action | Intended Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | Curriculum co-designed with partner schools | More practice-responsive learning |
| Research | Interdisciplinary centres on equity and inclusion | Stronger evidence base for policy change |
| Community | Long-term knowledge exchange agreements | Deeper, mutually beneficial partnerships |
| Global | Joint projects with international universities | Comparative insights for shared challenges |
Advancing social justice and inclusion in education policy at Kings
Under the new leadership, the School is sharpening its focus on how policy can dismantle systemic barriers and redistribute educational possibility. This includes closer collaboration with local authorities, schools and community organisations to foreground the experiences of pupils who are too often marginalised in decision‑making processes. Policy briefs will place particular emphasis on race equity, disability inclusion and socio‑economic justice, ensuring that insights from classroom practice and lived experience inform recommendations to government and sector bodies. Staff and students will work together to interrogate how funding models, assessment regimes and accountability frameworks can be redesigned to support more humane, responsive and culturally sustaining forms of education.
Planned initiatives will link research,teacher education and public engagement to drive measurable change across the education system. Key strands of this agenda include:
- Co-produced research with community partners to challenge exclusionary practices.
- Policy labs bringing together scholars, practitioners and policymakers to test new ideas.
- Targeted fellowships for early‑career researchers from under‑represented backgrounds.
- Open-access resources supporting schools to embed inclusive pedagogies.
| Focus Area | Main Goal | Primary Partner |
|---|---|---|
| Equity in School Policy | Reduce attainment gaps | Local schools |
| Inclusive Curriculum | Broaden representation | Subject associations |
| Teacher Development | Build anti-racist practice | Multi-academy trusts |
| Youth Voice | Amplify lived experience | Community groups |
Recommendations for staff students and stakeholders to engage with the new leadership agenda
As the School enters this next chapter,colleagues,students and partners are invited to participate actively in shaping shared priorities around teaching,research and civic engagement. Staff are encouraged to align current projects with the School’s strategic themes, initiating cross-disciplinary collaborations that bring together expertise from education, communication and social sciences. Students can contribute by joining advisory panels, participating in curriculum co-design workshops and using existing King’s platforms to voice ideas on inclusive teaching, student wellbeing and digital innovation. External stakeholders – from schools and colleges to cultural organisations, NGOs and policy bodies – are welcomed to co-create pilot initiatives, offer real-world case studies and support knowledge-exchange activities that amplify impact beyond campus.
- Staff: attend strategic forums,propose interdisciplinary modules,mentor early-career researchers.
- Students: engage in consultative forums, participate in research projects, represent peers in School committees.
- Stakeholders: host placement opportunities, co-design public events, contribute to policy dialogues.
| Group | Key Action | Main Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Academic & Professional Staff | Join thematic working groups | Stronger strategic alignment |
| Undergraduate & Postgraduate Students | Contribute to feedback cycles | More responsive learning experience |
| External Partners | Collaborate on joint programmes | Enhanced social and policy impact |
Key Takeaways
As Professor [Name] prepares to assume the role of Head of the School of Education,Communication & Society,King’s College London signals a renewed commitment to research-led teaching,cross-disciplinary collaboration and socially engaged scholarship.
With a clear mandate to build on the School’s established strengths while navigating the evolving landscape of higher education, their appointment marks a pivotal moment for staff, students and partners alike. The coming months will reveal how this new leadership shapes the School’s strategic direction-both within King’s and across the wider educational and social research community.
