Equity, Social Justice and Change provides an in-depth understanding of some of the key issues relating to social justice issues across the educational sectors, and the possibilities for more equitable change. We will be exploring issues relating to aspects of identity/positioning such as social class, gender, 'race' and ethnicity, and analysing relevant academic approaches and policy debates.

2 hour teaching session once a week

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The summative assessment will consist of two written assignments. The first, worth 25% percent of the grade, is a short (1000 word) written reflection on an educational issue. The second is a 3000 word assignment worth 75% of the final grade, designed to give flexibility in terms of participants' own specialisations and interests in relation to particular topics covered in the course

■ To provide participants with an understanding of some of the key issues and debates regarding social justice in education

■ To enable participants to reflect critically on the relationship between aspects of identity/positioning such as social class, gender, and 'race'/ethnicity and educational advantage and disadvantage

■ To enhance awarenss of possibilities for change in relation to educational policy and practice to further equitable outcomes

■ To develop an understanding of some of the key academic perspectives and approaches utilised to study social and educational inequalities and engender change (e.g. structuralist and poststructuralist perspectives, feminist theories, postcolonialist and critical race theories)

To enhance participants' skills in critically analysing relevant policies, data and publications in order to facilitate their own present or future educational practice

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Identify different conceptualisations of, and approaches to, a range of social justice issues in education

■ Critically analyse policies and debates in relation to social justice and educational change

■ Critically reflect on their own present or future educational practice and the possibilities for facilitating equitable change

■ Be able to apply the course content in individual assignments on social justice related topics.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.