Centre for Transformative Change in Schools (CenTCS)

The Centre for Transformative Change in Schools marks the fourth phase of the research centre formerly known as the Robert Owen Centre for Educational Change.

The Robert Owen Centre for Educational Change was established in 2013 by the Founding Director, Professor Christopher Chapman. Its focus was squarely on researching and supporting the development of more equitable education and building networked learning systems around the world. In the pamphlet  Rethinking Scottish Education: Unlocking the potential Centre members stated that:

We at the Robert Owen Centre for Educational Change believe that if the aspiration of creating a fairer education system is to be achieved there is an urgent need to develop a programme of action-orientated research which strengthens the relationship between research, policy and practice within education and more widely across the public services

(University of Glasgow, 2014)

Since its inception in 2013 it has been led by Professor Christopher Chapman (2013 - 2016), Professor Michele Schweisfurth (2016 - 2019) and Professor Bob Davis (2020 – 2024). Each director brought their own unique expertise and vision to the Centre’s work, but the commitment to research that served to support more equitable outcomes for children and young people in Scotland, and across diverse education systems including in Southeast Asia, Latin America and the global south has stayed constant.

Over the last few years, the Robert Owen Centre for Educational Change has acted as a hub for several important and impactful networks, including What Works Scotland, Children’s Neighbourhoods Scotland, the Network for Social and Educational Equity and the University of Glasgow Educational Assessment Network. The work of these networks has served to bring educators, researchers and other stakeholders together in pursuit of a shared vision for transformative change in schooling systems.

Central to the legacy of the Robert Owen Centre is its emphasis on research with, rather than on, education partners. It built up a significant reputation for engaging in productive Research-Practice Partnerships (RPPs) to support the development of networked learning systems at home and abroad. Some of this work, designed explicitly to promote equity within the Scottish context, is captured in ‘Educational Equity: Pathways to Success’ edited by Christopher Chapman and Mel Ainscow. RPPs have therefore been a significant part of the work of the Robert Owen Centre for Educational Change over the first three phases of its existence and will continue to be so in this next phase.

We look forward to building on this history as the Centre moves forward into its next phase as the Centre for Transformative Change in Schools.