Dr Hayley Yates completes Educational Doctorate (EdD)
Congratulations to our very own Dr Hayley Yates! We are thrilled to share that Hayley has officially completed her Doctor of Education (EdD) at the University of Birmingham. This prestigious achievement is the result of years of dedicated research into the heart of what makes an independent school such as Eversfield function.
What was the research about?
Dr Yates's thesis, titled Messages through Policy: Exploring the Policy-Pedagogy Relationship in an Independent Preparatory School, took a deep dive into how school policies and educational goals actually shape the day-to-day life of a classroom.
Dr Yates examined:
• The "Why" Behind the "How": How the policies written on paper influence the way teachers teach and how they see their roles.
• The School Identity: How the unique culture of an independent prep school affects the expectations placed on both staff and students.
• The Flow of Ideas: How modern educational trends and government standards "flow" into our specific school environment to create the learning experience your children have every day.
Why this matters for our pupils
By understanding the "intertextual flows", or the connection between different educational ideas, Dr Yates is helping us ensure that our teaching methods are not just effective, but deeply intentional. Her expertise ensures that our school's vision translates directly into the best possible pedagogical (teaching) experience for your children.
We are incredibly proud of Dr Yates for her hard work and for bringing this high level of academic insight to our school community. If you see her in the playground or classroom, please join us in offering her a warm congratulations!