Our Children, Childhood, and Development research theme focuses on children and young people’s rights, voice , and their physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional aspects of learning from early childhood. It also examines the philosophical and sociological conceptualisations of children and childhood and explores ethical research with children.

Our Curriculum and Pedagogy research theme seeks to generate original scholarship and research into curriculum theory and development that responds to the world's infinitely diverse epistemological traditions. It is dedicated to conducting critical, post-structural, decolonial, and indigenous research on curriculum history and theories from within and outside the Global North, as well as their impact on schools and classrooms.

Our Health and Wellbeing research theme focuses on improving mental, emotional, and physical health and wellbeing throughout life. It involves research amongst children, adolescents, adults, carers, educators, as well as marginalised and neurodiverse groups. We investigate how the different forms of health in each group affect learning and occupational outcomes and consider the impact of educational environments, such as schools or universities, on students' wellbeing. We further explore physical education, socioemotional learning programmes, preventive health, and support for students with chronic conditions or disabilities.

Our research theme Social Justice, Culture, and Policy investigates the relationships between education as a fundamental human right and various social justice issues, such as poverty and multiple disadvantages, disability, ethnicity, race, diversity, gender, sexuality, environmental justice, digital inequalities, and global citizenship. It uses interdisciplinary approaches to connect education to cultural, political, social, and economic contexts.