Professor Carol Robinson

Professor Of Childrens Rights

Education

Contact

Personal statement

Carol was appointed as a Professor of Children’s Rights at the University of Strathclyde in April 2023. Prior to this, Carol started her career as a teacher and has taught in secondary schools, pupil referral units and in a college of further education. She completed her PhD at the University of Sussex in 1996 and then took up a post as a Research Fellow in the University of Sussex’s Education Faculty. Carol joined the Education Research Centre within the School of Education at the University of Brighton as a Senior Research Fellow in 2008, became a Principal Research fellow in 2011, an Associate Professor in 2016, and a Professor in 2019. Carol became Professor of Children's Rights within the Faculty of Education at Edge Hill University in October 2019. 

During her time at the University of Brighton, Carol co-led the cross-university Higher Education Pedagogies and Policy Research and Enterprise Group. This brought together colleagues from across the university who had an interest in improving learning and teaching and informing policy and practice in higher education. She chaired the Social Science Cross-school Ethics Committee and was a member of the Concordat Implementation Group and the School of Education’s Research Management Group. She also was a member of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) Unit of Assessment Leadership Group and Output Review panel and mentored colleagues within the School of Education, supporting their academic writing and professional development. While at Edge Hill University she initiated and led a peer mentoring scheme, initiated and co-led Children's Rights and Well-being network, and chaired the Education Faculty Research Committee.

A major focus of Carol’s work has been around developing insights into issues relating to Children’s Human Rights Education (CHRE). The external recognition of her expertise in this area is evidenced by national and international invitations to: present lectures and keynote addresses; examine doctoral theses; join journal editorial boards; and lead professional learning focusing on children's righst and rights education for teachers, healthcare workers and other professionals whose work involves children.  Carol also regularly receives invitations to contribute to discussions around Children’s Rights and voice. For example, in October 2018 she commented on the UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission draft strategy for school-based CHRE and contributed to an all-party parliamentary group discussion at the House of Commons focusing on a vision for public (including school-based) Legal and Human Rights Education. Furthermore, in March 2019, following an invitation from the Chairman of the Care of Children in Jersey Review Panel, Carol commented on the Draft Law relating to the powers of the Children’s Commissioner for Jersey. In October 2022, Carol was invited by a Whitehall-based Senior Policy Advisor for the Crown Prosecution Service to comment, from a children's right's perspective, on draft new policy guidance for the Youth Justice Service which focuses on children who are suspects and defendants. In November 2022 she also took part in a House of Lords Think Tank, disucssing the direction of education research on real classroom issues. Carol is also a member of the Scottish Cross Party Group on Children and Young People.

Back to staff profile

Publications

The unfinished business of conceptualising young children’s rights in early childhood and educational care settings
Robinson Carol
Human Rights Education Review, pp. 1-3 (2025)
https://doi.org/10.7577/hrer.5387
Ethical considerations of children's involvement in school-based research : balancing children’s provision, protection, and participation rights
Robinson Carol
Research Ethics, pp. 1-23 (2024)
https://doi.org/10.1177/17470161241272872
An exploration of practices for rights-based education through promoting voice in the early years : building a spider’s web
Robinson Carol, Wall Kate, Murray Jane, Evans Erica, Grogan Deirdre, Bowes Charlotte
Children’s Voice and Agency in Diverse Settings International Research and Perspectives (2024) (2024)
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003360995-4
Listening to pupils : developing mutually respectful teacher-pupil relationships to enhance pupils' learning
Robinson Carol
Learning to Teach in the Primary School (2024) (2024)
Developing rights-based standards for children having tests, treatments, examinations and interventions : using a collaborative, multi-phased, multi-method and multi-stakeholder approach to build consensus
Bray Lucy, Carter Bernie, Kiernan Joann, Horowicz Ed, Dixon Katie, Ridley James, Robinson Carol, Simmons Anna, Craske Jennie, Sinha Stephanie, Morton Liza, Nafria Begonya, Forsner Maria, Rullander Anna-Clara, Nilsson Stefan, Darcy Laura, Karlsson Katarina, Hubbuck Cath, Brenner Maria, Spencer-Little Sian, Evans Kath, Rowland Andrew, Hilliard Carol, Preston Jennifer, Leroy Piet L, Roland Damian, Booth Lisa, Davies Jean, Saron Holly, Mansson Marie Edwinson, Cox Ann, Ford Karen, Campbell Steven, Blamires Julie, Dickinson Annette, Neufeld Michael, Peck Blake, de Avila Marla, Feeg Veronica, Mediani Henny Suzana, Atout Maha, Majamanda Maureen D, North Natasha, Chambers Christine, Robichaud Fanny
European Journal of Pediatrics Vol 182, pp. 4707-4721 (2023)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-023-05131-9
Blackpool Opportunity Area Evaluation of Strand 1 : Executive Summary
Kaehne Axel, Robinson Carol, Grimwood Tom, Stuart Kaz, Simcock Tom, Roberts Louise
(2022)

More publications

Back to staff profile

Research Interests

Carol’s research interests combine theoretical and empirical work focusing on the voices, experiences, rights and empowerment of children and young people. She has led several pupil voice projects in primary, secondary and special schools, helping staff to develop ways of listening to the voices of children and young people. She also led the ‘Pupils’ Voices’ strand of the Cambridge Primary Review of Education in England and was Co-Investigator for the evaluation of UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting Schools Award. Building on this work, she is currently working with Osaka Kyouiku University and the Japanese Ministry of Education to develop a ‘Safety Promotion School’ award for schools across Japan. Since 2022, Carol has been involved in the iSupport project which is working to develop the standards for children and young people, aged 0-18 years, undergoing clinical procedures, based on internationally agreed children’s rights set out by the UNCRC (1989).

Carol’s methodological interests focus on constructivist approaches to research and, within this, particularly favours narrative approaches.

Professional Activities

Children’s involvement in education research: the influence of ethical considerations on realising children’s rights
Speaker
23/10/2023

More professional activities

Projects

Evaluation of Priority 3 Projects - Preparing Young People for Work
Robinson, Carol (Principal Investigator)
Awarded at Edge Hill University - Blackpool Council commissioned a consortium between Edge Hill University and the University of Cumbria to evaluate the Blackpool Opportunity Area programme Strand 2. The overall purpose of the Opportunity Area programme is to improve the experience, engagement and employment outcomes of young people transitioning from compulsory education into Post 16 education, employment or training (EET).

The Strand 2 element of this programme involves the Blackpool Engagement Journey consisting of two projects, the ‘Pathways for All’ and the ‘Targeted NEET’ projects.
01-Jan-2021 - 31-Jan-2021

More projects

Back to staff profile

Contact

Professor Carol Robinson
Professor Of Childrens Rights
Education

Email: carol.robinson@strath.ac.uk
Tel: 444 8708