Derek Kassem
After graduating I undertook a number of different jobs before deciding to become a teacher. I started my teaching career in 1981 at Tulse Hill Boys SB in South London. The whole of my school teaching career was in either South or East London schools. I have taught across both primary and secondary phases of education. After fifteen years of working in schools I decided to embark upon a career in higher education. The first post I applied for was at LJMU and I was fortunate to be appointed. Initially, I taught on the Primary and Key Stage 2/3 courses, mainly teaching mathematics education.
In 2003 I lead the development of education studies at LJMU. Since this initial development I have overseen the continued development of educations studies and the introduction of early childhood studies. I have also worked with colleagues to publish a number of books to support students on education studies courses along with working on a number of research projects.
Current Post
Centre Leader
Centre for Education and Early Childhood Studies
Qualifications
PGCE, London (1981)
MA Education, London (1991)
Developing Mathematical Thinking, Open University (1986)
Mathematics Across the Curriculum, Open University (1986)
Astronomy & Planetary Science, Open University (1994)
Introduction to Calculus, Open University (1995)
Mathematics Association Certificate (1992)
Previous Teaching Experience
Loughborough Junior School (1994- 96)
Kings Acre Primary School (1992- 94)
Sunnyhill Primary School (1990- 92)
Peripertetic Teacher (1987- 90)
Friars Primary School (1985- 87)
Harry Gosling Junior School (1983- 85)
Tulse Hill SB (1981-83)
Main Teaching Areas
Education Studies
Early Childhood Studies
Modules
I am module leader of the following:
- ECLES2005 Educational Diversity
- ECLES3007 How Children Learn Mathematics
- ECLES2006 Radical Education
- ECLCS3031 Ethics and Social Responsibility
- ECLES2009 Secondary Education and Beyond
I also contribute to a number of other modules provided by the Centre.
Research interests
My research interests include:
- The educational needs of looked-after children
- Ethnicity & race in education;
- class and education
- Education policy
- Marxism and education
- Social exclusion in education
- Home education
I am currently working on the following research projects:
- The educational needs of female ex-hard drug users (Partly funded by a Grant from the Comino Trust)
- The oral history of Liverpool Free School
- Social class & school improvement
- Parental motivation for home schooling
- The use of Podcasting to support student learning
- Peace Building in Nepal & Cambodia (British Council Funding £84,000)Educational Needs of Female ex-Hard Drug Users
- Islamic Home Schooling
- The Muslim Community in Liverpool: The Lived Experience (PhD, on-going)
Scholarly Activity
- Reviewer Sage Publications (Book Proposals)
- Reviewer BERA Sig. Race, Ethnicity & Education
- Reviewer BERA Sig. Social Justice
- Supervisor (2nd) PhD examining young children’s understanding of nutrition
- Supervisor (2nd) PhD faith, ethnicity and pupil achievement in primary schools
- Centre representative on Faculty Research Cttee
Membership of Academic/Professional Organisation
- British Education Research Association
- Society for Educational Studies
- History of Education Society (UK)
- Member of Editorial Advisory Board Journal of Critical Education Policy Studies
Publications
