About CES
CES carries out research in the social sciences of education that is independent,
methodologically sound and that explores fundamental issues about the purposes
and processes of education, and of policy in education, with a starting
point in Scotland, but located in the wider framework of Europe.
Its research explores and seeks to answer such questions as:
› How does education relate to social contexts and social
processes?
› What knowledge can social science research in education produce?
› How may that knowledge be understood locally, nationally, inter-and transnationally?
CES Briefings
Key research findings are summarised in a regular series of CES Briefings. "Briefings" are written for education correspondents, researchers, policy-makers and others who want an academically rigorous summary of a piece of CES research but do not need to read the whole of the original report. The CES Briefings series is edited by Dr Cathy Howieson. All Briefings can be downloaded, free of charge. If paper copy or multiple copies are required please contact Carolyn.
See the available CES Briefings to date
The National Evaluation of the Local Collaborative Projects on Recognising Achievement
This project, funded by the Scottish Government, involves a cross-site evaluation of the Scottish Recognition of Achievement Collaborative Enquiry Projects set up to investigate and pilot different approaches to recognising young people’s wider achievements beyond formal certification.. The aim of the national evaluation is to identify the lessons from the projects to assist the SG in developing guidance and support for local authorities, schools and other education providers about giving young people opportunities for achievements of all kinds and helping them gain recognition for them. The project is being carried out in conjunction with Enterprising Careers at Strathclyde University and runs from December 2008 to November 2009.
Self-Help and Career Planning
In recent years, the focus of career guidance services in many countries has moved towards promoting self-help by clients. This project was commissioned by Skill Development Scotland (Careers) to investigate how the impact of self-help services might be measured and to what extent does the use of self-help tools promote young people’s career self management skills and decision–making. The study was led by Enterprising Careers at Strathclyde University and was completed between January and March 2009.
Social Inequalities in Scottish Schooling
Trends in Secondary Education in Scotland, 1985-2005: Final Report
Scotland has long prided itself on its comprehensive school system, and high
levels of participation in higher education – but how widely are the benefits
of education spread? Who gains and who loses from the Scottish education
system? A research
report published by the Scottish Government on the
14th May
describes continuing inequalities in young people’s attainment and experiences
of schooling. Based on Scottish School Leavers’ Surveys (SSLS), the report
examines the effects of social change on inequalities in Scottish education
between 1985
and 2005. It demonstrates that social class differences in attainment are
considerably wider than gender differences, but less attention is paid to
these inequalities
because statistics are less readily available. [more...]