A photo of Singleton Campus including Singleton park and a view of the sea

Dr Ceryn Evans

Senior Lecturer

Education and Childhood Studies

+44 (0) 1792 513766

ceryn.evans@swansea.ac.uk

Basic Welsh Speaker

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0019-1017

About

I am a senior lecturer in the School of Education at Swansea University. My main research interests are young people’s transitions from school to post-16 and higher education. I’m particularly interested in social class inequalities in access to and participation in further and higher education. I’m also interested in the role and function of universities in society, including their role in civil society.

I’m interested is supervising PhDs which focus on issues relating to educational inequalities, social class, widening participation in higher education and young people’s educational decisions and transitions.

Areas Of Expertise

Widening participation in higher education
Inequalities in education
Social class
Young people’s post-16 education and training

Career Highlights

Teaching Interests

I am currently undertaking research to explore young people’s decisions to pursue routes alternative to university. This research is being funded by the British Academy small grants award (EDR1002-100). The research is due to be completed in May 2021.

Publications

Research Highlights

Evans, C. (2024). Care experienced students’ transitions to university: learning identities, prior educational experiences and socio-cultural contexts. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 0
https://doi.org/10.1080/01425692.2024.2392148, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67368
Evans, C., Welton, N., Pitman, J., Clegg, Z., & Williams, D. (2024). An ethic of care in two community focused schools in Wales. Research Papers in Education, 0, 1-18.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02671522.2024.2381114, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66903
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02671522.2024.2381114
Evans, C. (2024). Transitions to, through and beyond higher education: An exploration of care experienced students in Wales and England
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66069
https://srhe.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/EvansCerynReport.pdf
Evans, C., Pitman, J., , N., Williams, D., & Clegg, Z. (2023). Community Focused Schools in Wales: Close to Practice Research in Swansea
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63175
Evans, C. (2022). Close to Practice Research Case Study: Swansea Local Education Authority
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61489
Evans, C. (2020). A multi-dimensional perspective on young people’s decisions not to go to university. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 41(8), 1235-1250.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01425692.2020.1836476, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55429
Evans, C. (n.d.) Not going to university: examining the role of ‘learning identities’ in young people’s decisions to embark on alternative post-18 pathways. Journal of Youth Studies, 1-15.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2020.1813875, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55020
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2020.1813875
Evans, C., Fox, S., & Taylor, C. (2019). HE and Civil Society: What Contribution Can Universities Make to Civil Society?. Employability via Higher Education: Sustainability as Scholarship (pp. 25-36). Springer International Publishing
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26342-3_2, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52819
Evans, C., Rees, G., Taylor, C., & Fox, S. (2021). A liberal higher education for all? The massification of higher education and its implications for graduates’ participation in civil society. Higher Education, 81(3), 521-535.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-020-00554-x, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa54082
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10734-020-00554-x
Taylor, C., Fox, S., Evans, C., & Rees, G. (2019). The ‘civic premium’ of university graduates: the impact of massification on associational membership. Studies in Higher Education, 1-16.
https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1637837, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa50924

All Research

Journal Articles

Evans, C. (2024). Care experienced students’ transitions to university: learning identities, prior educational experiences and socio-cultural contexts. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 0
https://doi.org/10.1080/01425692.2024.2392148, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67368
Evans, C., Welton, N., Pitman, J., Clegg, Z., & Williams, D. (2024). An ethic of care in two community focused schools in Wales. Research Papers in Education, 0, 1-18.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02671522.2024.2381114, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66903
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02671522.2024.2381114
Evans, C., Rees, G., Taylor, C., & Fox, S. (2021). A liberal higher education for all? The massification of higher education and its implications for graduates’ participation in civil society. Higher Education, 81(3), 521-535.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-020-00554-x, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa54082
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10734-020-00554-x
Evans, C. (2020). A multi-dimensional perspective on young people’s decisions not to go to university. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 41(8), 1235-1250.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01425692.2020.1836476, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55429
Taylor, C., Fox, S., Evans, C., & Rees, G. (2019). The ‘civic premium’ of university graduates: the impact of massification on associational membership. Studies in Higher Education, 1-16.
https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1637837, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa50924
Evans, C., Rees, G., Taylor, C., & Wright, C. (2019). ‘Widening Access’ to higher education: the reproduction of university hierarchies through policy enactment. Journal of Education Policy, 1-16.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02680939.2017.1390165, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa44252
Taylor, C., Wright, C., Davies, R., Rees, G., Evans, C., & Drinkwater, S. (2018). The effect of schools on school leavers’ university participation. School Effectiveness and School Improvement, 29(4), 590-613.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09243453.2018.1484776, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa44255
Evans, C. & Donnelly, M. (2018). Deterred by debt? Young people, schools and the escalating cost of UK higher education. Journal of Youth Studies, 21(9), 1267-1282.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2018.1461815, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa44253
Donnelly, M. & Evans, C. (2018). A ‘home-international’ comparative analysis of widening participation in UK higher education. Higher Education, 1-18.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-018-0260-3, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa44251
Evans, C. (2017). Framing young people’s educational transitions: the role of local and contemporary economic contexts. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 38(5), 656-670.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01425692.2016.1150154, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa44249
Evans, C. (2016). Moving away or staying local: the role of locality in young people's ‘spatial horizons’ and career aspirations. Journal of Youth Studies, 19(4), 501-516.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2015.1083955, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa44254
Donnelly, M. & Evans, C. (2016). Framing the geographies of higher education participation: schools, place and national identity. British Educational Research Journal, 42(1), 74-92.
https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3196, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa44250
Evans, C. (n.d.) Not going to university: examining the role of ‘learning identities’ in young people’s decisions to embark on alternative post-18 pathways. Journal of Youth Studies, 1-15.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2020.1813875, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55020
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2020.1813875

Book Chapters

Evans, C., Fox, S., & Taylor, C. (2019). HE and Civil Society: What Contribution Can Universities Make to Civil Society?. Employability via Higher Education: Sustainability as Scholarship (pp. 25-36). Springer International Publishing
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26342-3_2, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52819

Other Research Outputs

Evans, C. (2024). Transitions to, through and beyond higher education: An exploration of care experienced students in Wales and England
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66069
https://srhe.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/EvansCerynReport.pdf
Evans, C., Pitman, J., , N., Williams, D., & Clegg, Z. (2023). Community Focused Schools in Wales: Close to Practice Research in Swansea
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63175
Evans, C. (2022). Close to Practice Research Case Study: Swansea Local Education Authority
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61489
Rees, G., Taylor, C., , R., Drinkwater, S., Evans, C., & , C. (2015). ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION IN WALES A Report to the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa44256

Supervision

Exploration into Estranged Students experiences of higher education institutions in England and Wales (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Gideon Calder
Navigating the Complex Landscape: An In-depth Analysis of Mental Wellbeing Policies and Practices across Higher Education Institutions in Wales (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Zoe Clegg
A mixed-methods study of shadow education for GCSE mathematics pupils in the West Midlands of England. (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Alex Southern

Taught Modules

ED-D01 Dissertation (in either Childhood, Play or Education)

This is a core module for the MA Childhood Studies, MA Developmental and Therapeutic Play and MA Education.
ED-M06 Equity and Diversity

This module aims to develop students¿ understanding of equity, diversity and the impact of inequalities on educational outcomes and experiences. It will provide opportunities for students to develop an advanced evidence-informed understanding of the dimensions of diversity within contemporary Welsh society and across international contexts and settings. The module will require students to think critically about the forms of inequality within contemporary education and to engage in contested debates about how education systems identify inequalities and employ evidence-informed strategies for addressing inequalities. The module will allow students to reflect critically on debates about the role played by the education system in addressing inequalities and inequities.
ED-M19 Research Methods (Education, Play and Childhood Studies)

This module will examine and critically analyse the advantages and limitations of various research methods and methodologies relevant to the social sciences. The module will cover the main aspects of social science research and will guide students through research design, data collection, data analysis and data representation. Students will examine the significance of research for professional practice in childhood or educational settings, and critically evaluate relevant published research studies. The module serves to prepare students for the completion of either literature based or empirical projects.
EDN300 Dissertation

This dissertation module will enable students to pursue an empirical study on a topic of their choice relating to education across contexts according to their academic interest or future career aspirations. It will require students to formulate an appropriate research question and to design and execute a research project that will address their chosen question in a coherent and systematic manner. Students will have the flexibility to pursue a research topic related to education that might be relevant to their career aspirations across the full range of contexts where knowledge and expertise in education is applicable.
EDN305 Equity, Equality and Diversity in Education

This module will explore the aspects of difference and diversity that are relevant to educational practice across a variety of contexts. Topics will include, for example, issues pertaining to gender and education, multi-culturalism, social class, poverty and inequality and the impact of adversity on learning and development. It will involve the critical evaluation of research evidence as to the impact of such issues and will consider best practice to ensure equitable and appropriate educational experiences.
EDPM20 Research Methods

This module will provide an overview of research methodology in preparation for the research aspects and requirements of the Masters programme. It will cover the main aspects of social science research and will guide participants through research design, data collection, data analysis and data representation. The course will offer a guide to the main steps involved in planning and designing a research project and will offer advice on how to practically manage this process. It also will include consideration of how to select and refine research questions, how to conduct a literature review and the ethical considerations that may arise within a social science setting.
EDQ300 Study Group: Education (Year 3)

2 hour weekly Study Group for Education students (Year 3)

Dr Ceryn Evans

Telephone number

Email address

Welsh language proficiency

Twitter Account

Research Links

About

Areas Of Expertise

Career Highlights

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Journal Articles

Book Chapters

Other Research Outputs

Supervision

Exploration into Estranged Students experiences of higher education institutions in England and Wales (current)

Navigating the Complex Landscape: An In-depth Analysis of Mental Wellbeing Policies and Practices across Higher Education Institutions in Wales (current)

A mixed-methods study of shadow education for GCSE mathematics pupils in the West Midlands of England. (current)

Taught Modules

ED-D01 Dissertation (in either Childhood, Play or Education)

ED-M06 Equity and Diversity

ED-M19 Research Methods (Education, Play and Childhood Studies)

EDN300 Dissertation

EDN305 Equity, Equality and Diversity in Education

EDPM20 Research Methods

EDQ300 Study Group: Education (Year 3)