Sheffield Institute of Education staff lead a diverse array of networks which engage with practitioners, leaders, researchers and policy makers outside the university. 

Research Engaged Practice Network

• for practitioners to share their research and enquiry with other practitioners and Sheffield Institute of Education researchers and make links for future research and enquiry
• for researchers from Sheffield Institute of Education and from our partner schools and organisations to share their research findings and engage in developing collaborative research, enquiry and development projects with practitioners
• to support capacity building for practitioner-led research

Network Leads: Josephine Booth and Joelle Halliday

For more information, visit the REPN website

Effective Flexible Working Practitioner Network

In partnership with South Yorkshire Futures, the Effective Flexible Working Practitioner Network provides an opportunity for school senior leaders and colleagues in education interested in alternative working patterns to network and share expertise around flexible working.

Network Lead: Suzanne Brown

For more information, contact Suzanne Brown

Disability Research Forum

The Disability Research Forum (DRF) fosters informal networks of disability scholars by providing researchers with opportunities to present their work in a friendly and encouraging environment. It has become the platform for a virtual network of disability scholars, researchers, disabled people and disability activists from around the world, providing a friendly space, through online events and seminars, for Disability Studies scholars of all stages in their academic studies or career to share their ideas in a supportive and accessible environment.

Network Leads: Stephanie Hannam Swain

For more information, visit the Disability Research Forum website

Early Years and Primary Literacy Network

The Sheffield Hallam University, Early Years and Primary Literacy Network is a supportive professional network that nurtures and promotes the expertise of those interested in early years and primary literacy teaching. It aims to develop a teacher research community that will support teachers' engagement with literacy research from a range of sources. This network enables teachers and English subject leaders within Sheffield and the surrounding regions to engage with research, share their own practice, and build supportive networks to enhance literacy provision in schools. We welcome Early Career Teachers, early years and primary teachers, English specialists, and existing or aspiring English subject leaders to join the network and collaborate in the development of research informed practice.

Network Leads: Laurel Smith

For more information, contact Laurel Smith

Sustainable Schools Network

The Sustainable Schools network at Sheffield Hallam University, is a supportive network that aims to develop, facilitate, and network those interested in climate change and sustainability. It is a forum:

• for practitioners to share their research and activities with other practitioners and Sheffield Institute of Education researchers and make links for future climate change and sustainability research.
• for researchers from Sheffield Institute of Education and from our partner schools and organisations to share their research findings, projects and engage in developing collaborative approaches.
• to support capacity building for developing climate change and sustainability education and research.

Network Lead: Lee Jowett

For more information, visit the Sustainable Schools Sheffield Website.

Early Years and Childhood Research Centre Professional Development Network

The EYCRC Professional Development Network aims to support high quality early years practice through regular online CPD events, hosted by SIoE staff and early years experts from the South Yorkshire region and beyond.  We hope that the network supports and motivates early years practitioners working in the maintained and PVI sector and provide a forum for our staff and external partners to share good practice and the latest research findings.  We welcome everyone with an interest in early years practice and pedagogy.

Network Lead: Fufy Demissie

For more information, contact Fufy Demissie

Co-Productive Partnerships Network

The Co-Productive Partnerships Network is an inclusive space for parents/carers of disabled children and those categorised as having Special Educational Needs (with and without a formal diagnosis) and practitioners in public services to learn from and with each other. We hope that the network will generate fruitful and positive engagement into what attendees understand co-production means to all of us and look forward to generating and strengthening ideas about how we can all come together to find productive ways of working and better futures.

Network Leads: Katarzyna Fleming in Collaboration with Antonios Ktenidis of Sheffield University

For more information, contact Katarzyna Fleming

Post-16 Initial Teacher Educators’ Network

The Post-16 Initial Teacher Educators’ Network offers a space for providers of post-16 and Further Education initial teacher education to share resources and expertise. We are particularly interested in supporting new teachers to develop their pedagogical content knowledge.

Network Lead: Sarah Boodt

For more information, contact Sarah Boodt

SHU SCITT Community

SCITT (school-Centred Initial Teacher Training) partners are a valuable part of our network of teacher educators operating in the wider teacher training landscape across the UK. Through this network our SCITT Community has grown via word-of-mouth, and we continue to welcome new potential SCITTs in delivering integrated PGCE (Post-Graduate Certificate in Education) courses across all age phases and subject areas, in collaboration with SHU. As members of the SCITT community, partners can access SHU expertise in SCITT twilight sessions including input from Emeritus Fellows, network with competitors in a non-competitive environment, contribute to and attend the SHU SCITT Development events online and face-to-face in SHU. This enables- the ongoing review and development of the SCITT programme to meet the needs of the diverse SCITT community of trainee teachers.

Network Lead: Chloe Hindmarsh

Multilingualism Network

Multilingualism has become a social norm in this era of globalization and internationalization, but it has not been sufficiently accommodated in education. The aim of the Multilingualism Network is to bring together an interdisciplinary team of researchers exploring aspects of multilingualism within and beyond Sheffield Hallam University to share and develop expertise and to identify implications of latest multilingualism research for education. Through partnerships with other research institutions, organisations, and stakeholders with a shared interest in multilingualism and through regular engagement activities such as workshops, seminars, conferences, and public facing events, the network creates and responds to opportunities for research collaboration, dissemination, and the sharing of best practices. Ultimately, the network aims to bridge the gap between research and education, recognizing the importance of multilingualism in today's globalized world for the benefit of academia and society as a whole.

Network Lead: Melike Bulut Albaba