Dimitra Kokotsaki

Dr. Dimitra Kokotsaki is an Associate Professor and Director of Education at Durham University's School of Education. She specializes in Music Education, Creativity in Teaching, and Pupil Engagement, with a focus on teacher development and curriculum design. Her research addresses arts education impacts, primary-secondary transition challenges, and leadership strategies for teacher retention. She leads the process evaluation for the Calderdale writing intervention and contributed to the Sutton Trust-EEF Teaching and Learning Toolkit. Awards include the 2013 Inspiration for Government Award and Royal Society of Arts Fellowship.

Key research projects include evaluations of music workshop benefits (In2 Music Project), doctoral student resilience, and international teacher retention strategies. She has supervised over 8 doctoral students exploring topics like music progression in primary education and creativity in global contexts.

• Educational Leadership: School climate and teacher autonomy interventions
• Arts Education: Systematic reviews on cognitive/non-cognitive outcomes
• Music Pedagogy: Creativity measurement, ensemble learning, and GCSE uptake barriers
• Policy Impact: Toolkit development and evidence-based advocacy

Her work bridges theory and practice through partnerships with educational hubs like Durham Music Services and Bradford Music Education Hub. Current projects emphasize evidence-based solutions for improving educational equity and teacher sustainability.