Sarah Gillie

Sarah Gillie is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Education and Childhood at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), where she has taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses since joining in January 2021. Her teaching focuses on early years education and inclusive education, with particular emphasis on child agency and special educational needs. She serves as co-convenor for the British Educational Research Association (BERA) Special Interest Group for Alternative Education.

Dr. Gillie's educational qualifications include:

• EdD (Doctor of Education)
• PGCAPP (Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Professional Practice)
• MA SEN (Master of Arts in Special Educational Needs)
• PGCE (Primary: early years and modern foreign languages) from Goldsmiths
• BA (Hons) Applied Language Studies

Her research centers on inclusion in education across and beyond compulsory schooling, examining how families navigate educational systems when mainstream schooling doesn't meet children's needs. Dr. Gillie applies theoretical frameworks combining Victor Turner's concepts of liminality with Urie Bronfenbrenner's bio-ecological systems model to understand educational transitions and family experiences, particularly regarding special educational needs and disabilities.

Analysis of her publications reveals consistent focus on school deregistration trends, home education pathways, and inclusive practices. Her recent work increasingly examines teacher perspectives on educational alternatives while maintaining longstanding research on dyslexia support and executive function development in non-traditional learning environments.

Dr. Gillie contributes to educational discourse through her leadership in the BERA Special Interest Group for Alternative Education, providing critical analysis of policy and practice in non-mainstream educational settings.

Prior to academia, she worked in the financial sector across Europe and Asia before transitioning to education in 2004. Between classroom teaching positions and joining UWE Bristol, she provided learning support for students from primary through postgraduate levels. Her doctoral research analyzed 93 survey responses and 7 family interviews regarding home education choices.

She maintains active engagement with home education communities through practical resources for parents supporting children with dyslexia, emphasizing multisensory learning approaches and literacy development strategies in home settings.