Agnes Allan

Agnes Allan is a Lecturer at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) within the School of Education and Social Sciences. She holds a Doctorate in Education (2024) and specializes in early years education, policy analysis, and leadership. Her research critiques discourses of 'quality' in childcare through Foucauldian theory, examining surveillance mechanisms in educational policies. She also explores redefining care practices to emphasize relational dynamics between educators, children, and families.

Dr. Allan transitioned from early years leadership roles (including head of nursery and primary school) to academia in 2008, initially as a part-time lecturer before transitioning to full-time in 2015. She led UWS's successful Scottish Government-funded project developing Continuing Professional Learning modules for early years workers. Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals addressing education quality and social equity.

Her academic contributions include analyzing breastfeeding support in early years settings and innovative co-creation methods using songwriting with families. She maintains active involvement in teacher education programs and has coordinated modules across multiple undergraduate and postgraduate initiatives.