Caroline Jones

Caroline Jones serves as a Lecturer in the School of Education within Manchester Metropolitan University's Faculty of Health and Education, teaching Early Years and Childhood Studies and Education Studies programmes. Her extensive professional background includes roles as an Ofsted Registered Childminder, Sure Start Adviser, and Children's Centre Development Worker, providing practical foundations for her academic work.

Her research centers on:

• Education and Social Mobility
• Equality and Social Justice
• Psychosocial and Academic Trust Alienation (PATA) Theory development
• Widening Participation in Higher Education
• Leadership in Early Years contexts
• Risk and Resilience in Adolescent Mental Health

Recent publications reveal a critical focus on post-pandemic educational pressures, student belonging, and systemic barriers facing disadvantaged learners. Her work consistently applies the PATA Theory framework to analyze engagement challenges while advocating for structural equity in educational systems across secondary and higher education sectors.

She holds the distinction of Senior Fellow of Advance HE, recognizing her contributions to higher education pedagogy and practice.

As an educator, Jones serves as personal tutor across year groups, provides dissertation supervision, and has led modules including Evidence Based Practice, Multi-Disciplinary Teams, and Leadership and Management. She designs academic skills resources and MMU RISE intensives on key person roles and parent partnerships.

Her community engagement includes former trusteeship of Pure Insight (supporting young care leavers) and collaborative outreach with local employers, early years settings, and community organizations to strengthen practice-theory connections.