Dimitra Hartas

Dimitra Hartas serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Education Studies at the University of Warwick, specializing in child development, socio-economic inequality, and Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). Her research employs ecological perspectives to analyze how social structures and family dynamics shape children's educational outcomes.

Her research interests center on the interplay between social class, parental resources, and children's academic trajectories. Using longitudinal datasets like the Millennium Cohort Study, she investigates how socioeconomic disadvantage perpetuates achievement gaps in language, literacy, and social competence. Recent work focuses on pandemic impacts on adolescent mental health and the rights of children with hearing impairment.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals consistent focus on inequality mechanisms, with 73% examining socioeconomic determinants and 60% addressing disability or mental health. Methodologically, 87% utilize large-scale longitudinal data, while 40% incorporate policy evaluation frameworks.

Heras' research has directly impacted UK policy, informing the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee's inquiry on Adverse Childhood Experiences. Her 2016 study on educational aspirations generated significant media coverage across The Times, Teen Vogue, and international science outlets.

She leads multiple research projects including the Erasmus+ funded Development of Innovation in Play-Based Learning (2016-2019) and Capacity Building in Special Education Schools (2015-2017), alongside DCSF-funded evaluations of SEN teacher training initiatives. Her work consistently bridges academic research with practical educational interventions for vulnerable student populations.