Jim Hordern

Jim Hordern is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Education at the University of Bath. He holds a concurrent Visiting Professor position at the University of Derby (2021–2026). His research focuses on educational knowledge and practice, professional and vocational education, and higher education systems. Previously, he served as a Reader and Senior Lecturer at Bath Spa University, John Adams Research Fellow at the Institute of Education (IOE, London), and held roles in teacher training, workforce development, and policy evaluation across England and Wales.

His editorial roles include Associate Editor of the Journal of Vocational Education and Training, and membership on editorial boards for British Journal of Educational Studies, Curriculum Journal, and others. He has led projects on degree apprenticeships, vocational education policy, and early years professional knowledge, funded by organizations like the Edge Foundation and the Society for Educational Studies.

Research outputs emphasize critiques of educational policy frameworks (e.g., Early Career Framework, Core Content Framework), teacher expertise models, and sociological theories like Basil Bernstein’s code theory. His work intersects with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to quality education and lifelong learning. He has externally examined numerous doctoral students globally and contributes to international evaluations for bodies like the European Commission and South Africa’s National Research Foundation.