UBEL Logo
Linkedin

Kathy Hart

Department, Institution: Centre for Sociology of Education and Equity, UCL
UBEL Pathway: Education
Supervisor: Prof. Carol Vincent and Dr. Brett Lashua
Contact details: kathy.hart.20@ucl.ac.uk
About Me:

I am a PhD student based at the Centre for Sociology of Education and Equity at UCL’s Institute of Education. My doctoral project uses Bourdieu to investigate the relationship between nationally funded cultural institutions and primary schools in England and draws from my professional practice as a musician and educator. 

My interests centre around social psychologies and sociologies of arts, culture and education and how these relationships and interactions are mediated by socioeconomic factors and systems of governance. Why are we particularly drawn to our favourite music, films, books and other artistic activities, and how is this influenced by other factors, such as government policies or where we went to school? 

Alongside my PhD, I am lucky to have a varied research portfolio and continue to work as a freelance education research consultant and as a PGTA at UCL. I’m interested in the relationship between research, policy and practice and have worked in an advisory capacity for the education policy working group of the Green Party of England and Wales. I’m currently an Associate for Creative and Cultural Sectors at UCL I&E (primarily based around the QEOP in East London) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. 

My Research:

My doctoral project explores the relationship between two seemingly natural partners in education: nationally funded cultural organisations and schools in England. A social constructionist investigation is proposed through a three-stage study: a description of the arts organisation-school interaction anatomy, exploration into how the interaction is understood by school students, school staff and arts organisation educators and analysis of the above drawing on Bourdieu’s concepts of field, habitus and capital to trace the capitals possessed by each group and the extent to which they are validated within the arts organisation-school interaction.

 

Impact of My Research:

At a time of growing societal inequality, results will not only contribute to existing literature but promise concrete industry impact, furthering work towards more equitable arts and education sectors. The topic retains prominence in the National Cultural Education Plan (2023) and 2023 – 2026 ACE National Portfolio Organisation funding awards (2022). There exists a broad range of potential formats for usable industry outputs, from a barometer for arts organisation evaluation and design of educational programmes to practical training for arts educators in understanding current student audiences. Finally, results may contribute to knowledge of the current levels of equity and access in English arts education, providing basis and direction for future studies.