Dr Stephen C Scholes is a Senior Lecturer specialising in Education.
- Overview
- Research Interests
- Research Publications
- Teaching & Learning
During academic session 2025/2026, Stephen will be on a part-time secondment with Education Scotland as the National Adviser for Religious and Moral Education and working on the curriculum improvement cycle.
Stephen joined 17½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï in February 2023, having previously held a lectureship in Education at the University of Glasgow, where he was Programme Leader for the MA(Hons) Primary Education degree programme in the School of Social and Environmental Sustainability.
Before joining the university sector, he taught RMPS, History and Social Studies in Scottish secondary schools. He was a Principal Teacher and Deputy Head Teacher, with responsibility for raising attainment, data analysis and pupil equity funding.
At 17½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï, Stephen has been an elected member of Senate, regularly supports university-wide quality assurance activities and is currently the Convenor of the Placement Management Group, responsible for strategic oversight of school placements as part of initial teacher education programmes.
Stephen’s academic and professional mission centres on understanding, securing and enhancing curriculum, pedagogy, and leadership in Scottish education and beyond. He has research interests aligned to this ambition in the following areas:
- religious education
- curriculum research
- school inspection
- education governance
- (initial) teacher education and professional learning
- death education
Stephen is keen to hear from prospective postgraduate researchers (Masters/PhD students) in these and connected areas.
Academic Qualifications:
- PhD Education, University of Glasgow
- PgCert (Distinction) Academic Practice, University of Glasgow
- MEd (Distinction) Professional Practice with PGDE, University of Glasgow
- MA (1st Class Honours) Medieval History, University of St Andrews
Affiliations to other Organisations:
- Society of Antiquaries of Scotland - Fellow (FSAScot)
- European Forum of Teachers of Religious Education – National Representative
- Scottish Teachers Association of Religious and Moral Education
- Student Placement Management Group – 17½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï Representative
- Scottish Educational Research Association - Member
- Association of University Lecturers in Religion and Education – Member
- General Teaching Council for Scotland – Full Registration
My main areas of research are: Curriculum Policy & Enactment (Religious Education; History; Curriculum Leadership) School Governance, Inspection and Accountability (Education Policy; Data & Performance Information; School Leadership) History of Education (Scotland 1800 – Present; sources and methods) Teacher Education (Initial-Teacher Education)
Active Research Areas:
- Religious Education in Scottish Schools (policy, curriculum, pedagogy, histories)
- School Inspection and Accountability (data, self-evaluation, governance)
- History of education and religion in Scotland (secularisation, schooling, curriculum change)
- Initial Teacher Education (programme design, observations, coaching and mentoring)
- Death Education (death and grief literacy, teacher preparation)
Research Methods:
- Historical and Documentary Research
- Qualitative Surveys
- Policy Analysis
- Religious Education (pedagogy, policy and practice)
- Curriculum (development, theory, enactment)
- School Leadership and Governance
- History of Education
