BERA Brian Simon Fund

In 2002 BERA introduced a new award named the Brian Simon Educational Research Fellowship. This award was made possible due to a gift from the family of Brian Simon, a leading post-war educationalist and former BERA President. 

In the spirit of Brian Simon, the funds supported projects which were independent, imaginative, scholarly and dedicated to educational advancement. The projects were expected to support research which should be useful, radical and interdisciplinary and should inform society about core educational issues.

BERA has awarded over £25,000 from the fund. The recipients, along with the titles of their research projects are listed below.  The fund was held in trust by BERA.  The remaining funds for four research projects were released in our 50th anniversary year, honouring the legacy of Brian Simon. These can be read here.

“As BERA concludes its Brian Simon educational research fellowship and looks forward to embarking on a fresh initiative to commemorate the eminent educational historian Brian Simon (1915-2002), it is most apt to recognise the contribution of the award since its inception in 2002.  The range and variety of the topics tackled under the award is one notable feature. Many of these projects have led to more substantial work and indeed to distinguished careers on the part of the authors involved.  The Award and the awardees have done a service in preserving and developing further the educational legacy of Simon himself.  More than twenty years after his death, Simon’s contribution continues to be recognised for his championing of education in its broadest sense for the improvement of all.”

Professor Gary McCulloch

Brian Simon Chair of History of Education at University College London
BERA President 2017-2019

Brian Simon Presidential Address 1977

The first full-length study of Brian Simon, Brian Simon and the Struggle for Education (McCulloch, Canales and Ku, 2023) is published open access by UCL Press. ISBN 978-1-78735-982-6.

2023/24 Recipients

History of Education

Daniel Laqua (University of Northumbria)

“Rehearsals for Democracy: Student Life in Central and Eastern Europe, 1919–1923

Miles Smith  (ECR) (Plymouth Marjon University)

“Far away from the Ivory Tower: the impact of university education on disadvantaged people and their communities.”

Education and Democracy

Fengling Tang (University of Roehampton)

“Shifting youth environmental activism from the public imagination to community engagement: implications for education for sustainability in the 21st Century”

Lee Jerome (Middlesex University)

“Agenda for Citizenship Education (ACE): a co-constructed agenda for education for democratic citizenship”

Rebekah Ackroyd (ECR) (University of Cumbria)

“Land:  what is it for and how do we decide? A democratic study of children and their families’ perspectives”

2014/15 Recipient

Dr Johanna Waters (University of Oxford)

“Internationalisation within Secondary Schools in England”

2009/10 Recipient

Giovanna Barzano (Institute of Education)

“Educational Accountability and Democracy: a right or threat?”

2008/2009 Recipient

Dr Tristan McCowan (University College London)

“Developing Citizenship in the University”

2007/08 Recipient

Dr Tom Woodlin (Institute of Education)

“Brian Simon (1915-2002) and educational change: an oral history approach’

2006/07 Recipients

Dr Lesley Abbott (University of Ulster)

“The Potential of Integrated Schools in Northern Ireland to Provide a Model of Inclusive Practice.”

Maria Tsitiridou-Evangelou (Oxford University)

“A Systematic Review on ‘hard-to reach’ families.”

2004/5 Recipients

Professor Jane Martin (London Metropolitan University)

“Making Socialists, 1880-1920: rediscovering Mary Bridges Adams and the Fight for Women, Education and a New Social Order.”

Analia Meo (University of Warwick)

“Female Friendship Groups in Secondary Schools in the City of Buenos Aires and how their patterns of Inclusive and Exclusionary Practices in: Interplay with Girls’ Social Gender and Learning Identities.”