Professor James F. Donnelly
Professor of Science Education, Director of Research
Tel: +44 (0)113 3434608
Fax: +44 (0)113 3434683
Email: J.F.Donnelly@education.leeds.ac.uk
My main fields of research are: science curriculum theory; social history of science education; policy issues in science education; applied learning in science
Member of CSSME.
Interests
After graduating in chemistry at University College London I worked in secondary schools, before joining the Assessment of Performance Unit (APU) science team at Leeds. I was appointed to a lectureship in 1989.
I have held ESRC research grants focusing on the assessment of pupil laboratory work within the GCSE, investigatory work under the National Curriculum and change and continuity in teachers' work. I have also undertaken historical work on the relationship between chemical education and the chemical industry, and the history of chemical engineering. My most recent large research project (2003-6) is funded by the ESRC and focuses on the origins, implementation and impact of the GCSE in Applied Science. A report of this work is available here.
I was Co-ordinator of the Evaluation of Twenty First Century Science Project. My final report can be downloaded here.
In conjunction with my colleague Edgar Jenkins I contributed to the Royal Society Conference on post-16 take up in 2006. The report of the conference can be found here.
I was until 2007 the Editor of the journal Studies in Science Education. It has now transferred to Taylor & Francis, and is edited by my colleagues Jim Ryder and Phil Scott.
A Royal Society working group of which I am a member is developing a set of State of the Nation Reports on science and mathematics education. The first report, on teacher supply, has already been published and is available here. The second report, on science and mathematics education 14-19, can be downloaded here. I chaired the sub-group for this report.
I have recently undertaken work on the implementation of the 2006 science GCSEs for QCA, and with my colleague Jenny Lewis on a study, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, of A-level Applied Science. The report can be found here. In conjunction with Jim Ryder I am Co-Investigator on a large ESRC-funded study (EISER) of the implementation and impact of the most recent reforms of the science curriculum at KS4.
I supervise work on philosophical and policy aspects of the science curriculum and curriculum reform.
Centre for Studies in Science and Mathematics Education Homepage
Selected Publications
PAPERS
Bell, J. and Donnelly, J (2009). "Applied Science in the English school curriculum: the meaning and significance of ‘vocationalization’". Journal of Curriculum Studies, 41(1), 25-47. Read Abstract.
Bell, J., Donnelly, J., Homer, M., Pell, G. (2009). "A value-added study of the impact of science curriculum reform using the National Pupil Database". British Educational Research Journal, 35(1), 119-35. Read Abstract.
Donnelly, J (2006). "The intellectual positioning of science in the curriculum, and its relationship to reform". Journal of Curriculum Studies, 38, 623-40. (PDF File, 77K). Read Abstract.
Donnelly, J (2006). "Continuity, stability and community in teaching". Educational Philosophy and Theory, 38(3), 311-25. Read Abstract.
Bell, J and Donnelly J (2006). "A vocationalized school science curriculum?". International Journal of Science Education, 28, 1389-1410.
Bell, J., and Donnelly, Jim (2006). "Double Award Applied Science: issues and responses". School Science Review, 88(323), 57-65.
Donnelly, JF (2005). "Reforming science in the school curriculum: a critical analysis". Oxford Review of Education, 31(2), 293-309.
Bell, J. and J. Donnelly (2005). "Creating applied science in schools". School Science Review, 86(317), 111-8.
Donnelly, J (2004). "Ethics and the science curriculum". School Science Review, 86(315), 29-32.
Donnelly, J (2004). "Humanizing science education?". Science Education, 88(5), 762-84.
BOOKS
Bell, J. and Donnelly, J.F (2007). "Positioning Applied Science In Schools: Uncertainty, Opportunity and Risk in Curriculum Reform". CSSME.
Donnelly, J, Jenkins, EW (2001). "Science education: policy professionalism and change". Paul Chapman/SAGE.
Extended list of publications.
This page last updated by James Donnelly on 9th April 2009