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Role in the University
Dr Gareth Evans is Director of Education Policy at University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s Yr Athrofa: Institute of Education and Humanities, where he leads the Centre for Education Policy Review and Analysis (CEPRA).
The Centre provides a platform for debate and analysis in the field of education policy, challenging established norms and reflecting critically on the environment in which educators at all levels operate.
Background
A prolific writer and respected educationalist, Gareth was an education journalist for almost 10 years prior to joining the university, becoming the only specialist to work alongside four different Welsh education ministers.
As well as analysing, scrutinising and contributing to education policy in Wales, he now works with schools and other key stakeholders to help in its successful implementation. He leads the university’s involvement in the National Professional Enquiry Project (NPEP), designed to support teachers in becoming professional enquirers, and played a key role in developing the research base for the National Approach to Professional Learning (NAPL) in Wales.
As CEPRA Director, he oversees and contributes to commissioned research, reviews and analyses for a variety of organisations, pertinent to the fields of education and education policy.
Gareth’s book, A Class Apart: Learning the Lessons of Education in Post-Devolution Wales, charts the success and failure of education policy in Wales since devolution and was published to critical acclaim in 2015. He is a regular commentator in national print and broadcast media.
Academic Interests
Gareth is a member of a number of education advisory groups, and has recently agreed to join a new national forum to improve the recruitment and retention of teachers in Wales.
He has led international study visits to Canada and the Netherlands and contributed to numerous education conferences on a wide range of issues. Gareth has a particular interest in system reform and policy development.
Gareth lectures on and supports a number of postgraduate education programmes. His module on Yr Athrofa’s Professional Doctorate in Education (ECDE7014) explores contemporary issues in education and incorporates a number of key themes, including curriculum reform and the impact of poverty on attainment.
Research Interests
Gareth’s core research interests focus on education policy reform, particularly in the Welsh context. His current research activity relates to professional learning of the education workforce and accountability in schools. His doctoral research, completed in 2023, focussed on school leaders’ understanding of inspection in Wales.
Publications
Evans, G. (2015) A class apart: Learning the lessons of education in post-devolution Wales. Cardiff: Welsh Academic Press.
Evans, G. (2017) Tales from Toronto: Comparing education in Wales and Canada. Cardiff: British Council Wales.
Evans, G. (2018) Strategic context of professional learning in Wales. Cardiff: Welsh Government.
Evans, G. (2018) Collaborative networks of professional learning in Wales – literature review. Cardiff: Welsh Government.
Evans, G. (2018) Collaborative networks of professional learning in Wales – focus groups. Cardiff: Welsh Government.
Evans, G. (2019) Research project on teacher professional enquiry in Wales: Rapid report. Cardiff: Welsh Government.
Evans, G. (2019) Going global: Teaching outside the box. Cardiff: British Council Wales.
Evans, G. (2020) The value of asymmetric school weeks: Lessons learned from schools in Wales. Swansea: National Academy for Educational Leadership.
Evans, G. (2021) Back to the future? Reflections on three phases of education policy reform in Wales and their implications for teachers. Journal of Educational Change.
Evans, G., Llewellyn, S. & Lewabe, J. (2022) Towards a research-engaged teaching profession: Insider reflections on a collaborative approach to developing teachers in Wales as professional enquirers. Practice: Contemporary Issues in Practitioner Education.
Evans, G. (2023) Scratching beneath the surface: Using policy archaeology to better understand education reform in Wales. Management in Education.
Jones, K. & Evans, G. (2023) ‘Co-constructing a new approach to professional learning in Wales: Implementing a national vision’, in Jones, K., Ostinelli, G. & Crescentini, A. (Eds). Innovation in teacher professional learning in Europe: Research, policy and practice. Oxon: Routledge, 103-116.
Evans, G. (2023) A new dawn or false hope? Exploring the early implementation of Curriculum for Wales. Education Inquiry.