Professor David Gillborn

• PhD Sociology of Education, University of Nottingham (1987)
• BA (Hons) Sociology of Education, University of Nottingham (1983)

David’s first full-time job in higher education was as a Lecturer in Education at the University of Sheffield. After a spell as a research fellow, working closely with Jean Rudduck and John Gray, he moved to the Institute of Education, University of London, in the Department of Policy Studies led by Geoff Whitty. Geoff went on to become Director of the Institute while David became a Reader in Sociology of Education (1996) and then a Professor (in 2000). During his spell at the Institute, David led two departments (Policy Studies and the School of Educational Foundations & Policy Studies) and led the Health & Education Research Unit (HERU).

After almost 20 years at the Institute, David moved to Birmingham in 2012. He founded the Centre for Research in Race & Education (CRRE) with Nicola Rollock and Paul Warmington in 2013, and became the Director of Research for the School of Education in 2015. David took early retirement, in 2021, in order to concentrate on writing.

David’s teaching and lecturing is closely allied to his research interests in Critical Race Theory and countering inequities in education. In particular, he focuses on education policy and the construction of race inequality; the complex and changing nature of racism(s) in educational practice; research methods and controversies in race scholarship. 

Race, Racism and Education: inequality, resilience and reform in policy and practice 

David was principal investigator for this major project, funded by the Society for Educational Studies. The project combined two key elements; first, a quantitative analysis of statistical data to provide the first-ever authoritative picture of the changing landscape of educational achievement and experience in relation to ethnic diversity over the 20 year span since the murder of Stephen Lawrence. Second, drawing on links with policy-makers, advisors and race equality advocacy groups, the research team used ethnographic interviews to explore the processes by which policy was formed, contested, and re-modelled during this unique period. 

Several research papers have appeared in international journals (see ‘publications’ section) and the team’s final report to funders.

The Educational Strategies of the Black Middle Class 

Funded by the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) this project explored how Black Middle Class parents view the education of their children. The research extends understandings of class/race intersections in the lives of parents, children and schools. Carol Vincent (UCL, Institute of Education) was the Principal Investigator. 

A book (The Colour of Class, written with Nicola Rollock, Carol Vincent and Stephen J. Ball) arising from this project was published in 2014

REACH: raising the aspirations and attainments of Black boys and young men 

Co-ordinated by the Department for Communities & Local Government, the REACH initiative brought together a range of activists, experts and community-members to explore ways of reducing race inequality in education. The group produced an independent report and went on to examine ways in which school inspections could be improved to better support race equality. 

Further information on the REACH project

Aiming High: African Caribbean Achievement Project 

David was part of the team (led by Professor Leon Tikly at Bristol University) that evaluated the pilot programme of 'Aiming High', an initiative dedicated to raising Black students' achievement through dedicated work with a sample of schools. Their report highlighted both successes and problems. 

Download the final report for the Aiming High: Africa Caribbean Achievement project

• Founding Editor and Editor-in-Chief, Race Ethnicity and Education
• Editorial Board Member, British Journal of Sociology of Education
• Editorial Board Member, International Journal of Inclusive Education
• Editorial Board Member, Review of Educational Research
• Fellow of the British Academy (FBA)
• Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS)
• International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences