How is theory used to understand and inform practice in the alternative provision sector in England: trends, gaps and implications for practice (2024)
Journal Article
Johnston, C., Malcolm, A., & Jodie Pennacchia, J. (in press). How is theory used to understand and inform practice in the alternative provision sector in England: trends, gaps and implications for practice. International Journal of Inclusive Education, https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2024.2342363

This article examines how theory features in the research literatures concerning the English alternative (education) provision (AP) sector. Despite increasing interest over the past decade in how AP can (re)engage school-aged young people in learning... Read More about How is theory used to understand and inform practice in the alternative provision sector in England: trends, gaps and implications for practice.

A systematic review of the effectiveness of reading comprehension interventions in the South African multilingual context (2024)
Journal Article
Carter, J., Podpadec, T., Pillay, P., Babayiğit, S., & Gazu, K. A. (2024). A systematic review of the effectiveness of reading comprehension interventions in the South African multilingual context. Educational Research and Evaluation, 29(1-2), 69-103. https://doi.org/10.1080/13803611.2024.2314522

International comparative measures show that South Africa has extremely low standards in reading. A variety of programmes aimed at boosting reading have been developed, however, the effectiveness of these programmes is unclear. Prior reviews of effec... Read More about A systematic review of the effectiveness of reading comprehension interventions in the South African multilingual context.

Joining the dots? Special education and alternative provision (2024)
Journal Article
Tomlinson, S., & Johnston, C. (2024). Joining the dots? Special education and alternative provision. FORUM, 66(1), 91-99. https://doi.org/10.3898/forum.2024.66.1.09

The English mass state education system, developing over 150 years, has created subsystems for children and young people who had difficulty in functioning at or beyond 'mainstream' schooling, or whose behaviour was deemed inappropriate. While many de... Read More about Joining the dots? Special education and alternative provision.

Outcomes beyond evaluation: The impetus and measure of relationships within alternative provisions (2023)
Journal Article
Johnston, C., & Nolty, T. (2023). Outcomes beyond evaluation: The impetus and measure of relationships within alternative provisions. Youth, 3(4), 1183-1193. https://doi.org/10.3390/youth3040075

In the context of rising interest in Alternative Provisions (APs) amongst policymakers and researchers in England, this article examines social capital and accountability in this ‘new’ field of enquiry. APs stress the value of supportive relationship... Read More about Outcomes beyond evaluation: The impetus and measure of relationships within alternative provisions.

The pupil referral unit to prison pipeline (2023)
Presentation / Conference
Johnston, C. (2023, October). The pupil referral unit to prison pipeline. Paper presented at Westminster Insights: Tackling School Exclusions Conference, London

Both school exclusion, poverty and disability are prospective markers for increased risk of subsequent contact with criminal justice system in general and justice-involved samples. However, relationships between school exclusion and these factors hav... Read More about The pupil referral unit to prison pipeline.

The relationships of young disabled men on the margins of alternative provision (2023)
Presentation / Conference
Johnston, C. (2023, September). The relationships of young disabled men on the margins of alternative provision. Paper presented at British Educational Research Association, Aston University

This paper is based on qualitative data gained from young working-class men with disabilities on the margins of Alternative Provisions (APs), located within a medium sized local authority in England. Young males are disproportionately placed into APs... Read More about The relationships of young disabled men on the margins of alternative provision.

Relationships on the margins of alternative provision (2023)
Presentation / Conference
Johnston, C. (2023, September). Relationships on the margins of alternative provision. Presented at Relationality in Alternative Provision, Leeds Beckett University

A style of work in education that prioritises the maintenance of helpful staff-student relations would hardly seem contentious. Such work might even be considered as crucial within settings that specifically set out to cater for students in the after... Read More about Relationships on the margins of alternative provision.

The Other Side of the Bridge: Disability, Class and Social Exclusion (2023)
Presentation / Conference
Johnston, C. (2023, September). The Other Side of the Bridge: Disability, Class and Social Exclusion. Presented at Understanding disability, gender, class and educational attainment, NEON, London

Absence of value - Masculinity, disability and class in alternative provision (2023)
Presentation / Conference
Johnston, C. (2023, September). Absence of value - Masculinity, disability and class in alternative provision. Presented at Driving Impact - Supporting the Educational Outcomes and Progression of Working-Class Boys Conference, Manchester Met University

In this paper, I explore aspects of alternative provision (AP), education settings created to provide short-term support for school-aged young people in England excluded from or unable to be placed in ‘regular’ schools. AP is an element of the Engli... Read More about Absence of value - Masculinity, disability and class in alternative provision.