Dr. Rachel Davies

Biography

Rachel taught science in a range of inner London secondary schools and colleges for the past 20 years. Since January 2023, Rachel has been committed to social justice education, having spent the majority of her career teaching GCSE and A-level Biology at colleges serving low socio-economic status communities, where she has been highly successful in raising achievement in teaching and learning. She has held departmental and whole school leadership positions in teaching and learning while transitioning to academia. In addition, she has delivered a professional development programme for a school in Uganda. Rachel is passionate about outdoor activities and has provided opportunities to inspire students by establishing and implementing the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme at her college, which she has successfully led for five years. Rachel joined King's College London in 2019 and completed her MA in Education part-time, beginning her role as a visiting lecturer for the Biology PGCE course in 2021. Her dissertation focused on GCSE assessment and its impact on teachers and students within the context of raising educational standards, while her PhD explores the relationship between biology teachers' habitus, beliefs, and teaching practices within the context of neoliberal education policy. In her free time, Rachel enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking in mountains across Europe, Asia, and South America, as well as spending time with family, gardening, and playing the piano.

Research Interests

Experience