Rachel Davies

Rachel has taught science in a range of inner London secondary schools and colleges for the past 20 years until January 2023. Rachel is committed to social justice in education and as such has spent the majority of her career teaching GCSE and A-level Biology in low socio-economic status colleges where she was highly successful in raising achievement and teaching and learning. 

She has held departmental (Head of GCSE Science) and whole school leadership positions for teaching and learning in several colleges before moving into academia. She has also delivered a professional development programme in a Ugandan school. She is very passionate about outdoor activities and providing opportunities for all. This inspired her to establish, design and implement a Duke of Edinburgh award scheme in her college, which she led successfully for five years. 

Rachel joined King's College London in 2019 when she completed an MA in Education part-time and began working as a visiting lecturer on the Biology PGCE course in 2021.

Her dissertation focused on the GCSE assessment and its impact and effects on teachers and students in the context of raising educational standards for all. Her PhD draws on the lenses of teachers' beliefs and Bourdieu's theory of practice in 'An exploration of the relationship between biology teacher habitus, beliefs and the influence of their institutions on their teaching practice within the context of neoliberal education policy'.

In her free time, Rachel loves the outdoors and has spent a lot of time hiking in mountains throughout Europe, Asia and South America. She also enjoys spending time with her family, gardening and playing the piano. 

Research 

Rachel is interested in how biology teachers teach in the classroom and why they adopt their pedagogical practices, particularly looking at the influences of their social context, school type and neoliberal policy.

Her PhD title is 'An exploration of the relationship between biology teacher habitus, beliefs and the influence of their institutions on their teaching practice within the context of neoliberal education policy'.

Supervisors are Melissa Glackin (Lead) and Sara Black.

Learn more about her research on her PURE profile.

Teaching 

Rachel teaches on the Science PGCE course and leads the Biology PGCE course.