Staff Profile
I am a Visiting Fellow with the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences (ECLS) and member of the Centre for Learning and Teaching (CfLaT). My research interests include the personal and social development of children and young people, and professional 'boundary crossing' in multi-agency and inter-disciplinary settings.
I am the Training, Development and Research Lead with the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), Education Team (part of the Office of the Northumbria Police & Crime Commissioner). We design and deliver a range of violence reduction themed learning for children and young people, and professionals working with them.
In partnership with CfLaT's Prof. David Leat, Dr Alison Whelan and Ulrike Thomas, the VRU Education Team are successfully delivering violence reduction themed Project Based Learning to children and young people in Alternative Provision, SEND and SEMH settings.
Since 2013 I have been investigating the processes to be found in Sail Training, an outdoor adventure residential experience aboard a sailing vessel manifesting in personal and social development, with outcomes including inter- and intra-personal, such as well-being and the formation and development of character. My doctoral study explored the process(es) and experiences of sail training practitioners and crew participants during a six-day sail training voyage.
My research interests include:
- the investigation of outdoor adventure education (OAE) processes for personal and social development;
- pedagogical approaches to violence reduction themed learning;
- boundary crossing experiences, that is the subjective experience as we move from one context, setting or 'frame of mind' to another, particularly Year-6 to Year-7 transition;
- using and further developing participatory approaches to educational research, such as visual methods, collaboration and co-production.
My current post does not include any teaching responsibilities, however, I do hold a Post Graduate Certificate in Education in Post-Compulsory Education (PGCE; University of Bedfordshire). I have been involved in the design, development and delivery of specialist vocational training for police officers and police staff.
I am currently supervising an MEd student.
- Fletcher E. Navigating procedural ethics and ethics in practice in outdoor studies: an example from sail training. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning 2022, 22(1), 92-100.
- Fletcher E. Sail Training: Using acculturation to activate a socio-cultural or natural pedagogy. Pedagogy, Culture and Society 2021, 29(3), 341-357.
- Fletcher E, Prince H. Steering a course towards Eudaimonia: The effects of sail training on well-being and character. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning 2017, 17(3), 179-190.
- Prince H, Fletcher E. Ocean Youth Trust North: A report on the social impact of sail training. University of Cumbria/Ocean Youth Trust North, 2019.