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Dr Rhian Barrance
- Welsh speaking
Teams and roles for Rhian Barrance
Senior Lecturer
Overview
I am a Lecturer at the School of Social Sciences, where I teach on education and sociology modules. I am also Director of the WISERD Education Multi-Cohort Study, a longitudinal cohort study of secondary school children in Wales which is now in its 14th year. This is a national study which is widely used by policy-makers as a key source of evidence about children's experiences of growing up in Wales.
My research interests include children's rights, activism and equity in education. I am currently working on a project on children and young people's involvement in social movements in Wales with colleagues at Cardiff, with a focus on children's activism around school policies and practices.
During my time at Cardiff I have completed two projects for the Children's Commissioner for Wales, including an evidence review on the human rights of children in Wales.
Additional roles:
- Wales Country Expert for UK's PISA 2025 Team
- Editorial board member for the Welsh Encyclopaedia of Social Sciences (Esboniadur Gwyddorau Cymdeithasol).
- Trustee of Play Wales
Publication
2026
- Connolly, M. et al. 2026. The philosophical, methodological and empirical problems in OECD's approach to creativity within PISA 2022. Research Papers in Education 41 (4), pp.513-539. (10.1080/02671522.2025.2610219)
- Barrance, R. et al. 2026. Schools as sites of activism: students’ political socialisation and activism at school. Children & Society 40 (4), pp.611-620. (10.1111/chso.70000)
2023
- Barrance, R. M. and Hampton, J. M. 2023. The relationship between subjective well-being in school and children’s participation rights: international evidence from the Children’s Worlds survey. Children and Youth Services Review 151 107038. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107038)
- Barrance, R. and Muddiman, E. 2023. Beyond bad behaviour? Towards a broader understanding of school student activism. British Journal of Sociology of Education 44 (6), pp.1087-1107. (10.1080/01425692.2023.2238906)
- Barrance, R. 2023. Unigolyddiaeth (Individualism). [Online].Porth Esboniadur: Esboniadur Gwyddorau Cymdeithasol. Available at: https://wici.porth.ac.uk/index.php?title=Unigolyddiaeth.
- Barrance, R. 2023. Émile Durkheim. [Online].Esboniadur Gwyddorau Cymdeithasol. Available at: https://wici.porth.ac.uk/index.php?title=Durkheim,_%C3%89mile.
- Barrance, R. 2023. Rhaniad llafur (Division of labour). [Online].Esboniadur Gwyddorau Cymdeithasol. Available at: https://wici.porth.ac.uk/index.php?title=Rhaniad_llafur.
- Barrance, R. 2023. Anomie. [Online].Esboniadur Gwyddorau Cymdeithasol. Available at: https://wici.porth.ac.uk/index.php?title=Anomie.
- Barrance, R. 2023. Solidariaeth (Solidarity). [Online].Esboniadur Gwyddorau Cymdeithasol. Available at: https://wici.porth.ac.uk/index.php?title=Solidariaeth.
- Barrance, R. 2023. Swyddogaetholdeb (Functionalism). [Online].Porth Esboniadur: Esboniadur Gwyddorau Cymdeithasol. Available at: https://wici.porth.ac.uk/index.php?title=Swyddogaetholdeb.
- Barrance, R. 2023. Ymwybyddiaeth dorfol (Collective consciousness). [Online].Porth Esboniadur: Esboniadur Gwyddorau Cymdeithasol. Available at: https://wici.porth.ac.uk/index.php?title=Ymwybyddiaeth_dorfol.
2021
- Barrance, R. 2021. Tiering in the GCSE: a children's rights perspective. British Educational Research Journal 46 (6), pp.1210-1231. (10.1002/berj.3629)
2020
- Barrance, R. and Elwood, J. 2020. National assessment policy reform 14–16 and its consequences for young people: Student views and experiences of GCSE reform in Northern Ireland and Wales. In: Isaacs, T. and Lamprianou, I. eds. Assessment Policy Reform. Oxford: Routledge. , pp.26-45.
- Barrance, R. 2020. The right to protest: A children’s rights perspective on the school climate strikes. [Online].British Educational Research Association Blog. Available at: https://www.bera.ac.uk/blog/the-right-to-protest-a-childrens-rights-perspective-on-the-school-climate-strikes.
2019
- Barrance, R. and Holland, S. 2019. How well is Wales monitoring its fulfilment of the Convention on the Rights of the Child? A view from Dr Rhian Barrance and Sally Holland, Children’s Commissioner for Wales. [Online].Cardiff: Wales Institute of Social & Economic Research, Data & Methods. Available at: https://wiserd.ac.uk/news/how-well-wales-monitoring-its-fulfilment-convention-rights-child-view-dr-rhian-barrance-and.
- Barrance, R. 2019. Why are primary school children in Wales so worried about tests?. [Online].Cardiff: Wales Institute of Social & Economic Research, Data & Methods. Available at: https://wiserd.ac.uk/news/why-are-primary-school-children-wales-so-worried-about-tests.
- Barrance, R. 2019. Beth Nawr,2019 The survey results and analysis of the experiences and worries of children and young people in Wales and their priorities for the Children’s Commissioner.. Project Report.[Online].Children's Commissioner for Wales. Available at: https://www.childcomwales.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/What-Now-Report.pdf.
- Barrance, R. 2019. The fairness of internal assessment in the GCSE: the value of students' accounts. Assessment in Education 26 (5), pp.563-583. (10.1080/0969594X.2019.1619514)
2018
- Davies, A. et al. 2018. Headteacher recruitment, retention and professional development in Wales: challenges and opportunities. Cylchgrawn Addysg Cymru / Wales Journal of Education 20 (2), pp.204-224. (10.16922/wje.20.2.11)
- Connolly, M. et al. 2018. Turning Heads: the impact of political reform on the professional role, identity and recruitment of head teachers in Wales.. British Educational Research Journal 44 (4), pp.608-625. (10.1002/berj.3450)
- Barrance, R. and Elwood, J. 2018. National assessment policy reform 14-16 and its consequences for young people: student views and experiences of GCSE reform in Northern Ireland and Wales. Assessment in Education 25 (3), pp.252-271. (10.1080/0969594X.2017.1410465)
- Barrance, R. and Elwood, J. 2018. Young people’s views on choice and fairness through their experiences of curriculum as examination specifications at GCSE. Oxford Review of Education 44 (1), pp.19-36. (10.1080/03054985.2018.1409964)
- Barrance, R. 2018. The human rights of children in Wales: An evidence review.
2017
- Barrance, R. 2017. WISERD GCSE Series – Part 3: Is tiering fair for all students?. [Online].wiserd.ac.uk: Wales Institute of Social & Economic Research, Data & Methods. Available at: https://wiserd.ac.uk/news/wiserd-gcse-series-part-3-tiering-fair-all-students.
- Barrance, R. 2017. WISERD GCSE Series – Part 2: Should internal assessment be used for GCSEs?. [Online].wiserd.ac.uk: Wales Institute of Social & Economic Research, Data & Methods. Available at: https://wiserd.ac.uk/news/wiserd-gcse-series-part-2-should-internal-assessment-be-used-gcses.
- Barrance, R. 2017. WISERD GCSE Series - Part 1: Should all GCSE students be assessed the same way?. [Online].wiserd.ac.uk: Wales Institute of Social & Economic Research, Data & Methods. Available at: https://wiserd.ac.uk/news/wiserd-gcse-series-part-1-should-all-gcse-students-be-assessed-same-way.
- Barrance, R. 2017. Climate change and poverty are as much of a threat as terrorism for many young people. The Conversation 2017 (27 Mar)
Articles
- Connolly, M. et al. 2026. The philosophical, methodological and empirical problems in OECD's approach to creativity within PISA 2022. Research Papers in Education 41 (4), pp.513-539. (10.1080/02671522.2025.2610219)
- Barrance, R. et al. 2026. Schools as sites of activism: students’ political socialisation and activism at school. Children & Society 40 (4), pp.611-620. (10.1111/chso.70000)
- Barrance, R. M. and Hampton, J. M. 2023. The relationship between subjective well-being in school and children’s participation rights: international evidence from the Children’s Worlds survey. Children and Youth Services Review 151 107038. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107038)
- Barrance, R. and Muddiman, E. 2023. Beyond bad behaviour? Towards a broader understanding of school student activism. British Journal of Sociology of Education 44 (6), pp.1087-1107. (10.1080/01425692.2023.2238906)
- Barrance, R. 2021. Tiering in the GCSE: a children's rights perspective. British Educational Research Journal 46 (6), pp.1210-1231. (10.1002/berj.3629)
- Barrance, R. 2019. The fairness of internal assessment in the GCSE: the value of students' accounts. Assessment in Education 26 (5), pp.563-583. (10.1080/0969594X.2019.1619514)
- Davies, A. et al. 2018. Headteacher recruitment, retention and professional development in Wales: challenges and opportunities. Cylchgrawn Addysg Cymru / Wales Journal of Education 20 (2), pp.204-224. (10.16922/wje.20.2.11)
- Connolly, M. et al. 2018. Turning Heads: the impact of political reform on the professional role, identity and recruitment of head teachers in Wales.. British Educational Research Journal 44 (4), pp.608-625. (10.1002/berj.3450)
- Barrance, R. and Elwood, J. 2018. National assessment policy reform 14-16 and its consequences for young people: student views and experiences of GCSE reform in Northern Ireland and Wales. Assessment in Education 25 (3), pp.252-271. (10.1080/0969594X.2017.1410465)
- Barrance, R. and Elwood, J. 2018. Young people’s views on choice and fairness through their experiences of curriculum as examination specifications at GCSE. Oxford Review of Education 44 (1), pp.19-36. (10.1080/03054985.2018.1409964)
- Barrance, R. 2017. Climate change and poverty are as much of a threat as terrorism for many young people. The Conversation 2017 (27 Mar)
Book sections
- Barrance, R. and Elwood, J. 2020. National assessment policy reform 14–16 and its consequences for young people: Student views and experiences of GCSE reform in Northern Ireland and Wales. In: Isaacs, T. and Lamprianou, I. eds. Assessment Policy Reform. Oxford: Routledge. , pp.26-45.
Monographs
- Barrance, R. 2019. Beth Nawr,2019 The survey results and analysis of the experiences and worries of children and young people in Wales and their priorities for the Children’s Commissioner.. Project Report.[Online].Children's Commissioner for Wales. Available at: https://www.childcomwales.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/What-Now-Report.pdf.
- Barrance, R. 2018. The human rights of children in Wales: An evidence review.
Websites
- Barrance, R. 2023. Unigolyddiaeth (Individualism). [Online].Porth Esboniadur: Esboniadur Gwyddorau Cymdeithasol. Available at: https://wici.porth.ac.uk/index.php?title=Unigolyddiaeth.
- Barrance, R. 2023. Émile Durkheim. [Online].Esboniadur Gwyddorau Cymdeithasol. Available at: https://wici.porth.ac.uk/index.php?title=Durkheim,_%C3%89mile.
- Barrance, R. 2023. Rhaniad llafur (Division of labour). [Online].Esboniadur Gwyddorau Cymdeithasol. Available at: https://wici.porth.ac.uk/index.php?title=Rhaniad_llafur.
- Barrance, R. 2023. Anomie. [Online].Esboniadur Gwyddorau Cymdeithasol. Available at: https://wici.porth.ac.uk/index.php?title=Anomie.
- Barrance, R. 2023. Solidariaeth (Solidarity). [Online].Esboniadur Gwyddorau Cymdeithasol. Available at: https://wici.porth.ac.uk/index.php?title=Solidariaeth.
- Barrance, R. 2023. Swyddogaetholdeb (Functionalism). [Online].Porth Esboniadur: Esboniadur Gwyddorau Cymdeithasol. Available at: https://wici.porth.ac.uk/index.php?title=Swyddogaetholdeb.
- Barrance, R. 2023. Ymwybyddiaeth dorfol (Collective consciousness). [Online].Porth Esboniadur: Esboniadur Gwyddorau Cymdeithasol. Available at: https://wici.porth.ac.uk/index.php?title=Ymwybyddiaeth_dorfol.
- Barrance, R. 2020. The right to protest: A children’s rights perspective on the school climate strikes. [Online].British Educational Research Association Blog. Available at: https://www.bera.ac.uk/blog/the-right-to-protest-a-childrens-rights-perspective-on-the-school-climate-strikes.
- Barrance, R. and Holland, S. 2019. How well is Wales monitoring its fulfilment of the Convention on the Rights of the Child? A view from Dr Rhian Barrance and Sally Holland, Children’s Commissioner for Wales. [Online].Cardiff: Wales Institute of Social & Economic Research, Data & Methods. Available at: https://wiserd.ac.uk/news/how-well-wales-monitoring-its-fulfilment-convention-rights-child-view-dr-rhian-barrance-and.
- Barrance, R. 2019. Why are primary school children in Wales so worried about tests?. [Online].Cardiff: Wales Institute of Social & Economic Research, Data & Methods. Available at: https://wiserd.ac.uk/news/why-are-primary-school-children-wales-so-worried-about-tests.
- Barrance, R. 2017. WISERD GCSE Series – Part 3: Is tiering fair for all students?. [Online].wiserd.ac.uk: Wales Institute of Social & Economic Research, Data & Methods. Available at: https://wiserd.ac.uk/news/wiserd-gcse-series-part-3-tiering-fair-all-students.
- Barrance, R. 2017. WISERD GCSE Series – Part 2: Should internal assessment be used for GCSEs?. [Online].wiserd.ac.uk: Wales Institute of Social & Economic Research, Data & Methods. Available at: https://wiserd.ac.uk/news/wiserd-gcse-series-part-2-should-internal-assessment-be-used-gcses.
- Barrance, R. 2017. WISERD GCSE Series - Part 1: Should all GCSE students be assessed the same way?. [Online].wiserd.ac.uk: Wales Institute of Social & Economic Research, Data & Methods. Available at: https://wiserd.ac.uk/news/wiserd-gcse-series-part-1-should-all-gcse-students-be-assessed-same-way.
Biography
Education and qualifications
2012-2016: PhD Education, Centre for Children's Rights, Queen's University Belfast
2010-2011: PGCE Secondary English, Cardiff Metropolitan University
2008-2009: MA Medieval British Studies, Cardiff University
2005-2008: BA English Language and Literature, University of Oxford
