Dr Judith Hebron

Profile

I am an Associate Professor, Chartered Psychologist and Fellow of the British Psychological Society. I lead the BSc Psychology with Education (BPS accredited programme) and contribute to teaching across a number of programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level. I have previously served as Deputy Chair of the Business, Environment and Social Sciences joint Faculty Research Ethics Committee.

My research focuses primarily on autism and education, in particular the experiences and well-being of autistic girls. I have previously led research exploring social relationships of autistic young people (friendship and bullying), as well as investigating the experiences of the primary to secondary school transition for autistic students. I am also interested in mental health, psychosocial development of young people, counselling psychology, SEND and inclusive education. I am a member of the Inclusion, Childhood and Youth Research Centre (ICY).

My undergraduate degree was in Modern and Medieval Languages (French and Italian); I subsequently trained and worked as a secondary school teacher and Head of Modern Languages for over a decade at schools in England and Wales. I returned to higher education in 2008 to complete an MEd in Psychology of Education, followed by a PhD in Education and Psychology.

I joined the School of Education at the University of Leeds in August 2017, having previously spent six years at the University of Manchester as a post-doctoral research fellow, research associate, and lecturer, and a year as senior lecturer in Psychology and Child Development at Leeds Trinity University.

Responsibilities

• Programme Manager BSc Psychology with Education

Research interests

My main research interests are in the educational experiences and well-being of young people with autism. Current and previous research focuses on social relationships and bullying, mental health, girls with autism, primary to secondary school transition, school connectedness, and effective interventions.

More broadly, I am interested in educational and psychological research that encompasses inclusive education (including international contexts), special educational needs and disabilities, risk and resilience.

<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Any research projects I'm currently working on will be listed below. Our list of all <a href="https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/dir/research-projects">research projects</a> allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.</p>

Qualifications

• PhD Education and Psychology
• MEd Psychology of Education
• BA/MA Modern and Medieval Languages
• Post-Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE)
• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

Professional memberships

• Fellow of the British Psychological Society (FBPSs)
• Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol)
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Student education

I am programme lead for the BSc Psychology with Education, a BPS-accredited programme. In addition, I lead and contribute to modules on the BA Childhood Studies, BA Education and the MA Special Educational Needs programmes, as well as supervising fina year Major Projects and dissertations as undergraduate and postgraduate level. I am personal tutor to students on the BSc Psychology with Education across all years of study. 

Research groups and institutes

• ICY: Inclusion, Childhood & Youth Research Centre
• Centre for Curriculum, Pedagogy and Policy

Current postgraduate researchers

• Lamya Alfadhel
• Joanne Callaghan
• Dr Sarah Cobbe
• Kat Farrell
• Karen Banks
• Joanne McCulloch
• Luke McFarline
• Clare Copley

<h4>Postgraduate research opportunities</h4> <p>The school welcomes enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants from all around the world who are interested in PhD study. Our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk">research opportunities</a> allow you to search for projects and scholarships.</p>