Dr Miles Thomas
Research Director
Department of Psychology & Human Development , School of Childhood and Social Care
Dr Miles Thomas is an HCPC-registered Educational and Child Psychologist with more than 20 years of experience in Local Authorities, where he has held Senior Specialist roles.
He has a particular interest in Solution-Focused Approaches, organisational change, and the social, emotional and mental health of children and young people. He is currently the Research Director for the Professional Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology at UEL.
Areas Of Interest
Miles' interests include applying solution-focused approaches, critical psychology, and inclusion. He is also interested in research methods, specifically: action research, participatory approaches, thematic analysis, Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and narrative approaches. As a chartered Coaching Psychologist with the British Psychological Society, he is also interested in Coaching, Positive Psychology, and Performance. He is Co-Editor of an open-access journal, Educational Psychology
OVERVIEW
Miles Thomas completed his Post Graduate Certificate in Education at the University of Bath and has taught in both the UK and Spain. He holds a Master's in Educational Psychology and a Doctorate in Child and Educational Psychology, both from UEL. He is also an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
CURRENT RESEARCH
Miles is currently undertaking research with Hackney Learning Trust into the effectiveness of parent coaches. He has supervised over 40 professional doctorates to completion and currently supervises the following doctoral projects.
- Broughton, H. (2024). The role of educational psychologists, virtual schools and designated teachers in supporting previously looked after children.
- O'Leary, S. (2024). Promoting the voices of children and young people who have experienced Domestic Abuse.
- Challoner, E. (2024). A Qualitative Exploration of Black Parents’ and Carers’ Experiences of Working with an Inner-London Educational Psychology Team.
TEACHING
Miles is the Module Leader for PY8115 Educational Psychology Complex Systems and Organisational Change.
Miles also teaches on other modules on the Professional Doctorate in Educational Psychology and other Psychology programmes at UEL.
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Prof Doc Educational and Child Psychology
Gain full-time professional training leading to registration with the Health and Caring Professions Council (HCPC) as an educational psychologist.
Publications
Browse past publications by year.
Full publications list
Visit the research repository to view a full list of publications
- Systematic literature review to explore the experience and impact group coaching has on parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities The Coaching Psychologist. 20 (2), pp. 45-56. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpstcp.2024.20.2.45
- Editorial Educational Psychology Research and Practice. 9 (2), p. 1. https://doi.org/10.15123/uel.8xwq6
- Teacher perceptions of mental health provision in secondary schools during the Covid-19 pandemic Research in Teacher Education. 12 (1), pp. 12-19. https://doi.org/10.15123/uel.8xvyw
- Editorial Educational Psychology Research and Practice. 8 (1), p. 1. https://doi.org/10.15123/uel.8v1v5
- Editorial Educational Psychology Research and Practice. 7 (2), p. 1. https://doi.org/10.15123/uel.8q735
- Professional Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology at the University of East London: Position Statement on Anti-Racism and Decolonisation Educational Psychology Research and Practice. 6 (1), p. 1–7. https://doi.org/10.15123/uel.89124