Dr Karen Tatham

Profile

I am a social scientist with significant expertise in vocational education and employment transitions into sustained, decent jobs. My work addresses complex and enduring regional educational and labour market inequalities experienced by young people in Northern post-industrial communities in the UK, including the translation of research into impact and policy.

I am currently working on two skills projects at the University of Leeds:

• Policy and Impact Research Associate for UK RAS-STEPS in the School of Mechanical Engineering, a national ESPRC-funded project supporting Robotics Autonomous Systems (RAS) Research Technical Professionals in their career progression
• As Policy Officer for Policy Leeds, leading on research into impact on: Systems Mapping: achieving Decent Vocational Transitions to Education and Employment for Young People NEET in Sheffield and Barnsley

I am passionate about education being transformative in young people’s outcomes, and the importance of access to ‘good jobs’ in early careers. I am a career switcher, completing a PhD in the School of Sociology and Social Policy at University of Leeds in 2025 examining vocational transitions to high skilled work, illuminating the different industry logics and norms by which a ‘career’, ‘progression’, and who is a ‘higher-skilled worker’ are defined and shaped by a sector. This study was the first to adopt a sector-based, local approach to vocational career sequences and occupational pathway mapping.

I worked as a primary teacher for 16 years, including as Headteacher and Deputy, in areas of significant socioeconomic deprivation where closing the education gap requires a holistic, family-centred approach to change children and parents’ lives. I hold the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH). I have significant expertise in educational inequalities, school improvement, Ofsted, SEND, pupil premium, closing the gap strategies, and placed-based, community approaches to supporting children and young people, and parents.

Responsibilities

• UK RAS-STEPS project: Technician Career Progression in Robotics Autonomous Systems
• Policy Officer: Sheffield City Council and supporting young people NEET in construction pathways
• Funding Hub project-developing a central funding resource

Qualifications

• PhD Sociology
• MSc Inequalities and Social Science
• PGCE and NPQH
• BSc (Hons) Chemistry

Professional memberships

• British Sociological Association

Student education

I have extensive experience in teaching on Level 3 and Foundation level undergraduate studies as a PGR. I am an outstanding teaching practitioner: in 2020 I was awarded the University of Leeds Partnership Award for PGRs who Teach for inspirational practice.

Research groups and institutes

• Research and innovation