Aaron Coomer

Aaron Coomer is a PhD candidate in Social Research Methods, supervised by Sally Stares and Jouni Kuha.

His research examines the music education data ecosystem in England, exploring broadly the role of context in the national hub model's implementation and how quality provision is measured and understood by stakeholders and policy makers.

Aaron's research utilises mixed and participatory methods; crucially drawing on his experience working in schools in India, Russia, Mongolia and the US as a music teacher and teacher trainer. He is particularly interested in the concepts of student belonging and citizenship, how these concepts are fostered in schools and communities, and the role arts education can play in student inclusion and meaning-making in schools and communities.

Aaron holds an MA in International Education and Development from the University of Sussex and a Bachelor's of Music Education from the University of Louisville. In addition to his previous school-based work, Aaron has worked in various roles with international development organisations, including Sightsavers and the Peace Corps, contributing to disability inclusion, safeguarding, and education programming across sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

Research interests:

Education, Citizenship, Social Reproduction, Participatory Methods, Gender & Sexuality, Social Inclusion