Charlotte Feather

I am a Senior Lecturer in the Professional Development and International Education team within the School of Education. I am the Programme Leader for the MA Special Educational Needs, Disability and Inclusion and the MA Special Educational Needs, Disability and Inclusion (DL), and work across our broader Level 7 provision as a module leader and thesis supervisor on the MA Education and the MA International Education. I also lead on the development and coordination of our Level 7 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) offer and deliver guest lectures across the Faculty of Education, Social Sciences, and Creative Industries.

My journey with the University of Sunderland began in 2017 as an undergraduate student on the BA (Hons) Primary Education with QTS, followed by postgraduate study on the MA Education. During this time, I built a strong network of researchers and practitioners both in the UK and internationally, which laid the foundations for co-establishing an educational consultancy. Through this work, we supported schools, universities, private and third-sector organisations to create more inclusive educational spaces and workplace cultures. Alongside this, I founded the LGBTQ+ Primary Hub – an online platform that supports primary educators in embedding LGBTQ+ inclusion in meaningful and curriculum-aligned ways.

Since 2022, I have been closely involved in the development and delivery of our Master’s provision, with a particular focus on inclusive and critically informed approaches. My academic interests centre on critical pedagogy for social justice, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and the professional identities of educators. I’m particularly interested in how structures of power, belonging, and resistance shape the experiences of early-career educators and those from marginalised groups. These themes not only shape my research, but they also underpin my teaching, leadership, and research practices.

Alongside my academic role, I lead on equity, diversity, and inclusion training both within the University and with external partners. I am also the Chair of the University’s Staff Pride Network, which works to advance LGBTQ+ inclusion and visibility through events, training, policy influence, and community building.