Dr Barbara Walker directs the School’s part-time professional doctorate (EdD) and is heavily involved in CARE’s programme of applied research. Before becoming a lecturer in 2004 she spent eleven years in the Centre as a contract researcher, working on a wide range of projects most of which used ethnographic methods. Her personal research interests have covered home/school liaison at secondary level, sex education, and teenage boys’ acquisition of ‘masculinity’. Currently she is involved in developing a portfolio of research and evaluations focussing on the interface between the arts and communities in a variety of settings.

Funded Research

• ‘Visual Dialogues’, funded by the DCMS in association with the DfES and Trustees of Tate Britain, 2004-2008

• ‘Beyond Poetry Matters’ funded by the Poetry Trust, 2006-2008

• ‘Eastfeast Evaluation’, funded by TDA, 2006-2008

• ‘Evaluation of the Da Capo Music Programme’ funded by Creative Partnerships, 2004-2005

• `On Tour Evaluation’, funded by the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, 2005

• ‘Public Music Education Programme’, funded by Community Music East, 2003-2005

• ‘A Change for the Better’. Funded by TTA, 2003

• ‘Music Life Project’, funded by Community Music East, 2001-2002

• ‘Making Music Using Technologies’, funded by Community Music East, 2002

• ‘I Can’t Play Music Project: Evaluation’ funded by Community Music East, 2000-2002

• ‘Special School Inclusion Project: Evaluation’, funded by Norfolk Local Education Authority, 2001

• ‘Understanding Boys’ Sexual Health Education and its Implications for Attitude Change’, funded by ESRC, 1998-2000.

• ‘Secondary School Parents’ Evenings: a qualitative study’, funded by ESRC, 1997-1998

Conference Presentations

• (2006) Walker, B. Has individualization killed the role model? Paper presented to the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco

• (2006) Blickem, C. & Walker, B. Conspiracy and Gossip as a form of Enquiry Paper presented to the Discourse, Power, Resistance Conference, Manchester

• (2004) Member of panel for an ICARE symposium. American Educational Research Association, San Diego.

• (2003) Walker, B. Where are today’s role models? Exploring boys’ sibling society Paper presented to the British Educational Research Association Conference, Edinburgh

• (2003) Walker, B. How Was It For You? The other side of the research process Paper presented to the American Educational Research Association, Chicago

• (2001) Walker, B. The Missing Person: dynamics of teacher-parent-student talk Paper presented to the European Educational Research Association conference, Lille

• (2001) Walker, B. & MacLure, M. When Home Comes to School: double-binds at the interface Paper presented to the British Educational Research Association, Leeds, as part of the symposium 'Participatory Democracy in the context of school, parent, teacher and student relationships - an exploration of the problems and possibilities'

• (2001) Walker, B. & MacLure, M. Partnership in Practice Invited paper presented as part of the ESRC 'Parents and Schools: Diversity, Participation and Democracy' programme, UEA, Norwich

• (2000) Walker, B. Inside the Triangle: aspects of boys' identity work Paper presented to the European Educational Research Association, Edinburgh

• (2000) Kushner, S., Walker, B. & Tar, J. The Community Music Debate: some practice issues Paper presented to the British Educational Research Association, Cardiff

• (2000) Walker, B. Seen from their Perspective: the disposable camera as a tool for research into adolescent boys' construction of gender identity Paper presented to the American Educational Research Association annual meeting, New Orleans

• (1999) Schostak, J. & Walker, B. Symbolic Violence: challenges of risk and uncertainty to the identity of boys Paper presented to the European Educational Research Association, Lahti, Finland

• (1999) Walker, B. & MacLure, M. Parent-Teacher Consultations in Secondary Schools Paper presented to the British Educational Research Association, Brighton

• (1999) Walker, B. & Schostak, J. Not quite belonging Paper presented to the EU Socrates-funded conference, Children’s Identity and Citizenship in Europe, London

• (1998) Walker, B. Parent/Teacher Dialogue: the secondary sector Paper presented to the European Educational Research Association, Ljubliana, Slovenia

• (1998) Walker, B. & MacLure, M. Disenchanted Evenings: the social organization of parent-teacher consultation in UK secondary schools Paper presented to American Educational Research Association, San Diego

• (1997) Walker, B. Qualitative Interviewing: the view from the other side Paper presented to European Educational Research Association, Frankfurt

• (1997) Frankham, J. & Walker, B. Peer Education:Young People's Voices Invited paper presented at the ESRC Adolescent Health and Lifestyle Seminar Series, Brighton

• (1997) Walker, B. Piggy in the Middle Invited paper presented at the Thomas Coram Research Unit Youth and Transitions seminar programme, London University Institute of Education, London

• (1997) Walker, B. Boys Growing Up Paper presented to American Educational Research Association, Chicago

• (1996) Frankham, J. & Walker, B. Peer Education: An examination of its premises and promise. Paper presented to European Educational Research Association, Seville

• (1996) Walker, B. Building Masculinity Paper presented to European Educational Research Association, Seville

• (1996) Walker, B. Parents' Evenings at the Secondary School Paper presented to British Educational Research Association, Lancaster

• (1996) Walker, B. What About the Boys? Paper presented to British Educational Research Association, Lancaster

• (1995) Frankham, J. & Walker, B. Peer Education - are we taking things for granted? Invited paper presented to the conference "Peer Counselling/Peer Education" organised by the Trust for the Study of Adolescence at the National Children's Bureau, London

• (1995) Walker, B. You learn it from your mates, don't you?" Talk about sex amongst the young Paper presented to American Educational Research Association, San Francisco

• (1994) Walker, B. Personal, professional and political questions in sex education research Paper presented to British Educational Research Association, Oxford

Research and Evaluation Reports

• (2005) Blickem, C. & Walker, B. The Music Life Project 2: Evaluation report (Norwich: Community Music East)

• (2005) Wilkinson, S. & Walker, B. The Da Capo Evaluation (Norwich: CARE)

• (2004) Elliott, S., Long, S., Walker, B., Bridges, D. The dynamics of the graduate labour market in the East of England (UEA, Norwich & East of England Development Agency)

• (2004) Walker, B. Obstacle or Opportunity? The value of engaging with educational progression and accreditation for a community organization (Norwich: Community Music East)

• (2004) Walker, B. Change2Teaching Website Update: report to TTA (Norwich: CARE)

• (2002) Walker, B. ‘I Can’t Play Music’: evaluation report (Norwich: Community Music East)

• (2002) Walker, B. The Music Life Project: evaluation report (Norwich: Community Music East)

• (2002) Walker, B. Making Music Making Technologies Report (Norwich: Community Music East)

• (2001) Walker, B. Special Education Needs in Norfolk: evaluation report (Norwich: CARE)

• (2001) Kushner, S., Walker, B. & Tarr, J. Case Studies and Issues in Community Music (Bristol: University of the West of England)

• (2001) Walker, B. et al. Kerrison Final Report (Norwich: Community Music East)

• (2001) O'Hanlon, C., Teggin, M., & Walker, B.M. Young People Achieving their Potential in Rural Norfolk? (Norwich: CARE)

• (2000) Walker, B.M and Schostak, J.F Boys Sexual Health Education: implications for attitude change (continuation) Final Report to the Economic and Social Research Council. (Norwich: CARE)

• (1999) MacLure, M. & Walker, B. Secondary School Parents’ Evenings final report to the ESRC (Norwich: CARE)

• (1997) Walker, B. and Kushner, S. BOYS: Understanding boys' sexual health education and its implications for attitude change - final report to the ESRC (Norwich: CARE)

• (1977) Walker, B. BOYS: Understanding boys' sexual health education and its implications for attitude change - the case studies (Norwich: CARE)

• (1995) Kushner, S., Beattie, C., Rice, J., Walker, B. TEP, the school and the classroom (Norwich: CARE)

• (1995) Higham, B., Walker, B., Zamorski, B. The Voice in Community Music Seminar (Norwich: Community Music East)

• (1994) Walker, B. No-one to talk with: Norfolk young people's conversations about sex - a basis for peer education (Norwich: CARE)

• (1993) Fox, J., Walker, B. "It's not a bed of roses": Young Mothers' Education Project Evaluation Report (Norwich: CARE)