About
Research
Email: simon.uttley@stmarys.ac.uk
Biography
Visiting Professor in Catholic Education within the Institute of Education, Simon occupies that bit of the Venn diagram where research meets practice. Simon’s academic interests include the philosophy of education, the philosophies of Martin Heidegger, Jacques Derrida and Bernard Lonergan.
A serving Headteacher with eighteen years’ experience, Simon is also Adjunct Full Professor in Catholic education at the University of Notre Dame (U.S.A.), London Global Gateway, where he is Course Leader in Catholic Education and the Common Good. He also sits on the Commons’ and Lords’ Group for Family and Child Protection.
Simon is the founder and Programme Director of the Koinonia Group, a network of Catholic schools committed to close collaboration, research and partnership with St Mary’s.
Simon read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Oxford before undertaking a Master’s programme in the economics of education at University College London, Institute of Education. His Doctoral thesis examined authenticity in education through the lens of the works of Martin Heidegger, Jacques Derrida and Bernard Lonergan.
Internationally, Simon is the co-founder and joint Chair of the Eastern Slovak Educational Conference, Bardejov.
Simon’s recent research, speaking and writing, has addressed the pernicious effect of ‘post-truth’ on the young as well as the challenges and opportunities of school-to-school collaboration in an increasingly fragmented educational landscape. Recently he co-produced a symposium on Education, Mission and Media as part of the commemoration of the visit to St Mary’s of Pope Benedict XVI.
Research
Research profile
Selected recent works
- ‘Forming Catholic school teachers and leaders as ‘missionary disciples’: a view from England and Wales’ in Educatio Catholico – Rome: Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education. 2020 vol 1-2 pp 165-173
- 2022 ‘Don’t look back in anger – love, hatred, school life and an unexpected lunch with Iris Murdoch’ pastoral Review (April/May/June 2022)
- 2023 ‘Grief ; Observed’ Pastoral Review (July/Aug/Sept 2023)
- 2023 ‘The sheep do not get smellier than this: the place of the English Catholic secondary school in supporting clerical formation’ Pastoral Review Jan/Feb/March 2024 Vol 20 Issue 1 pp’ 12-17
- 2023 ‘Care for the poor, Laudato si’ and the Catholic educational mission: a philosophical reimagination’ in Educatio Catholico Anno IX 3-4/2023 pp. 371 - 381 Rome: Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education
- 2024 ‘Look back in anger – Catholic school leadership and the peace-making tradition’ in Whittle, S. and Wodon, Q. Leadership Matters in Catholic Education, Gateway East, Singapore : Springer
- 'Challenges facing Catholic Secondary Headteachers in a Contemporary Context’ in Lydon, J. [ed.] Contemporary perspectives on Catholic Education [2018] Leominster: Gracewing
- ‘Post tolerance, post-truth and fake news: a blight on the young?’ [2018] The Pastoral Review pp. 4-9
- Rebel With a Cause: Sebastian Wolff – monk, musician, pastor’ Hamburg: Tredition [2018]
- ‘Cor ad Cor Loquitor: a report into support and collaboration between maintained English Catholic schools and the role of the Catholic Higher Education Institution: distinctiveness, impact and challenge’ Research and Innovation [2019] London: St Mary’s University
- 2020 ‘Forming Catholic school teachers and leaders as ‘missionary disciples’: a view from England and Wales’ in Educatio Catholica – Rome: Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education. 2020 vol 1-2 pp 165-173