Deputy Principal to Present Research on Resilience at US Education Conference
We’re proud to share that our new Deputy Principal of Curriculum and Quality, Heather Marks, will be flying to Denver, Colorado this month to present her doctoral research at the prestigious American Educational Research Association (AERA) conference. This is the largest education conference in the United States and brings together educators, researchers and policymakers from around the world.
Heather will be sharing insights from her ongoing study, “Exploring Resilience in 16-18 Year-Olds Studying Land-Based Courses”, with international delegates and academics.
Her research explores how land-based learning, especially in outdoor, animal-focused and practical settings, can help young people in further education build emotional resilience, reconnect with their learning, and thrive. Using trauma-informed and ecological approaches, Heather’s work highlights how working with animals, engaging in hands-on tasks and learning in natural environments can support students who may have experienced challenges in traditional classroom settings.
Speaking about her new role and research, Heather said:
“Joining Capel Manor College isn’t just a new role, it’s a mission. It’s an opportunity to lead with purpose, embed excellence, and raise the profile of land-based education nationally. My vision is to create a culture where staff feel empowered, students thrive, and education, nature and community come together to transform lives.”
Heather’s research is a powerful reflection of our commitment to inclusive, student-centred education where academic growth and emotional wellbeing go hand in hand.
As the only environmental college in London, we are delighted to see our leadership contributing to international conversations about education, mental health and the transformational potential of nature-based learning.
We will be sharing more from Heather’s visit to AERA over the coming weeks, so stay tuned.
