Dr Amber Fensham-Smith

Professional biography

Dr Amber Fensham-Smith is a Senior Lecturer in Childhood and Youth Studies. Previously, Amber held lectureships at the University of Bedfordshire (2016-2020) and contributed to teaching in the School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University (2013-2016).  She holds a BA in Sociology (first class) from the University of Durham, an MSc in Social Science Research Methods from the University of Bristol, and a PhD in Education from Cardiff University. Amber is a member of the national editorial board of the Educational Review. 

Research interests

Amber is the co-director of the Children's Research Centre, Open University and previously convened the BERA Alternative Education Special Interest Group (2017-2024). Her research interests and expertise lie in alternative education and informal learning. Her ESRC funded doctorate explored the role of new technologies and learning communities and knowledge networks in UK home-education. This was a novel mixed-method study that involved 242 families across England, Scotland, and Wales (available here).  Prior to the completion of her PhD, Amber was commissioned by the Welsh Government and the ESRC to conduct a mixed-method research project on engaging Gypsy and Traveller Families in education. Subsequent community projects have used participatory methodologies (e.g. Photovoice) as a means to co-produce and empower children and young people to enact educational change.

Graduate research supervision

Amber welcomes queries from potential doctoral students in the field of alternative education studies and community-based learning, including:  

• Home education: self-managed, informal, and non-formal learning  
• Democratic schooling, consent-based pedagogies, and children’s voice
• Alternative provision settings, youth transitions and family engagement

Current Doctoral students

External supervisor to Lucie Wheeler (2023-) - 'Exploring the multi-faceted identify of the home educator: a case study approach, Anglia Ruskin University 

Students successfully supervised to completion: 

External supervisor to Anna Chinazzi (2020-2024) 'Home Education in Italy: Emic-etic perspectives on parental choice', University of Milano-Biocca, Italy 

Lead External Examiner, Doctoral College, The University of Warwick (2023)

Teaching interests

Amber begun teaching in Higher Education in 2013. Her commitment to teaching excellence, innovative assessment and substantial contributions to new course design and employability are recognised through Fellowship status of the Higher Education Authority.

Amber has worked in production and presentation across the Childhood and Youth Studies undegraduate programe, including E104 and E232. Together with Professor Kieron Sheehy and a large team from 2022-2024 she chaired the production of a large level 3 module E320: 'Contemporary Research with Children and Young People' (a compulsory module for Education Studies, Early Childhood and Childhood and Youth Studies). She is currently chairing E320 into its first presentation (September, 2024) alongside staff tutor Dr Jon Rainford and a team of 60 Associate Lecturers. 

 Amber is passionate about extending opportunities for co-production and partnerships between students and staff. She is the student voice and wellbeing pathway lead for the childhood and youth studies programme and plays an active role in the School's student voice and wellbeing group, and has supported the impact and engagement activities of EDI reciprocal mentoring programmes between students and staff with the Access Participation and Success Team, WELS (2023-2024) Amber is a research development mentor to colleagues in School. 

Impact and engagement

Amber is committed to knowledge exchange activities that foster connections between independent researchers and practitioners working, within and outside, of the academy. She regularly authors blogs, hosts podcasts and chairs public facing research events.  In 2021, Amber was invited to give oral evidence to the Education Committee’s Home Education Inquiry. Her work and recommendations for involving children and young people in policymaking was reflected in the Education Committee’s Strengthening Home Education Report/

Building on this work, Amber co-created the Elective Home Education HUB to support learners, educators and professionals working with home education families. 

• Guest editor (2024), Quality Education for All 
• Peer reviewer: British Educational Research Journal, Journal of Education Studies & Educational Review
• 2024 Financial Times & BBC Interview
• 2018 BBC Look North News media appearance 

External collaborations

Amber regularly collaborates with charities and researchers as part of her Children's Research Centre role. 

International links

Memberships & affliations: 

British Educational Research Association

International Centre for Home Education Research