The Philosophy Of Education Society Of Great Britain

Charity Number: 287214

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Approximately £60,000-80,000 (estimated from grant programs)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 2 weeks (Small Grants); Annual cycle (Large Grants)
  • Grant Range: £750 - £10,000
  • Geographic Focus: UK (primarily) with international eligibility for members

Contact Details

  • Website: www.philosophy-of-education.org
  • Email: christopher.winch@kcl.ac.uk (Secretary)
  • Phone: 020 7848 3852
  • Small Grants Administrator: Asa Melander (smallgrantspesgb@outlook.com)

Overview

The Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain (PESGB) was founded in 1964 to support teacher education and the development of educational philosophy as an academic discipline. Now a well-established learned society, PESGB promotes the study, teaching, and application of philosophy of education through conferences, publications (including the Journal of Philosophy of Education), and grant programmes. In 2023, the charity reported total income of £184,322 and expenditure of £196,063. The Society supports both emerging and established academics, offering grants ranging from small conference attendance awards to substantial doctoral studentships and seminar series funding. Originally focused on teacher education following the Robbins Report of 1963, PESGB has evolved into an internationally-focused research-oriented society while maintaining strong connections to educational practice. The Society is registered as charity number 287214.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants (up to £750)

  • Rolling basis applications accepted throughout the year
  • Support for conference attendance to deliver papers in philosophy of education
  • Research support (excluding employment costs)
  • National and international academic collaborations
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration projects
  • Decision timeline: Usually within 2 weeks
  • Applications permitted once every 24 months
  • Can apply up to 6 months before planned activity

Large Grants (Annual competition)

  • Doctoral Scholarships: Tuition fee contributions for full-time and part-time PhD students in philosophy of education at UK universities (typically home student rate or contribution to international rate)
  • Staff-Led Doctoral Studentships: 3-year rolling funding for PhD students, covering tuition fees based on supervisor-submitted project proposals
  • Seminar Series Grant: Up to £10,000 for organizing philosophy of education seminar series
  • Miscellaneous Grant: Up to £3,000 for one-off seminars, seed corn research meetings, and qualifying initiatives
  • Annual call for applications posted on website and emailed to members

Partnership Grants

  • Collaborates with British Academy Special Funds for additional research support

Priority Areas

  • High-quality philosophical research with educational relevance
  • Advanced scholarship producing academic publications
  • Projects linking philosophy of education with policy and practice
  • Interdisciplinary research connecting philosophy of education with other academic fields
  • Support for early and mid-career academics
  • Doctoral research in philosophy of education
  • Academic conferences and seminars in the field

What They Don't Fund

  • Attendance at the PESGB annual conference (covered by other mechanisms)
  • Empirical data collection
  • Doctoral fees through Small Grants (use Large Grants instead)
  • IT equipment or software purchases
  • Employment costs or salary support
  • Applications from non-members
  • Applications from members with less than one year's standing
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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (12 members)

Elected Officers:

  • Bob Davis, Chair - University of Glasgow
  • Michael Hand, Vice-Chair - University of Birmingham
  • Chris Winch, Secretary - King's College London
  • Richard Davies, Treasurer - University of Central Lancashire
  • Laura D'Olimpio, Conference Chair - University of Birmingham

Additional Elected Trustees:

  • Andrea English - University of Edinburgh
  • Ruth Heilbronn - IOE

Other Trustees:

  • David Bakhurst, Editor of Journal of Philosophy of Education - Queen's University, Canada
  • Joris Vlieghe, Grants Committee Chair
  • Adrian Skilbeck, Development Committee Chair
  • Alex Nikolaidis, Communications Committee Chair
  • Oli Belas, Inclusion Committee Chair

The Board of Trustees has ultimate responsibility for directing and governing the Society. No trustees receive remuneration. The Grants Committee manages both Small and Large Grants schemes.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Small Grants:

  • Complete the small grants application form available at philosophy-of-education.org/grants/small-grants/
  • Can apply at any time throughout the year (rolling basis)
  • Must apply at least 6 months before planned event/activity
  • Submit to Small Grants administrator: Asa Melander (smallgrantspesgb@outlook.com)

Large Grants:

  • Annual call for applications announced on website and via email to members
  • Application details available in “Large Grants Scheme 2026” document
  • Applications submitted through online portal when call is open
  • Different forms for different grant types (Doctoral Scholarships, Seminar Series, etc.)

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a PESGB member for at least one year before applying
  • Membership subscription must be up-to-date
  • Small Grants: Can only apply once every 24 months

Decision Timeline

Small Grants:

  • Decision usually within 2 weeks of submission
  • Rapid turnaround for conference and event funding

Large Grants:

  • Annual competition cycle
  • Specific decision dates not publicly disclosed
  • Varies by grant type

Doctoral Studentships:

  • 3-year funding period with annual rolling payments
  • Subject to satisfactory progression on doctoral programme

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The Society had total expenditure of £196,063 in 2023, though the specific proportion allocated to grants versus other activities (conferences, publications, operations) is not broken down publicly.

Reapplication Policy

Small Grants:

  • Applicants can reapply once every 24 months
  • No specific guidance on reapplying after rejection

Large Grants:

  • Can reapply in subsequent annual cycles
  • No stated restrictions on reapplication after unsuccessful attempts

Application Success Factors

Membership is Essential:

All applicants must be PESGB members for at least one year. Membership costs £34 annually (£12 for students/unwaged, £18 for members with non-Western income).

Alignment with Philosophy of Education:

Projects must clearly relate to philosophy of education, not merely education research. The Society prioritizes philosophical inquiry into educational concepts, practices, and policies.

Quality and Academic Rigor:

The Society emphasizes “high-quality philosophical research with educational relevance” and “advanced scholarship producing publications.”

Career Stage Considerations:

PESGB explicitly supports “early and mid-career academics” - applications demonstrating career development impact may be viewed favorably.

Institutional Support Gaps:

For Small Grants conference funding, applications are strongest “where employing institutions are unwilling to cover the cost” - demonstrating genuine need strengthens applications.

Interdisciplinary and Practical Links:

The Society values “projects linking philosophy of education with policy, practice, and other research areas” - showing broader impact beyond pure philosophy enhances applications.

Clear Research Outputs:

Applications for research support should specify expected academic publications or other concrete outputs.

Timing for Small Grants:

Apply up to 6 months before your planned activity, allowing sufficient time for processing and planning.

For Doctoral Studentships:

Staff-led studentships require a strong project proposal from the supervisor - the strength of the research project design and supervisory team is paramount.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Join early: Membership requirement of one year means planning ahead - join at least 12 months before you need funding
  • Low membership barrier: At £12-£34 annually, membership is highly affordable and provides access to grants worth up to £10,000
  • Quick decisions on Small Grants: Two-week turnaround makes this ideal for conference funding needs
  • Annual Large Grants cycle: Watch for annual calls and plan applications accordingly - missed deadlines mean waiting another year
  • No empirical data collection: Focus on philosophical/theoretical work rather than empirical research
  • Conference grants are competitive: Only funded where institutions won't cover costs - demonstrate genuine financial need
  • Doctoral funding unique: Staff-led studentships based on supervisor proposals offer distinctive route to PhD funding in this specialized field
  • Interdisciplinary work valued: Connecting philosophy of education to policy, practice, or other disciplines strengthens applications

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References