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Dr. Gavin Murphy
Associate Professor, Education

Biography

Dr Gavin Murphy is an Associate Professor at the School of Education, Trinity College Dublin, where he acts as Professional Master of Education (PME) Registrar and leads the Leadership and Policy strand of the M.Ed.

Prior to this, Gavin was a Teaching Fellow in Educational Leadership at the School of Education, University College Dublin and an Honorary (Visiting) Fellow at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne. In both of these institutions his work focused on teaching and research connected to educational policy, reform and leadership, as well as work connected to initial and ongoing teacher education more broadly. Gavin also holds an M.Phil. in educational research from the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, where he held a Cambridge European Scholarship from the Cambridge Trust. Gavin is also a qualified and experienced post-primary school languages teacher.

Gavin's current teaching responsibilities include doctoral, M.Ed. (Leadership and Policy; M.Oid. san Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta), and PME programmes. Gavin has previously taught on Postgraduate Certificates in (a) 21st Century Teaching and Learning (b) Diversity and Inclusion in Further Education and Training programmes.

During 2020/ 21, Gavin established the 'In Conversation With' pubic webinar series, hosting international experts in the field to talk about educational policy and leadership issues connected to contemporary themes from research, policy and practice.

In September 2023, Gavin was a Chen Yidan Visiting Global Fellow at Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) and returned to HGSE as a Fulbright Irish Scholar in Spring 2024.

Gavin was the founding Convenor of the Teacher Education and Development Research Group at the School of Education in late 2024.

For an overview of Gavin's research interests, take a look at this short video:

Publications and Further Research Outputs

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Teacher Professional Development and Immersion Education:Spotlight on an Irish-medium teacher development programme in, editor(s)Brian Mooney , Education Matters | Ireland's Education Yearbook 2024, 2025, pp353 - 356, [Gavin Murphy] Book Chapter, 2025 URL

Helen Stokes, Gavin Murphy, Pauline Thomson, Leading trauma-informed professional learning: Insights from Australian and Irish schools, International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement, Dublin, January 2024, 2024 Conference Paper, 2024

Gavin Murphy, Developing Teachers, Developing Leaders: Relationships Between Research-Engagement, Leadership Development, and School Evaluation, Dismantling Racial Injustice and Constructing Educational Possibilities: A Call to Action, Philadelphia, April 2024, edited by American Educational Research Association , 2024 Conference Paper, 2024

Gavin Murphy and Dympna Devine, Sensemaking in and for times of crisis and change: Irish primary school principals and the Covid-19 pandemic, School Leadership and Management, 2023 Journal Article, 2023 URL

Gavin Murphy, Joanne Banks, Distributed Leadership For Inclusive Middle Leadership Practice: Exploring Gaps, Challenges and Opportunities, The Value of Diversity in Education and Educational Research , Glasgow, August, edited by European Educational Research Association , 2023 Conference Paper, 2023

Michael Buckley, Gavin Murphy, Contemporary Roles of Chairpersons, Principals and Teachers on Boards of Management in Primary Schools in the Republic of Ireland , The Value of Diversity in Education and Educational Research , Glasgow, August, edited by European Conference of Educational Research , 2023 Conference Paper, 2023

Devitt, Ann, Banks, Joanne, Bray, Aibhin, Murphy, Gavin, Sanchez, Sergio, Sandoval, Marta, Mapping Evidence-Based Practices Within the Universal Design for Learning Framework, Interrogating Consequential Education Research in Pursuit of Truth, Chicago, United States, 13-16th April 2023, edited by American Educational Research Association , 2023 Conference Paper, 2023

Gavin Murphy, Marco Snoek, Zoe Robertson, Collaborative Professional Learning and the Role of Universities, The Value of Diversity in Education and Educational Research , Glasgow, August , edited by European Conference of Educational Research , 2023 Conference Paper, 2023

Gavin Murphy, Principals' accounts of practices, system support and challenges in leading secondary immersion education in Ireland, Journal of Educational Administration and History, 2022, phttps://doi.org/10.1080/002206 Journal Article, 2022 URL

Gavin Murphy and Thomas Brennan, Enacting Distributed Leadership in the Republic of Ireland: Assessing Primary School Principals' Developmental Needs Using Constructive Developmental Theory, Educational Management, Administration and Leadership, 2022, phttps://doi.org/10.1177/174114 Journal Article, 2022 URL

Gavin Murphy, Dympna Devine, Sensemaking in and for times of crisis and change: Irish primary school principals and the Covid-19 pandemic, Leadership+, (124), 2022 Review Article, 2022

Gavin Murphy and Melanie Ni Dhuinn, The possibilities and potential of a pedagogical partnership between university and community-based initial teacher educators for LGBTQ+-specific inclusion and diversity, Frontiers in Education | Teacher Education, 2022, phttps://doi.org/10.3389/feduc. Journal Article, 2022

Gavin Murphy and Melanie Ní Dhuinn, Pedagogy, possibilities and potential of a partnership between formal and informal teacher educators for LGBTQ+-specific inclusion and diversity, Education Studies Association of Ireland, Dublin, April 2022, 2022 Conference Paper, 2022

Gavin Murphy and Thomas Brennan, Enacting Distributed Leadership in the Republic of Ireland: Assessing Primary School Principals' Developmental Needs Using Constructive Developmental Theory, Education Studies Association of Ireland, Dublin , April 2022, 2022 Conference Paper, 2022

Gavin Murphy and Melanie Ní Dhuinn, Pedagogical practices and partnerships promoting LGBTQ+ specific inclusion and diversity approaches in an initial teacher education programme module, Association for Teacher Education in Europe Winter Conference, Sestri Levante, Italy, April 2022, 2022 Conference Paper, 2022

Putting research evidence into practice. Policy directions and professional futures. in, editor(s)Brian Mooney , Ireland's Yearbook of Education 2020-21 | Education Matters, Dublin, 2021, pp334 - 338, [Gavin Murphy] Book Chapter, 2021

Gavin Murphy, Melanie Ní Dhuinn and ShoutOut, Capacity building partnership to promote equity and justice in teacher and school leaders' education for LGBTQ+ school community members, TCD's Pride in Research, Trinity College Dublin, June 2021, 2021 Conference Paper, 2021

Gavin Murphy, Exploring Irish-Immersion School Principals' Leadership Identities: Practices, Policy and Professionalism, The European Conference on Educational Research, Geneva (Online), September 2021, 2021 Conference Paper, 2021

Gavin Murphy, Blake Coulter, Jo Gleeson, Quality use of research: Considerations from Ireland and Australia for Irish leaders engaged in school self-evaluation, Leadership+, 2021 Review Article, 2021

Gavin Murphy, Performing or Reforming? Teacher Leaders' Perspectives of Putting Research into Practice in the Republic of Ireland, The European Conference on Educational Research, Geneva (Online), September 2021, 2021 Conference Paper, 2021

Evidence-Informed Practice in the Context of the Republic of Ireland in, editor(s)Joel Malin and Chris Brown , The Handbook of Evidence-Informed Practice in Education: Learning from International Contexts, Emerald Publishing Limited, 2021, [Gavin Murphy and Martin Brown] Book Chapter, 2021

Gavin Murphy, Leadership Preparation in Initial Teacher Education, American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, 2020, 2020 Conference Paper, 2020

A Decade of School Leadership Research Insights, Implications, Applications in, editor(s)Brian Mooney , Education Matters | Ireland's Yearbook of Education 2019-20, Dublin, 2020, pp183 - 189, [Gavin Murphy] Book Chapter, 2020

Gavin Murphy, Leadership preparation, career pathways and the policy context: Irish novice principals' perceptions of their experiences, Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 2020 Journal Article, 2020 URL

Exploring and Queer(y)ing the Subjectivity of Educational Leadership Researchers Who Pursue Queer Issues in, editor(s)Richard Niesche and Amanda Heffernan , Theorizing Identity and Subjectivity in Educational Leadership Research, Routledge, 2020, pp176 - 190, [Bryan Duarte and Gavin Murphy] Book Chapter, 2020

Bryan Duarte and Gavin Murphy, Engaging With Educational Leadership Researchers Who Pursue Queer Issues: Lessons for Preparation and Development, American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, 2020, 2020 Conference Paper, 2020

Gavin Murphy, Exploring Principals' Understandings and Cultivation of Leadership at All Levels During Initial Teacher Preparation School Placement, International Studies in Educational Administration, 47, (2), 2019, p88-106 Journal Article, 2019

Taking charge of accountability in, Australian Educational Leader, Australia, 2019, pp52 - 54, [Gavin Murphy and David Gurr] Book Chapter, 2019

Gavin Murphy, A systematic review and thematic synthesis of research on school leadership in the Republic of Ireland, Journal of Educational Administration, 57, (6), 2019, p675 - 689 Journal Article, 2019

Gavin Murphy, 10 years of Irish research on school leadership: What does it say? , Leadership+, (110), 2019 Review Article, 2019

Bryan Duarte and Gavin Murphy, Queer(y)ing educational leadership researchers who pursue queer issues: What comes next? , University Council for Educational Administration, New Orleans, 2019, 2019 Conference Paper, 2019

A tangled tale? Teachers making sense of school evaluation in The Republic of Ireland in, editor(s)Eli Ottesen and Fiona Stephens , School Evaluation with a Purpose: Stories from European Schools, Routledge, 2018, pp53-66 , [Gavin Murphy] Book Chapter, 2018

Gavin Murphy, Student Voice and Participation - A Critical Review with specific reference to the Leadership in and Administration of Irish Post-Primary Schools, European Educational Research Association, Copenhagen, 2017, 2017 Conference Paper, 2017

Gavin Murphy, A review of leadership preparation and development for the Irish secondary school context, Education Studies Association of Ireland, Cork, 2017, 2017 Conference Paper, 2017

Gavin Murphy, (Dis)connected Through Mentoring During School Placement? An Exploratory Case Study of Irish Secondary Schools Since 2014 Initial Teacher Education Reform, European Educational Research Association, Dublin, 2016, 2016 Conference Paper, 2016

Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications

Gavin Murphy, Contemporary School Leadership in the Irish Context: What We've Learnt and What Lies Ahead, Boston College, 2 April 2024, 2024, Lynch School of Education and Irish Studies, Boston College Invited Talk, 2024

Gavin Murphy, Language and Literacy Instruction in Irish Policy and Practice Contexts, Literacy and Languages Speaker Series, Harvard Graduate School of Education, 10 April 2024, 2024, Prof. Catherine Snow and HGSE Ed.M. Literacy and Languages Concentration Invited Talk, 2024

Gavin Murphy, In Conversation With: Educational Policy and Leadership Experts | Quality Teaching and Quality Teaching Rounds. An Overview., February, 2023, Online Meetings /Conferences Organised, 2023

Gavin Murphy, In Conversation With: Educational Policy and Leadership Experts | Evidence Use for Educational Improvement: Integrating data-informed decision-making and research-informed teaching, March, 2023, Online Meetings /Conferences Organised, 2023

Gavin Murphy, In Conversation With: Educational Policy and Leadership Experts | School Middle Leaders' Sensemaking of a Generally Outlined Reform, February , 2023, Online Meetings /Conferences Organised, 2023

Gavin Murphy, Policy and practice of professional development in Ireland: Critically appraising contemporary issues from an educational leadership perspective, Masters in Educational Leadership and Learning, University of Edinburgh, March, 2023 Invited Talk, 2023

Gavin Murphy, In Conversation With: Educational Policy and Leadership Experts | Rethinking School Leaders' Work, March, 2023, Online Meetings /Conferences Organised, 2023

Gavin Murphy, Joanne Banks, Distributed Leadership: Inclusive Culture and the Middle Leader, Education Scotland - Middle Leadership Development, Online, May, 2023, Education Scotland Invited Talk, 2023

Gavin Murphy, In Conversation With: Educational Policy and Leadership Experts, January, In:Culturally Responsive School Leadership, 2022 Meetings /Conferences Organised, 2022

Murphy, G. and Brennan, T. , Leading evaluation for school and teacher development, Collective of Educational Leaders, University of Wollongong, Australia, Online, 1 June , 2022, Dr Kylie Lipscombe Invited Talk, 2022

Gavin Murphy, High-Leverage Practices - Refining and Reflecting on Pedagogical Practices for Real World Contexts, Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board Teach Meet, Online, October, 2022, Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board Invited Talk, 2022

Teachers' Education Review, 'School Leadership with Gavin Murphy', Australia, 2021, - Broadcast, 2021

Melanie Ní Dhuinn, Gavin Murphy, Declan Fahie, Bella Fitzpatrick, 'LGBTQI+ Issues in Education', Let's Talk About Sociology of Education, Spotify, 2021, - Broadcast, 2021

Gavin Murphy, Overviewing school leadership: Considerations from theory and research for the Irish context, Leadership and Management in Education, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, 22 September , 2021, Dr T.J. Ó Ceallaigh Invited Talk, 2021

Gavin Murphy, Education: Putting evidence into practice (Ireland), Education: Putting evidence into practice, Mechelen, Belgium, 2021, Centre of Expertise for Effective Learning, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences Invited Talk, 2021

Gavin Murphy, In Conversation With: Educational Policy and Leadership Experts, December, In:Growing a diverse school leadership pipeline for educational equity, 2021 Meetings /Conferences Organised, 2021

Gavin Murphy, In Conversation With: Educational Policy and Leadership Experts, November , In:Contemporary issues in educational policy and leadership research and practice, 2021 Meetings /Conferences Organised, 2021

Gavin Murphy, In Conversation With: Educational Policy and Leadership Experts, November, In:Middle leadership in schools: A research overview, 2021 Meetings /Conferences Organised, 2021

Centre for School Leadership, 'Newly appointed senior leaders' perceptions of their preparation in a reformed policy context', (Blogs and Fireside Chats), https://cslireland.ie/new-senior-leaders-hex/45-learning-to-be-a-school-leader/new-senior-leaders/890-new-senior-leader-research.html, Centre for School Leadership, 2020, - Broadcast, 2020

Dympna Devine, Ciara Nic Cárthaigh, Gavin Murphy, So, How Was School Today?, Dublin, 2017 Report, 2017

Research Expertise

Description

Gavin's research and teaching interests lie at the intersection of educational policy, leadership, and professional education and development. The overarching focus is on critically examining the formulation and implementation of educational reforms, facilitating research-informed change and improvement within schools, promoting educational quality and equity, and understanding how these elements manifest through leadership in applied, practical settings. Four key areas structure this agenda: 1. Professional Education and Adult Learning: Investigating the policies, programmes, and practices related to the education and ongoing professional learning of educators (teachers, school middle and senior leaders, and system leaders, such as those working in school inspection/ evaluation and in the provision of professional development). 2. Leadership of Educational Policy and Reform: Exploring the leadership and contextual factors influencing the success of educational policy implementation and reform efforts, both at the system level and within specific schools. Areas of emphasis include policies related to professional learning, school evaluation/improvement, and language/literacy development. 3. Research Engagement in Professional Practice: Examining the role of research, evidence, and data in informing professional education programs and enabling effective organisational/school leadership. Additionally, exploring how research engagement in professional practice as educators supports educational quality and equity, as well as collaborative professional enquiry and learning. 4. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Education: Investigating issues related to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion through educational policy formulation and leadership approaches, specifically culturally and linguistically responsive leadership, and LGBTQ+ inclusive leadership. Gavin welcomes enquiries from prospective students for D.Ed., Ph.D. and M.Ed. studies in these areas.

Projects

  • Title
    • FoSTER: Frameworks of School-Support For Teachers' Engagement With/In Research
  • Summary
    • This research project seeks to understand the breath and scope of the ways that schools support teachers to engage with and in research in the UK and Ireland.
  • Funding Agency
    • Oxford University
  • Date From
    • Nov 2021
  • Date To
    • Jul 2022
  • Title
    • QUEER(Y)ING: Asking questions of teacher and school leader education for LGBTI+ youth and schooling
  • Summary
    • This project maps the provision of formal and informal evidence-based education through teacher and school leader education provision nationally. Its aims are: 1. to assist in the promotion of LGBTI+ inclusive schools and society; 2. to have equal, fair and just educational experiences for the LGBTI+ community in all schools; and 3. to realise Ireland's inclusive education policy context through professional learning opportunities, including the generation of a website for this purpose from an LGBTI+ perspective. It is a government-funded project and is connected to the National LGBTI+ Youth Strategy. This project is in collaboration with Dr Declan Fahie, School of Education, University College Dublin.
  • Funding Agency
    • Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
  • Date From
    • 2019
  • Date To
    • 2020
  • Title
    • School leader preparation, development and identity in post-primary immersion schools
  • Summary
    • This small-scale project, funded by An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, explores the educational policy and leadership context of minority language immersion schooling in Ireland, eliciting the voices and experiences of a cohort of practising principals in both Gaeltacht and non-Gaeltacht areas.
  • Funding Agency
    • An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta
  • Date From
    • 2018
  • Date To
    • 2020
  • Title
    • Capacity Building for LGBTI+ Inclusion in Teacher & School Leaders' Education
  • Summary
    • Funded by the Department of Justice. Collaborative capacity-building and research project with ShoutOut and teacher education and professional learning scholars.
  • Funding Agency
    • Department of Justice
  • Date From
    • 2020
  • Date To
    • 2022
  • Title
    • Leading Trauma-Informed Practice in Schools
  • Summary
    • In collaboration with Prof Helen Stokes and Dr Pauline Thompson, Melbourne Graduate School of Education.
  • Funding Agency
    • University of Melbourne
  • Date From
    • 2023
  • Date To
    • 2024

Keywords

Education policy; Educational Leadership and Management; Professional education and development; Teacher Education

Recognition

Representations

External Examiner, University College Cork 2021

External Examiner, University of Glasgow 2020

Education Studies Association of Ireland, Executive Committee 2022

Editorial Board Member, Quality Education for All 2023

National Representative for the International Study Association on Teachers and Teaching (ISATT) 2024

Oide Leadership - Programme Endorsement Panellist 2023

Editorial Board Member, Journal of Educational Administration and History 2024

External Examiner, Queen's University Belfast 2025

External Examiner, Ulster University 2025

Reviewer School Leadership and Management 2022

Board of Management, Post-Primary School 2020

Research Engagement Group, Teaching Council 2018

Reviewer International Journal of Leadership in Education 2020

Reviewer Journal of Educational Administration and History 2018

Reviewer Leadership and Policy in Schools 2021

Reviewer for Educational Management Administration and Leadership 2019

Awards and Honours

Fellow, Trinity College Dublin 2025

Visiting Professor, University of Southampton, Southampton Education School. June 2024

Fulbright Irish Scholar, Harvard Graduate School of Education. 2023-24

Chen Yidan Global Visiting Fellow. Harvard Graduate School of Education. September 2023

Endeavour Research Fellowship, Australia Awards. Melbourne Graduate School of Education. 2018

Cambridge European Scholarship, Cambridge Trust. Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge. 2015

Memberships

International Study Association on Teachers and Teaching 2024

International Congress of School Effectiveness and Improvement 2022

American Educational Research Association 2020 – 2024

University Council of Educational Administration 2018 – 2020

Education Studies Association of Ireland 2018 – 2024