Jethro Shirley-Smith

Jethro Shirley-Smith is a PhD researcher in education exploring how Gypsy, Roma and Traveller students experience higher education. His work focuses on questions of belonging, recognition, and inclusion, examining how students navigate institutions that are not always designed with them in mind. Drawing on qualitative research, he looks at the everyday strategies students use to participate and succeed, and what these reveal about how inclusion actually works in practice. His research connects these experiences to wider debates on knowledge mobilisation, social justice, and the role of education in supporting sustainable and meaningful change. Before beginning his PhD, Jethro worked in primary education, where he developed a strong interest in equity and access. He remains committed to research that bridges academic insight and real-world impact, particularly in relation to underrepresented communities in education. In his spare time, he enjoys playing live music, going for walks, and spending time with his family.