My placement in the Market community offered valuable insight into how local organisations and schools work together to address educational underachievement. It helped shape the direction of my PhD, which looks at how whole communities can work together to improve educational outcomes.

Over the course of three months, I was immersed in the daily life of the MDA and the wider community. I attended community and staff meetings, took part in RAISE education meetings, and engaged with local residents, listening to their concerns, and responding to queries. These activities allowed me to get an insight into both the public-facing work and the quieter, behind-the-scenes efforts that go into supporting local residents, families, and young people. I also had the opportunity to learn about the local history and culture of the Market area, which helped me understand the community and the context for research. However, one of the most valuable aspects of the placement was learning about how communities mobilise their own knowledge, relationships, and resources to create change.

A key part of my time with the MDA was working in partnership with the team through a process of co-design. Here, we shared perspectives and collaboratively shaped the direction of the research. Together, we identified what was meaningful and feasible within the scope of the placement and the wider project. 

My time with the MDA has given me an appreciation of the inner workings of a community organisation, their relationship with formal education systems, and the potential of collaborative, place-based research. This experience has helped me to think differently about my role as a researcher and how I can work in more meaningful ways with communities.

With that said, I want to sincerely thank the staff at the MDA, local council staff, community residents, local schools, and other organisations I had the pleasure of working with. Thank you for your openness, kindness, and for allowing me the opportunity to learn from and with you.