Barry Carpenter

Barry Carpenter was recently appointed to the UK’s first Professorship in Mental Health in Education, at Oxford Brookes University. He is Honorary Professor at universities in the Ireland, Germany and Australia. He has been a Fellow of the University of Oxford.

He has been awarded an OBE and CBE by the Queen for services to children with Special Needs. In 2017 he was entered into “Who’s Who” in acknowledgement of his national and international contribution to the field of Special Education. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Barry has held the leadership positions of Headteacher, Principal, Academic Director, Chief Executive, Inspector of Schools and Director of the Centre for Special Education at Westminster College, Oxford.

In 2009, he was appointed by the Secretary of State for Education as Director of the Children with Complex Learning Difficulties and Disabilities Research Project.

What subjects and genres does Barry Carpenter write in?

Carpenter writes mainly in special education and educational practice, with a focus on mental health in education, complex learning difficulties and disabilities, access to learning, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). His books are professional/non-fiction resources for educators, researchers and practitioners.

Which of his books are good starting points for teachers and teaching assistants?

Practical entry points listed on his author page include Engaging Learners with Complex Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (a resource book for teachers and teaching assistants) and Enabling Access. These titles focus on classroom strategies and inclusive practice.

Are his books part of a series or is there a recommended reading order?

His titles are generally standalone professional works rather than a narrative series. Read by topic and need, for example, group the FASD-focused books together and select classroom/practice texts (Engaging Learners, Enabling Access) when seeking practical guidance.

Has Barry Carpenter received recognition for his work in education?

Yes. He was appointed to the UK’s first Professorship in Mental Health in Education, has held honorary professorships, been a Fellow of the University of Oxford, and has been awarded an OBE and CBE for services to children with special needs; he was also entered into Who’s Who for his contributions to special education.

Are his books suitable for parents or primarily aimed at professionals?

Many of his books are written for professionals (teachers, teaching assistants, researchers, policy makers). However, titles such as Families in Context and books on FASD may also be useful to informed parents and carers; check individual book descriptions to confirm intended audience.