Paula Rothermel
Dr Paula Rothermel (born 1963) is a leading UK academic in the field of home education (homeschooling). She is an Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts FRSA and an Elected Associated Fellow of the British Psychological Society (ABPS) (BPS). Paula Rothermel's doctoral thesis on home education (1996–2002) from the University of Durham remains the largest ever UK study into home education in the UK, using a national sample and involving 1099 children. The thesis is available on line and through the British Library loan system. Following completion of her doctorate Paula Rothermel completed an Economic and Social Research Council Post Doctoral Fellowship.
Paula Rothermel's work has been discussed at two Westminster Debates . Her many published articles have appeared in a number of formats such as, journals e.g.Rothermel 2005, Galloway and Rothermel 2005 ), books e.g. Durbin 2009, Oprean 2009, and the Encyclopedia of Educational Psychology.
Dr Rothermel is a Chartered Psychologist and Independent Expert Witness specializing in court cases where home education is an issue. She has appeared on television and spoken on radio and has been a regular contributor at international academic conferences. As an invited speaker e.g. Seminario de Bogotá (invited Keynote address) she has shared platforms with notables such as Pat Farenga and John Taylor Gatto. Her work has regularly been mentioned in the press, e.g. The Independent 26.3.09.
In 2009 Paula Rothermel contributed to the Badman Review of Home education and further submitted evidence to the July 2009 The Children, Schools and Families Committee (the parliamentary Select Committee with oversight of the work of the Department for Children, Schools and Families) which had announced its own inquiry into the handling of the Badman Review. Its report, which makes includes discussion of research by Paula Rothermel, was published on 16 December 2009.
Dr Rothermel's doctoral thesis is titled Home-Education: Rationales, Practices and Outcomes.
Paula Rothermel also works as an artist having studied as a figurative painter at the Slade School of Fine Art under the tutelage of Patrick George, Euan Uglow and Sir Lawrence Gowing between 1984-1988.