Professor Tony Kelly specialises in School Improvement and Political Economy, in particular as it relates to school improvement / effectiveness theory, innovative practice in educational management, governance and policy analysis, adapting capability and game theoretic concepts to education, and developing innovative quantitative methods. His most recent books are on benchmarking in education (Routledge Falmer), the use of game theory in decision-making (Cambridge University Press), conceptualising a theory of intellectual capital for use in not-for-profit organisations like schools (Kluwer Academic Press) and adapting Sen's theory of capability to school choice (Palgrave Macmillan).

Professor Tony Kelly came to Southampton in 2001 from the University of Cambridge and before that from a school headship in Ireland. His background is in Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics and he holds degrees from Dublin (where he studied under Ernest Walton), Edinburgh and Cambridge (where he studied Physics under George Batchelor and Education under Mel West). He is not unusual in the fact that his initial academic training was outside the social sciences:

"One of the great strengths of education as an academic discipline is the fact that it offers so many opportunities for inter-disciplinary research. And the best educational research reflects that, drawing on knowledge from other disciplines in a way that is both robust and accessible." Professor Tony Kelly believes that the importance of research in education / schooling to individual and societal well-being (both economic and otherwise) has increased with the passing of old-style production economies.

"Educational research now has a greater ‘urgency’ about it. It’s an exciting field, if at times a little pressurised!" Tony’s headship in Ireland coincided with some of the worst periods of political upheaval there. He was one of the leading figures in the movement to integrate and rationalise education in the border region and he developed new governance structures there which have since become models for a number of schools. Additionally, he initiated and led the first school in Ireland to be built and managed by a public-private finance partnership.

He was the educational representative on the Committee for Peace and Reconciliation, which was set up by the European Union to oversee the distribution of funds to projects which developed / encouraged cross-community reconciliation. He retains an involvement in British-Irish affairs to improve understanding of the conflict in Northern Ireland and of Anglo-Irish relations generally.

Tony is currently Director for Research Degrees and a member of the University Research Ethics Committee (a topic on which he has also published). He teaches on a variety of courses, including the Institutional Management and Leadership MA and the Research Degrees Training Programme, and supervises PhD and EdD students researching in his areas of interest. He is founding editor of the journal ‘Education, Knowledge and Economy’ (Taylor & Francis / Routledge) and serves on the board of other peer-reviewed journals. He serves on several national (UK) steering groups and approval panels. In his spare time, he plays Bridge (at international level) and follows his interest in football, rowing and cricket from the comfort of his armchair!

• Peter Kanani, from Kenya, is studying for a PhD on headship and school performance.
• Christopher Downey, from the UK, is studying for a PhD on school effectiveness and measuring the social and emotional aspects of learning (SEAL).
• Joseph Awoh Jum, from Cameroon, is studying for a PhD on pupil attainment in faith versus non-faith schools in Cameroon. Joseph was awarded the 2007/8 Faculty International Bursary Scholarship.
• Livinus Ikewuke, from Nigeria, is studying for a PhD on academic integrity in Nigerian secondary school examinations. Livinus is jointly supervised by Dr Kalwant Bhopal.
• Daniel Britton, from the UK, is studying for a PhD on utilising Human Resource practices from industry in education.
• Rosaria Carotenuto, from Italy, is studying for a PhD on the management of pupil misbehaviour in English secondary schools. Rosaria is jointly supervised by Dr Tim Cain.
• Ruma Rouf, from the UK, is studying for a PhD on the attainment of Bangladeshi pupils in England. Ruma is jointly supervised by Dr Kalwant Bhopal.
• Scott Collings, from Lancashire in the UK, is studying for a PhD on pupil attainment and self-efficacy.
• Rosa Drown, from the Isle of Man, is studying for a PhD on the education of Roma children in Romania. Rosa is jointly supervised by Dr Kalwant Bhopal.
• Mohammad Aldhaen, from Kuwait, is studying for a PhD on headteacher involvement in education policy formulation in Kuwait. Mohammad is jointly supervised by Dr Felix Maringe.
• Hend Al-Dubaikhi, from Saudi Arabia, is studying for a PhD on developing supervisor efficiency and quality management in education.
• Martin McMullen, from Northern Ireland, is studying for a PhD on globalisation and local conflict as it affects young people. Martin is jointly supervised by Dr Alan Grattan.
• Michael Shearer, from Northern Ireland, is studying for an EdD on leadership training for officers in the British Army.

Show/hide all publications

• Significant Publications
• Kelly, A.(2007) School choice and student well-being: opportunity and capability in education: Reviewing the research and adapting Sen's theory of capability to school choice London, UK, Palgrave Macmillan, 272pp.
• Kelly, Anthony (2005) The praxes of school and commercial management: Informing and reforming a typology from field research. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 8 (3), 237-251.
• Kelly, A. (2004) The intellectual capital of schools: analysing government policy statements on school improvement in light of a new theorization. Journal of Educational Policy, Vol.19, No.5.
• Kelly, A (2001) Selecting a Key Skills delivery mode: thinking about efficiency and effectiveness, Oxford Review of Education, Vol.27, No.2.
• Books
• Kelly, A.(2007) School choice and student well-being: opportunity and capability in education: Reviewing the research and adapting Sen's theory of capability to school choice London, UK, Palgrave Macmillan, 272pp.
• Kelly, A. (2004) The Intellectual Capital of Schools: Measuring and managing knowledge, responsibility and reward: Lessons from the commercial sector (Dordrecht, New York & London, Kluwer Academic Press).

• Kelly, A. (2003) Decision-making using Game Theory (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press).
• Kelly, A. (2001) Benchmarking for School Improvement: A Practical Guide for Comparing & Improving Effectiveness (London, Routledge Falmer)
• Peer Reviewed Papers
• Kelly, Anthony (2008) In defence of anonymity: rejoining the criticism. British Educational Research Journal, 1-15. (doi:10.1080/01411920802044438)
• Schulz, John and Kelly, Anthony (2008) An exploration of the benefits and outcomes of a VSO placement for teachers and schools in the UK. Journal of Voluntary Sector Research, 1, (1), 75-92.
• Kelly, Anthony (2008) Globalisation and education: a review of conflicting perspectives and their effect on policy and professional practice in the UK. Globalisation, Societies and Education, 7, (1), 51-68. (doi:10.1080/14767720802677333)
• Kelly, Anthony (2001) The evolution of key skills: towards a Tawney paradigm. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 53 (1), 21-35.
• Kelly, A. (2002) Voting Power on School Governing Boards: the countenance of proportionality, Educational research and Evaluation., Vol. 8, No.3
• Kelly, A., West, M. & Dee, L (2001) Staff involvement in the design of a Key Skills Curriculum Model: A Case Study. The Curriculum Journal, Vol.12, No.2
• Kelly, A. (2001) The Evolution of Key Skills: Towards a Tawney Paradigm. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, Vol. 53, No.1.
• Research Publications
• Kelly, A.(2009) Juxaposing some contradictory findings from international research on school choice, Magis International Journal of Research in Education
• Schulz, J. & Kelly, A. (2007) Enriching education: an exploration of the benefits and outcomes of a VSO placement for teachers and schools in the UK (London, VSO)
• Kelly, A. & Dee, L. (2001) Key Skills: A Survey of Student and Employer Opinion (London, LSDA)
• West, M., Dee, L., Kelly, A. & Tranter, L. (2000) Key Skills: Implementation Needs in Schools and Colleges (London, FEDA).
• Kelly, A. & West, M. (2000) Developing strategies and organisational structures for the delivery of Key Skills in schools (London, FEDA).
• Kelly, A., Dee, L. & West, M. (2000) Key Skills Implementation Needs in Schools and Colleges: an annotated bibliography (London, FEDA).
• Selection of International Conference Papers
• Downey, C. & Kelly, A. (2007) "Are value-added scores getting the measure of school performance in the UK?" International Congress on School Effectiveness & Improvement, 20th Annual World ICSEI Congress (ICSEI 07), Portoroz, Slovenia, 3-6 Jan 2007
• Downey, C. & Kelly, A. (2007) "Data streams currently used in UK schools to inform accountability exercises," International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement 20th Annual World ICSEI Congress, Portoroz, Slovenia, 3-6 Jan 2007
• Karempelas, K. & Kelly, A. (2004) The management of curriculum change in Greece. International Congress on School Effectiveness & Improvement, Rotterdam, Holland, 5-8 Jan 2004. .
• Kelly, A.(2003) Headship in its First Year: issues emerging from initial field research. International Congress on School Effectiveness & Improvement, Sydney. 5-8 Jan 2003. .
• Kelly, Anthony and Hargate, Craig (2003) The role of school stress in the precipitation of mental breakdown in teachers. In, International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement, Sydney, Australia, 5-8 Jan 2003.
• Huber, S., Niederhuber, S., West, M. & Kelly, A. (2003) In Search of Individual and School Development: School leadership effectiveness - the teachers’ perspective. European Educational Research Association, Hamburg.
• Kelly, A., West, Mel, Huber, S. & Niederhuber,S. (2003) In Search of Individual and School Development: What newly appointed heads do that’s different. European Educational Research Association, Hamburg, Germany, 17-20 Sep 2003. .
• Huber, Stephan, Niederhuber, Susan, West, Mel and Kelly, Anthony (2003) In search of individual and school development: school leadership effectiveness, the teachers’ perspective. In, European Educational Research Association, Hamburg, Germany, 17-20 Sep 2003. .
• Kelly, A. (2002) Is the prospect of performance-related pay de-motivating teachers in the UK? International Congress on School Effectiveness & Improvement, Copenhagen.
• Kelly, A. (2002) Promoting the teaching of Physics in under-developed countries. International Congress on School Effectiveness & Improvement, Denmark, 3-7 Jan 2002. .
• Kelly, A. & Panayiotis, A. (2001) School management in the face of political change: Cyprus and Northern Ireland – a comparison. International Congress on School Effectiveness & Improvement, (ICSEI), Toronto, Canada, Jan 2001.
• Kelly, A. (2001) Governing schools in Northern Ireland: an equitable re-distribution of power? International Congress on School Effectiveness & Improvement, (ICSEI), Toronto, Canada, Jan 2001.
• Kelly, A. (2001) Student perceptions of curriculum change. International Congress on School Effectiveness & Improvement, Toronto.
• Book Chapters
• Kelly, A. (2008) "School Effectiveness", in: McCulloch, G. & Crook, D. (Eds) The Routledge International Encyclopaedia of Education (London, UK, Routledge), ISBN: 9780415277471; ISBN-10: 0415277477
• Kelly, A.(2008) "Benchmarking", in: McCulloch, G. & Crook, D. (Eds) International Encyclopaedia of Education (London, Routledge), ISBN: 9780415277471; ISBN-10: 0415277477
• Kelly, A. (2008) "Physics Education", in: McCulloch, G. & Crook, D. (Eds) The Routledge International Encyclopaedia of Education (London, UK, Routledge), ISBN: 9780415277471; ISBN-10: 0415277477
• Kelly, A. (2008) "School Improvement", in: McCulloch, G. & Crook, D. (Eds) International Encyclopaedia of Education (London, Routledge), ISBN: 9780415277471; ISBN-10: 0415277477
• Journal Articles
• Schulz, John B. and Kelly, Anthony (2008) An exploration of the benefits and outcomes of a VSO placement. Journal of Voluntary Sector Research, 1, (1), 75-92.
• Kelly, Anthony (2001) Letter to the editor. [A response to Geoff Stanton]. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 53, (3), 485-486. (doi:10.1080/13636820100200170)
• Selection of International Conference Papers
• Downey, Chris, Kelly, Anthony and Brown, Alice (2008) Evaluating a programme to develop social and emotional skills in primary school students. In, ICSEI 2008: International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement, Auckland, New Zealand, 6-9 Jan 2008. , 13pp.
• Downey, Chris and Kelly, Anthony (2008) Utilising value-added progress data in the context of Every Child Matters. In, ICSEI 2008: International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement, Auckland, New Zealand, 6-9 Jan 2008. , 20pp.
• Kelly, Anthony (2008) Globalisation and education. In, International Congress - Exhibition "Global Education - 2009", Moscow, Russia, 15-17 Apr 2008. .
• West, Mel, Huber, Stephan and Kelly, Anthony (2007) Developing school leaders: an international perspective. In, The European Conference on Educational Research (ECER 2003), Hamburg, Germany, 17-20 Sep 2003
• Kelly, Anthony (2006) Developing a new typology of school leadership. In, American Educational Research Association 2006 Annual Meeting. Education Research in the Public Interest, San Francisco, USA, 7-11 Apr 2006. .
• Kelly, Anthony (2006) Globalisation and education: developing conflicts. In, European Conference on Educational Research (ECER 2006), Geneva, Switzerland, 13-15 Sep 2006. .
• Kelly, Anthony (2005) Building a theory of intellectual capital for schools. In, 2005 European Conference on Educational Research (ECER 2005), Dublin, Republic of Ireland, 7-10 Sep 2005. .
• Kelly, Anthony (2005) What newly appointed actually do! In, 2005 AERA Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada, 11-15 Apr 2005.
• Kelly, Anthony (2003) Early versus experienced headship. In, British Educational Research Association Annual Conference 2003, Edinburgh, Scotland, 11-13 Sep 2003.
• Kelly, Anthony (2002) Is the prospect of performance-related pay demotivating teachers in the UK? In, International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI 2002), Copenhagen, Denmark, 3-7 Jan, 2002
• Kelly, Anthony (2002) School and commercial management. In, American Educational Research Association 2002 Annual Meeting. Validity and Value in Education Research, New Orleans, USA, 1-5 Apr 2002. .
• Kelly, Anthony (2002) Some theory on performance-related pay in the public sector. In, British Educational Research Association Annual Conference 2002, Exeter, UK, 12-14 Sep 2002. .
• Kelly, Anthony (2002) Key Skills: employer opinion. In, British Educational Research Association Annual Conference 2002, Exeter, UK, 12-14 Sep 2002. .
• Kelly, Anthony (2001) Student perceptions of Key Skills in the UK. In, American Educational Research Association 2001 Annual Meeting. What we Know and How we Know it, Seattle, US, 10-14 Apr 2001.
• Kelly, Anthony (2001) The evolution of Key Skills in the UK. In, American Educational Research Association 2001 Annual Meeting. What we Know and How we Know it, Seattle, USA, 10-14 Apr 2001.
• Kelly, Anthony (2001) The distribution of power on school boards: a game theoretic analysis. In, British Educational Research Association Annual Conference 2001, Leeds, UK, 13-15 Sep 2001. .
• Project Reports
• Davidson, Alan, Miskelly, John and Kelly, Anthony (2008) Value for money in schools. Belfast & London, UK, FGS McClure Watters, 62pp.
• Book Section
• Kelly, Anthony (2008) Benchmarking. In, McCulloch, Gary and Crook, David (eds.) The Routledge International Encyclopedia of Education. London, UK, Routledge.
• Kelly, Anthony (2008) School effectiveness. In, McCulloch, Gary and Crook, David (eds.) The Routledge International Encyclopedia of Education. London, UK, Routledge.
• Kelly, Anthony (2008) Physics education. In, McCulloch, Gary and Crook, David (eds.) The Routledge International Encyclopedia of Education. London, UK, Routledge.
• Kelly, Anthony (2008) School improvement. In, McCulloch, Gary and Crook, David (eds.) The Routledge International Encyclopedia of Education. London, UK, Routledge.
• Other
• Kelly, Anthony(2007) Editorial. Education, knowledge and economy. Education, Knowledge and Economy, 1, (1), 1-3. (doi:10.1080/17496890601135949)