Academic biography

Paul is an Assistant Professor in Social Personal and Health Education in the school of Human Development within the Institute of Education, Dublin City University. He teachers in initial teacher education in the area of primary SPHE.

Paul Knox graduated from St. Patricks College, Drumcondra in   2007 as a primary school teacher and taught for several years in a variety of primary school settings, teaching a range of mainstream classes, as well as Special Education and English as an Additional Language Teacher. In 2016, Paul was seconded to work as a professional learning advisor with Oide as a Health and Wellbeing advisor, working with schools, teachers and school leaders in the area of Child Protection, RSE, Wellbeing and anti-bullying. In 2018, Paul worked in the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment on the Review of Relationships and Sexuality Education and developed the SPHE toolkit and support materials. In 2021, Paul was appointed principal in North Bay Educate Together. Paul joined DCU in 2023.

Paul has completed a Master’s in Management and Leadership (2011), a Higher Diploma in Psychology (2014) and a Graduate Diploma in Personnel and Management Coaching (2019). He is currently undertaking a Professional Doctorate in Education with Maynooth University and due to graduate in 2027.

Paul’s research interests include parental engagement and involvement in primary school, vis a vis SPHE, inclusion, and child protection. His research interests relate to his ongoing doctoral work, which seeks to consider the attitudes and perceptions of child protection and safeguarding by parents in primary school.