Sarah Thomas

Overview

Sarah Thomas’s teaching expertise is grounded in social work, with a particular focus on child and family welfare, child protection, social policy, and the impact of social injustice, poverty and exclusion. Drawing on extensive professional practice experience, she is committed to inclusive, evidence-informed teaching and learning approaches that promote student engagement, critical reflection, and the application of knowledge to practice.

Sarah began her higher education journey after moving from the West Midlands to Wales in the late 1980s to study social policy. Following her undergraduate studies, she completed professional social work training in Cardiff and secured a position as a social worker within a child and family team within a valley community in South East Wales, eventually progressing to become a Senior Social Work Practitioner. During this time, she worked extensively in child protection, fostering, adoption, and court-related practice. Alongside her professional responsibilities, she supported social work students on placement, an experience that fostered a lasting interest in education and the development of future practitioners.

Sarah subsequently moved to work in Further Education, teaching across health, social care, and education programmes. This role provided a strong foundation in curriculum delivery, assessment, and student-centred learning, while reinforcing her commitment to widening participation and creating pathways into Higher Education.

In 2003, Sarah joined Cardiff Metropolitan University (then UWIC) as a member of the social work team. Since then, she has led and contributed to the development and delivery of professionally accredited programmes while undertaking a range of academic leadership roles. These have included responsibilities for student experience, Programme Directorship of the Undergraduate and Post Qualifying social work programmes, recruitment and selection, and initiatives designed to enhance student engagement and success.

More recently, Sarah served as Associate Dean for Student Engagement within the Cardiff School of Education and Social Policy and now holds the role of Acting Deputy Dean. In this position, she provides strategic and operational leadership across a diverse academic portfolio, working with colleagues and students to enhance educational quality, strengthen student outcomes, and support the University’s wider strategic ambitions.

In 2024, Sarah commenced a part-time Professional Doctorate in Education at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Her doctoral studies align with her longstanding interest in widening participation, student engagement, and student success, placing emphasis upon female nontraditional student experience and how this might inform student retention within Higher Education.

Throughout her career, the values of social justice, inclusion, partnership, and advocacy have remained central to her approach to teaching, leadership, and scholarship.