University of St Mark & St John

Sean is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and an Associate Member of the British Dyslexia Association. In addition, Sean is a Chartered Psychologist, Chartered Scientist and a qualified Educational Psychologist.

Current and completed research projects
(2008 ongoing) Meeting the Every Child Matters agenda and the challenge for employers: a tale of two cities. EScalate https://escalate.ac.uk/5271
(2005-2007) Dial:Connect, Comenius Project, in partnership with colleagues from Romania, Cyprus, Ireland, Slovenia, Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Italy and the United Kingdom http://ec.europa.eu/education/trainingdatabase/index.cfm?fuseaction=DisplayCourse&cid=5020&Language=FR
(2005 – 2007)  Consultant to ESRC/TLRP project: Consulting Pupils on the Assessment of their Learning (CPAL) with Graduate School of Education, Queen's University http://www.cpal.qub.ac.uk/index.htm 
(2005 – 2006)  Development Partnerships project: Collaborative teaching and co-operative learning among diverse learners in primary schools, Stranmillis University College, Queen’s University Belfast.
(2003 – 2004) Evaluation of the research project: “The development of a soft-ware package to improve the educational experience of children with Multiple and Profound Disabilities” (Ware, J., Thorpe, P. and Gray, C.)

Conference papers
MacBlain, S.F. and MacBlain, A.D. Confidence or confusion in the preparation of teachers for the twenty first century:  society’s Loss. paper presented at the Educational Studies Association of Ireland annual conference, Cork, Ireland, March 2012; MacBlain, S.F. (2010) Dyslexia: the Ethics of Assessment, Keynote address to the Dyslexia, Literacy and Inclusion conference, Belfast, March 2010;
MacBlain, S.F., Jarrett, K. & James, S. (2009) Meeting the Every Child Matters agenda and the challenge for employers: a tale of two cities.  Paper presented at the 5th Annual ESCalate conference, Glyndwr University, Wrexham, May 2009;
MacBlain, S.F. & Jarrett, K. (2008) The inclusion of Every Child Matters.  Paper presented at the annual conference of the Educational Studies Association of Ireland, Galway, March 2008;
MacBlain, S. F., James, S. and Jarrett, K. (2007). Responding to pupils with dyslexia whose first language is not English: the need for a conceptual framework. Paper presented at the 15th. European Conference on Reading, Berlin, August, 2007;
MacBlain S. F., Jarrett, K. and James, S. (2007) Teachers or technicians: the standardisation of emotional development. Paper accepted for presentation at the annual conference March 2007, Educational Studies Association of Ireland, March, 2007; 

MacBlain, S. F., O’Neill, A. and Weir, K. (2005). Supporting pupils with dyslexia: emotional or mechanistic approaches to literacy, Paper presented at the annual conference of the Reading Association of Ireland, Dublin, October 2005;
MacBlain, S. F. (2004). Responding to loss in childhood: a new module of intervention. Paper presented at the European Conference on Educational Research, Crete, September, 2004;
MacBlain, S.F. (2003). Supporting the pupil with dyslexia at secondary level: an emotional or mechanistic model of learning. 54th Annual Conference of the International Dyslexia Association, San Diego, California, November 2003;
MacBlain, S.F. (2003). The Long-term effects of bereavement on Children: the need for a conceptual framework. 2nd  International School Social Workers Conference, Stockholm, May 2003;
MacBlain, S.F. (2003). Children of lone parents: are schools failing to meet their needs? Educational Studies Association of Ireland (E.S.A.I.) Conference, Belfast, April, 2003;
MacBlain, S.F. (2003). The Long-term effects of bereavement on children: the need for a conceptual framework. Harrogate: Division of Education and Child Psychology (D.E.C.P.) Conference, October, 2002;
MacBlain, S.F. and Bracher, D. (1999). The child with dyspraxia.  Somerset: NASEN conference;
MacBlain, S.F. (1995). Dyslexia and the pupil with literacy difficulties.  Paper presented at annual dyslexia conference. Somerset: Bridgwater College;
MacBlain, S.F. (1994). Meeting the needs of pupils with dyslexia in the primary school. Paper presented at annual dyslexia conference. Somerset: Bridgwater College;
MacBlain, S.F. with: Hitchcock, M. (1994). Responding to the needs of the bereaved child: the role of the school. Paper presented at annual conference on bereavement. Somerset: Bridgwater College;
MacBlain, S.F. (1987). Language experience and special educational needs. Paper presented at the International Oracy Convention. Norwich: University of East Anglia.

2007
Member of a team researching PSHE in Primary Schools – awarded a Marjon Research Grant (£3,393):
Jarrett, K., James, S. and MacBlain, S.F. (2007) Are teachers sufficiently equipped to effectively deliver the Personal, Social, Health and Emotional aspects within the Every Child Matters agenda?

2006
Member of team selected for the Marjon Change Academy to work on developing research led teaching across the Marjon B.Ed and PGCE programs.

       Jarrett, K., James, S., Guyver, R. and MacBlain, S.F. (2006) Seeking opportunities to
        promote and develop research-lead teaching across the B.Ed Primary, BA (Foundation)
        and PGCE programmes

Dr. MacBlain is Programme Leader for the new MSc Disability Research in professional Practice. he also teaches on the primary B.Ed. degree and the BA Child Studies degree, and supervises at M.Level and PhD.

Gray, C. and MacBlain, S.F. (2012) Learning Theories in Childhood. London: Sage.

Geens, W., James S. and MacBlain, S.F. (2009) Journeyman to Master: 'The Changing Shape of a PGCE Primary Course'. The International Journal of Learning. Vol 16, 8.
Long, L., MacBlain, S.F. and MacBlain, M.S. (2007). Supporting the pupil with dyslexia at secondary level: mechanistic or emotional models of literacy, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy (October 2007).
MacBlain, S.F., O'Neill, A., Weir, K. and MacBlain, M. (2006). Supporting pupils with dyslexia: emotional or mechanistic approaches to literacy in, Hickey, T.M. (ed.) (2006) Literacy and Language Learning: Reading in a First or Second Language, Dublin: Reading Association of Ireland
MacBlain, S.F., McKee, B. and MacBlain, M.S. (2006). The curriculum: confronting neglect and abuse, Academic Exchange Quarterly, Vol. 10, 2
McCurry, N. and MacBlain, S.F. (2005). Inclusion in Northern Ireland: cracking the code, Academic Exchange Quarterly, Vol. 9, 3.
MacBlain, S.F., Hazzard, K. and MacBlain, F.M. (2004). Dyslexia: the ethics of assessment, Academic Exchange Quarterly, Vol. 9, 1.
MacBlain, S.F. and MacBlain, M. S. (2004). Addressing the Needs of Lone-parent Pupils, Academic Exchange Quarterly, Vol. 8, 2.