With a background in education (Primary Teacher), Sarah’s research interest is public health with a focus on young people. She currently works on the Think Families study (improving risk and vulnerability data in schools) with ARC West. Sarah has previously worked on the following projects (Bristol Medical School): the CoMMinS ‘school life during COVID-19 study’ (impact of migation measures on mental health and wellbeing of secondary school staff and pupils), the Step by Step study co-designed with the Samaritans (suicide support in schools), FRANK friends (a peer-led drug prevention intervention for young people), WISE ‘Wellbeing in Secondary Education’, ASSIST ‘A Stop Smoking in Schools Trial’, AHEAD ‘Activity and Healthy Eating in ADolescence’ and ‘Hands Up For Max’ a handwashing trial in primary schools. She is part of the project management group for the Behaviour in Schools project (unanticpated effects of school discipline on pupil mental health and wellbeing).

Sarah is particularly interested in investigating factors that promote wellbeing in young people and public health research in the school setting with the school community.

She undertook a NIHR PhD fellowship award (2011-2015) (adopted by DECIPHer) and her research explored the relationship between physical activity and wellbeing in young people.