R&D in Teaching Schools

Juliet Brookes

NCTL, Teaching Schools – School-based R&D

1

Context

Evidence-based teaching is a DfE priority.

By knowing what works energy will be invested in things most likely to deliver the best results; and

Money will be invested in the right things.

Move towards the school-led system, Teaching Schools are key to this shift.

Building capacity and capability of practitioners.

What is Evidence-Based Teaching (EBT)?

“Teaching practice or school-level approaches that are based upon the results of evidence about interventions or strategies that are effective in helping pupils to progress.”

Nelson and O’Beirne, 2014.

Teaching Schools

452 Teaching School Alliances

Six strands of activity

TS R&D network large projects: National themes – pedagogy, CPD and leadershipEvidence-based TeachingClosing the Gap: Test and Learn

Expectations

The TS handbook states that each Teaching School Alliance is expected to:build on existing research and contribute to alliance and wider prioritiesbase new initiatives within their alliance on existing evidence and ensure they can measure themwork with other teaching schools in their area, or nationally, where appropriateensure that their staff use existing evidence allow their staff the time and support they need take part in research and development activitiesshare learning from research and development work with the wider school system

So what is NCTL doing to support R&D in Teaching Schools?

Large scale projects

Building capacity and capability

Disseminating

Encouraging Teaching Schools to work more closely with their HEI partner(s).

National themes In November 2011 cohort 1 Teaching Schools met at 3 regional

conferences and agreed the 3 national themes:

1. What makes great pedagogy?2. What makes great professional development which leads to consistently great pedagogy?3. How can leaders lead successful teaching school

alliances which enable the development of consistently great pedagogy?

98 alliances have been researching in partnership with either IoE/Sheffield Hallam or the Isos Partnership over 2 years.

In the final phase of the project – a combined report will be published early 2015.

National themes - NW

Altrincham Grammar School for Girls Everton Nursery School and Family Centre Queen Elizabeth School Arnside National Primary Academy Ashton-on-Mersey School Hodgson Academy & Blackpool Sixth Form College Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School Kelsall Primary School Palmerston School Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy

Evidence-based Teaching project

This project sits within a wider EBT programme which emerged following a series of submissions to the SoS.

The aim is to encourage the teaching profession to improve its practice through rigorous use of evidence and research.

To develop expertise and explore different approaches to EBT within and across alliances

Facts and figures 2 opportunities to express interest

Funding available for 20 alliances

1st round – 93 TS alliances applied

2nd round – 58 alliances applied

2 year project from May 2014

Commissioned Manchester Metropolitan University to facilitate and deliver training

NW involvement : Ash Grove Primary and Nursery School, Queen Elizabeth School

Closing the Gap: test and learn scheme - aims

Find out which interventions help to close the attainment gap for disadvantaged schools.

Introduce schools to randomised controlled trials.

Increase knowledge and understanding of quantitative research methods across the school system

Investigate the capacity of the school system to collaborate on large-scale research projects.

Facts and figures

7 randomised controlled trials running over two academic years (2013-14 & 2014-15), testing interventions chosen by schools.

11,000 pupils in over 600 schools.

180 Teaching schools collaborating with schools in their alliances to coordinate research activity.

Closing the Gap: test and learn - NWEverton Nursery School and Family Centre,

Parbold Douglas CE Academy

Queen Elizabeth School,

Arnside National Primary Academy

Chorlton Park Primary School and Brookburn Community School

Gatley Primary School

Hodgson Academy & Blackpool Sixth Form

Kelsall Primary School,

Oasis Academy Limeside

Palmerston School,

Prestolee Community Primary School

The Fallibroome Academy and Mottram St Andrew Primary Academy

The Heath School,

The Loyne Specialist School

Hawthorns Community School, Ladywood School

St Ambrose Barlow RC High School

St Mary and St Thomas' Church of England Primary School

St Philip's CE Primary School & Tyldesley School

The Blue Coat School,

The Queen Katherine School

Victoria Infant and Nursery School,

Woodlands Community Primary School

NW involvement in other national projects

• Altrincham Grammar School for Girls - National Curriculum: assessment & presented at BERA conference at University of Manchester

• Everton Nursery School and Family Centre - National Curriculum: closing the gap project

• Parbold Douglas CE Academy - National Curriculum: closing the gap project & National Curriculum: assessment project

• Bishop Rawstorne Church of England Academy - National Curriculum: assessment project

• Chorlton Park Primary School and Brookburn Community School -Sustainable business models: train the trainer

• Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School - National Curriculum: assessment project

• The Fallibroome Academy and Mottram St Andrew Primary Academy -National Curriculum: assessment project

Some small steps…

RCT - early adopters

Special and early years contexts

Culture change

Dissemination

Appetite for R&D

Some challenges…

Partnerships - How can you make the most of partnering with your HEI(s)?

Research priorities – how will they be agreed in the future? What is the role of the Teaching Schools Council in this?

Scale – How can TSAs coordinate R&D at scale? What needs to be in place for collaborative enquiry to flourish?

Contact details

If you want to carry on the conversation or tell us about your R&D projects please email college.research@education.gsi.gov.uk