Education Endowment Foundation:Justine Greening unveils new EEF/IEE Research Schools at the Social Mobility Summit

Eleven schools to support social mobility ​‘coldspots’ – including in Bradford, Blackpool and Norwich – have won funding to boost the quality of teaching in their region through better use of research.

The new Research Schools – part-funded through the Government’s Opportunity Areas programme and part of a joint initiative between the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) and the Institute for Effective Education (IEE) – were unveiled by the Education Secretary Justine Greening at a summit hosted by the Sutton Trust today

The schools will each receive £200,000 over three years to become focal points of evidence-based practice in their region and build networks between large numbers of schools. They’ll develop a programme of support and events to get more teachers using research evidence in ways that make a difference in the classroom

The 11 new Research Schools, appointed following a competitive application process, are:

• Hastings Research School at Ark Blacklands Primary Academy
• Stoke-on-Trent Research School by The Keele and North Staffordshire Alliance
• Norwich Research School at Notre Dame High School
• Oldham Research School by The Greetland Academy
• Blackpool Research School at St Mary’s Catholic Academy
• Doncaster Research School by Partners in Learning
• Scarborough Research School by Esk Valley Alliance
• Derby Research School at Wyndham Primary
• West Somerset Research School at The Blue School, Wells
• Bradford Research School at Dixons Academies
• East Cambridgeshire and Fenlands Research School at Littleport CP School

The schools will join a growing network of Research Schools across the country. The first five were announced in October 2016, with a second six established in January 2017

Since then, they have delivered a wide range of activities nationally to help teachers to use research to improve their teaching. They include programmes to help schools make the most of teaching assistants, training to support literacy in the early years and backing to develop Research School leads to spearhead the use of evidence in the classroom. They’ve also hosted conferences for schools in their area and put together monthly Research Schools Network newsletters, sent to 3000 teachers around the country

Justine Greening also announced today that Sir Kevan Collins, Chief Executive of the EEF, will become ​‘Evidence Champion’ for the Opportunity Areas. He will support the regions to better use evidence to improve outcomes and social mobility prospects for young people, particularly those from disadvantaged homes.

Justine Greening, Education Secretary, said: 

Sir Peter Lampl, Chairman of the Sutton Trust and Chairman of the Education Endowment Foundation, said:

Sir Kevan Collins, Chief Executive of the Education Endowment Foundation, added:

Professor Bette Chambers, Director at the Institute for Effective Education, said:

Research Schools Website: www.researchschool.org.uk