Ascents 121 aims to improve Year 11 pupils’ science attainment by training undergraduate students to deliver weekly, one-to-one mentoring sessions to pupils in the lead up to their GCSE science exam. The EEF is looking for secondary schools in London, the Southwest, East Midlands, and North of England to take part in the trial, which will be independently evaluated by NatCen.
The EEF previously funded a trial of Ascents 121 in 2019, but disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent changes in GCSE grading meant that it was not possible to complete an impact assessment. However, the programme was very well received by school leaders and mentees, who reported that the programme appeared to lead to increased understanding and enjoyment of science subjects
This is one of three new EEF-funded projects that schools across England can take part in.
- The EEF is offering primary schools in the North of England subsidised access to Focus4Taps, a programme proven to successfully boost Year 5 pupils’ (nine and 10-year-olds) science outcomes. The Focus4TAPS programme aims to raise scientific attainment by providing high quality professional development for science subject leaders and teachers over the course of an academic year. Children who received the programme as part of the EEF’s previous trial of the approach made an average of 2 months’ additional progress compared to a control group. The evaluation, led by a team from Institute of Education – UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society – also found a similarly positive impact for children eligible for free school meals.
- Primary schools across England can take part in our upcoming trial of Reciprocal Reading. This programme is a structured, targeted, 12-week approach to teaching reading comprehension to Key Stage 2 pupils (7−11 year-olds). An earlier EEF-funded trial found that children in receipt of the intervention made an average of two months’ additional progress in reading comprehension and overall reading, compared to the control group.
Professor Becky Francis, CEO of the Education Endowment Foundation, said:
Schools can search their school on the EEF website to find out which opportunities are available to them.