Education Endowment Foundation:ReflectED – second trial

ReflectED – second trial

Rosendale Primary School
Implementation costThe cost estimates in the Toolkits are based on the average cost of delivering the intervention.
Evidence strengthThis rating provides an overall estimate of the robustness of the evidence, to help support professional decision-making in schools.
Impact (months)The impact measure shows the number of additional months of progress made, on average, by children and young people who received the intervention, compared to similar children and young people who did not.
-1
months
Project info

Independent Evaluator

The York Trials Unit logo
The York Trials Unit
A whole-school approach to developing meta-cognitive skills
Schools: 112 Grant: £697,000
Key Stage: 1, 2 Duration: 2 year(s) 10 month(s) Type of Trial: Effectiveness level evidenceView Efficacy Trial
Completed April 2020

This page covers the second (effectiveness) trial, testing a scalable model under everyday conditions in a large number of schools. View ReflectED Metacognition - first trial to read about the first (efficacy) trial, testing whether it could work in schools under best possible conditions.

The project

ReflectED is a whole-school approach developed by Rosendale Primary School. It aims to develop metacognitive skills, by teaching pupils strategies to reflect on, monitor and manage their own learning. It is delivered through a series of pre-prepared lesson plans from Reception to Key Stage 2 (KS2) (including technology aided reflection and other visual scaffolds). It consists of 28, weekly, half-hour lessons, delivered by teachers over five school terms.

Outcome/​Group
ImpactThe size of the difference between pupils in this trial and other pupils
SecurityHow confident are we in this result?
KS2 Mathematics
-1
Months' progress
(Effect size -0.05)
KS2 Reading
0
Months' progress
(Effect size 0.15)
KS2 Mathematics (FSM subgroup)
+1
Months' progress
(Effect size 0.05)
KS2 Reading (FSM subgroup)
0
Months' progress
(Effect size 0.04)

EEF summary

The EEF funded this trial because there is evidence that improving pupils’ metacognitive skills is a powerful way to improve academic outcomes. EEF previously funded the evaluation of the ReflectED programme as part of an efficacy trial, in 2013. The attainment of pupils in Year 5 was evaluated using a randomised control trial involving 1,858 pupils. Pupils who participated in ReflectED made an average of four months’ additional progress in maths compared to pupils who did not. To read about the first (efficacy) trial – testing whether it could work in schools under best possible conditions – click here.

Pupils who participated in ReflectED made the of equivalent of one months’ fewer progress in the primary outcome related to KS2 mathematics, on average, compared to pupils in other schools. They made the equivalent of no months’ progress in the primary outcome related to KS2 reading. Pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM) in ReflectED schools, made the equivalent of one months’ progress in KS2 mathematics and no months’ progress in KS2 reading, on average, compared to FSM pupils in other schools.

The partial school closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 resulted in delays in the completion of the evaluation report. There are no further plans for EEF to carry out further ReflectED trials. Future research on metacognition could focus on the most effective ways to support pupil reflection on their learning.

Were the schools in the trial similar to my school?

Project type: Effectiveness level evidenceKey Stage: Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2Subject: Cross curriculum
  • There were 112 schools involved in the trial
  • Recruitment of schools focused on specific regions including Poole, Derby, Oldham, Scarborough, Essex, Ipswich, Sheffield, Lincolnshire, and Gloucestershire.
  • Pupils eligible for free school meals in ReflectED schools were at the level of the national average or high.

Could I implement this in my school?

Delivered by: TeachersParticipant group: Whole ClassIntervention length: 5 term
  • ReflectED schools were provided with access to resources including lesson plans; reflection templates; Seesaw (online reflection platform) and guidance for parents.
  • Pupils in more than half of ReflectED schools did not complete the necessary two Seesaw reflections; however, other methods were also used to record these offline.

How much will it cost?

Cost per pupil: £8No. of teachers/TAs: VariableStaff training duration: 2 days

The cost of ReflectED per pupil, per year over 3 years is estimated at £8.13.

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