Scenario-based learning in the Early Career Teacher Entitlement programme – nimble trial

This nimble trialA nimble trial is a small-scale experimental study used to test and refine an intervention. This provides early insights into feasibility, acceptability, and potential impact, allowing for adjustments before larger-scale evaluation. aimed to evaluate the impact of using subject-specific, scenario-based practice activities as part of training for early career teachers (ECTs). Scenario-based activities have been delivered to ECTs as part of training sessions provided by the National Institute of Teaching in the 2025/26 academic year. 

During training sessions, science ECTs are presented with scenarios relating to core learning areas and asked to describe how they would respond to these scenarios in a classroom. Responses are shared anonymously with peers during the training sessions for feedback. The activities are designed to help teachers connect what they are learning to classroom practice and develop their professional judgement. 

The trial planned to explore whether these scenario-based activities are more effective at improving ECT’s confidence in key areas of learning than other activities delivered as part of usual practice within the Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE) programme. However, the number of ECTs available to participate in the trial was lower than expected, meaning that the study would not have been able to produce robust results. As a result, the trial has been cancelled.

High quality teaching is essential for supporting children’s learning, so it is important that training sessions delivered as part of the ECTE are as effective as possible in developing ECTs’ skills and confidence. ECTE programme providers use a variety of different activities during training sessions with the aim of making sessions engaging and impactful for ECTs. However, there is limited evidence about which activities are most effective.

The aim was for the outcomes of the trial to help training providers and policymakers to strengthen the design of the ECTE programme, as well as contributing to the wider evidence-base on how effective professional development for teachers can be delivered and on effective methods for evaluating such approaches.

The Behavioural Insights Team was appointed to independently evaluate the use of scenario-based activities in the ECTE through a nimble trialA nimble trial is a small-scale experimental study used to test and refine an intervention. This provides early insights into feasibility, acceptability, and potential impact, allowing for adjustments before larger-scale evaluation.. Nimble trials aim to address research questions in a faster or more ​‘nimble’ way than traditional randomised controlled trialsAn RCT is used evaluate an educational programme by assigning settings to one of two groups: the intervention group, who receive the programme or the control group, who continue with business as usual. This ensures that any differences in outcomes can be confidently attributed to the programme, providing a robust estimate of the impact and contributing to the evidence for what works in improving educational outcomes. by focussing on short-term outcomes which can be measured quickly. 

The trial has been cancelled because the number of Early Career Teachers available to participate was lower than expected, meaning that the study would not have been able to produce robust results.