Inter-school collaboration: a literature review
This is a review of literature on collaborations between schools. It was undertaken by the National Foundation for Educational Research in Northern Ireland in relation to the promotion of interconnections between schools of different denominations. This relatively narrow remit is not reflected in the review itself; a wide ranging and valuable insight into school collaborations more generally.
Local Authority Music Services Provision (2007) for Key Stages 1 and 2
A DCSF research report published in 2007 on the provision for music at KS1 and 2 by Local Authority Music Services. The report is an analysis of the data collected relating to the implementation of the Wider Opportunities (WO) initiative.
Governance, Funding, Reform and Quality Assurance: policy frameworks for English primary education
On February 29th the Cambridge based Primary Review, which is supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and directed by Professor Robin Alexander, published its four most recent interim reports. The review has commissioned thirty research surveys to be used as evidence and these four reports surveyed more than 200 sources whilst focusing on three from the ten Primary Review themes:
Curriculum and Assessment
Quality and Standards
Funding and Governance
2010 Game Based Learning Conference in London March 29 & 30 I would love to say I'll be there but unfortunately I won't.
Parent academic involvement as related to school behaviour, achievement, and aspirations: Demographi
This resource is a digest of a paper that investigated the influence demographic background (socio-economic status and ethnicity) had on parental involvement in children’s schooling and how this influenced achievement, aspirations and behaviour.
The research consisted of a multi-site longitudinal study of 463 families in the US states of Tennessee and Indiana. The study involved students from 7th grade (year 7, 12 years old) through to 11th grade (year 11, 16 years old).
Making a successful transition to Year 1
This is an article from the NFER journal Practical Research for Education (PRE). It reports on research conducted by the DfES in 2004 which investigated the transition of children from the Foundation Stage to Year One. Part of a larger overall study, this particular research report includes the views of children, parents and teachers and presents the major findings from these three groups.
Making a Difference in Schools; The Big Brothers Big Sisters Schools Based Mentoring Impact Study
A comprehensive research study on the impact of a School Based Mentoring (SBM) scheme in the United States. The efficacy of this ten year old scheme is compared and contrasted with existing Community Based Mentoring (CBM) schemes (based in clubs and community centres around the US) which have been in operation for the past century. Both schemes operate under the auspices of the US nation-wide and voluntary, ‘Big Brothers Big Sisters’ (BBBS) organisation.
Latest and emerging evidence on pedagogical approaches to tackling gender-related underperformance
This research seminar, which took place at the DCSF on 8 April, forms part of the Department's 2008 themed series of events on tackling the 'gender agenda': “an 18 month themed series of activities working with schools, universities and local authorities and others to identify, develop, and share evidence and good practice in improving the educational outcomes and life chances for specific groups of underperforming boys and girls”.
Evaluation of the Childcare Taster Pilot and Extended Schools Childcare Pilot programmes: final repo
This is a report of research commissioned by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Work and Pensions to critically assess the impact and outcomes of the implementation of Extended Schools Childcare Pilots (ESCP) and Childcare Taster Pilots (CTPs). The qualitative research took place in a total of 11 Local authorities in England and Wales in 6 phases from June 2004 until June 2006. The overall evaluation ran from April 2004-March 2007.
When You Are Born Matters: The Impact of Date of Birth on Child
This is a report of research published by the Institute of Fiscal Studies designed to investigate two key issues:
• What are the factors behind the comparatively poor academic achievement in cognitive tests of the youngest children in each school year cohort?
• Should something be done about this disparity and if so what?
Researching young researchers in primary schools: responding to children’s evaluations of a partic
The Children’s Research Centre of the Open University supports children being active researchers in their schools. This paper presents the views of 10 and 11 year-old researchers about an evaluation of their involvement in research projects. The children valued their unique perspective as well as group perspectives of the process. The paper considers the implications of a participatory technique as a way of representing their views. The author shows the value of listening carefully to children
Creating Accurate Science Benchmark Assessments to Inform Instruction
This is a report on American research carried out by The National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing at the University of California. The aim was to write, pilot test and evaluate benchmark assessments in the form of multiple-choice and open-ended questions in four areas of science taught to Grade 5 pupils (equivalent to Year 6 pupils in the UK). It was carried out using practicing teachers and researchers who were experts on science pedagogy and content.
The impact of 14-16 year olds on further education colleges
This report examined colleges’ practical strategies and issues for integrating 14–16 year-old learners into the more traditional profile of FE. It is based on case studies of five colleges. The aim of this research was to explore the impact that 14–16 year olds have on FE colleges, their staff and older learners, to examine the strategies that FE colleges and their staff used to integrate 14–16 year olds successfully into their institutions and to identify the issues that remained to be
Innovative and inclusive physical education
The nature of the resource is essentially two-fold; the first aspect of the resource is the research findings from the study into SDM. The second aspect of the study is a discussion of the methods which raises some interesting questions for educational researchers.
Words Matter – Thinking and Talking About Writing in the Classroom
This is a reflection on a classroom-based investigation undertaken in one school as part of the Effective Learning Project, a collaborative research initiative with researchers from Homerton College, Cambridge. The investigation posed the question: “What excites primary pupils about writing in school and what switches them off?”
The Quality of Learning: Assessment Alternatives for Primary Education
This is a report that is part of a series of thirty research surveys being produced for the Primary Review. The report looks at why and how teachers assess children’s progress. The report then moves on to consider the assessment systems used in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as New Zealand, Sweden and France. The systems in these countries are summarised and compared for their relative strengths. The report then evaluates the systems in respect of validity, reliabili
DEEP IMPACT: an investigation of the use of information and communication technologies for teacher e
This resource from the Digital Education Enhancement Project is an extensive description (over 200 pages) of UK-based research of the affordances of ICT in teacher education in Egypt and South Africa conducted from 2001 up to 2004. There is a focus on literacy, numeracy and science through ICT. There is a good description of the research methods and well illustrated case studies.
Students' experiences of ‘researching’ in different subjects
This resource appeared in November 2006 in Practical Research for Education, the NFER publication for teachers. It is a reprint of a 2005 article from a new Zealand Journal Research Information for Teachers. This study was carried out in New Zealand with Year 11, 12 and 13 students. The aim was to collect student views of their experiences of research (identifying, interpreting and analysing information on their own or in a group) in different subjects and different types of courses.
Learning and Teaching in Primary Schools: Processes and Contexts
May 16th saw the final three research surveys by the Cambridge-based Primary Review published. These three interim reports form part of thirty research surveys, commissioned by the Review team to be used as evidence for the final report. The Primary Review "reserves its own judgement" on any conclusions reached by the reports "pending its assessment of the full range of evidence".
Evaluation of a Voices Foundation Primer in Primary Schools
A DfES research report published in 2005 evaluating the impact of a one year Voices Foundation project to develop teachers’ expertise and use of singing, in primary schools across England.
