Working it out – remodelling and what it means for schools
This resource is a report of an evaluation of the first year of the schools remodelling initiative, following the National Agreement on Raising Standards and Tackling Workload (ATL, DfES et al 2003). The approaches of six case study schools are considered and some positive effects of the remodelling process are identified.
Bright poor children 'slip back'
This BBC news item reports on a study conducted by the Sutton Trust, which is based on research findings from the ‘Millennium Cohort’ born in 2000-01. It has found that UK social mobility has not improved since 1970.
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.
Count Us In
The 37 page report defines the field of inclusion. It then goes on to describe the legislative and social background to inclusion. Characteristics of effective inclusive schools are identified, indicators of outcomes are described, and seven key messages present the findings of the report.
The report combines formal text with case study materials and quotes from the schools studied.
The report aims to build understanding of inclusion and to identify best practice in schools on the subject of inc
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.
Changing Minds: The Lasting Impact of School Trips
This is a study of the long-term impact of the relationship between eight schools and the National Trust through the Guardianship scheme. There are currently over 100 schools in England and Wales participating in the Trust’s Guardianship scheme which is based largely around conservation and environmental issues. The National Trust believes that regular contact, dialogue and two way relationships with schools and other groups has the potential to bring about life changing opportunities. The
Working on improving your problem-solving skills
This unit focuses on higher level skills. Skills development is complementary to other learning – it cannot be done in isolation. The higher level skills in this material aim to raise your awareness of the processes of learning and development – other subject-based material must supply the context and motivation for this. Key skills underpin the ability to carry out successfully, and improve on, a wide range of tasks in higher education, employment and wherever there is a continuation of le
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.
Evaluation of the Young Apprenticeships programme
This report, published by Ofsted, evaluates the effectiveness of the Young Apprenticeships programme from its introduction in September 2004 to 2006/07. The programme was launched by the then Department for Education and Skills (DfES) in September 2004, in order to allow school-based students of average or above average ability at Key Stage 4 to study for nationally recognised vocational qualifications two days per week, delivered by their local Young Apprenticeships partnership.
Comparison of Literacy Progress of Young Children in London Schools: A Reading Recovery Follow-up St
May 9th saw the publication of a study which “followed up the impact on children’s literacy in London schools a year or more after intervention (Reading Recovery) had been received”. The press has headlined the progress made by children on this programme.
Monitoring progress
This unit focuses on higher level skills. Skills development is complementary to other learning – it cannot be done in isolation. The higher level skills in this material aim to raise your awareness of the processes of learning and development – other subject-based material must supply the context and motivation for this. Key skills underpin the ability to carry out successfully, and improve on, a wide range of tasks in higher education, employment and wherever there is a continuation of le
citizED: Citizenship and curriculum opportunities
The updated Citizenship programme of study (2008) encourages teachers to maximise curricula opportunities when they are teaching Citizenship Education. This table summarises these opportunities and suggests resources currently available and free to download on citizED which would help achieve this aim.
Engaging parents in their children’s learning
This document reports the findings of a small-scale research study commissioned by the General Teaching Council (GTC) about parental experiences and views in relation to involvement and engagement with their children’s learning.
Group Work: Transition into Secondary
This report, commissioned by the Scottish Government and completed in 2007, presents the findings of a study consisting of two projects concerning primary to secondary transitions and the use of group work in science activities. It builds on an earlier project of 2004 (ScotSPRing), which found that "significant gains in science attainment and social connectedness between pupils were promoted by using collaborative learning techniques to teach science" (p1). This follow-up project aimed to esta
Comparison of Literacy Progress of Young Children in London Schools. A Reading Recovery Follow up St
This evaluation report follows up a Reading Recovery (RR) intervention programme that had initially been carried out on children aged around 6 years in 42 London schools. In the initial study (2005-6), these children, then in year 1, were all reading at a level below age 5. This report makes comparisons between the original study and the follow up assessment that took place at the end of Key Stage 1 (July 2007) when the children were 7+ years old. This follow up study was designed to assess the
Grammars pressed over poor pupils
As reported on the BBC, a recently published study for the Sutton Trust into the "Evidence on the effects of selective educational systems" suggests that grammar schools are only enrolling half as many able pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds than is possible. The researchers also found, however, that 54 of the 100 most socially selective schools are faith schools, compared to 17 state grammars
EPPE: Influences on Children's Attainment and Progress in Key Stage 2: Cognitive Outcomes in Year 6
This is one of a series of documents reporting findings of a research project entitled ‘Effective Pre-school and Primary Education 3-11’ (EPPE 3-11) commissioned by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). This longitudinal study tracked a cohort of 2701 children from 950 primary schools from age 3 to the end of primary school (age 11 years) in order to investigate what kinds of early childhood provision are most effective in promoting children’s development during pre-sch
Optimising Challenge to Young Children: Action Research in a Nursery School
This resource is from NFER's Topic (now PRE) online journal. The focus of the resource explores the use of action research to improve the learning for young children in a West Sussex nursery school. The study reported on had its origins in the results of an Ofsted visit to the school. The resource outlines the procedures undertaken by the school to collect and analyse data, in order to continue the success experienced at the school, to engage children in scaffolding their own learning, and to pl
