Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)

🛤 Why a clear vision matters Educational leadership is full of competing demands — but strong vision is what brings coherence. In Greenshaw Research School's blog, Phil Stock unpacks how a well-defined statement of intent helps schools: 🔵 Establish common purpose and shared language 🔵 Make strategic choices with clarity 🔵 Foster consistency across teams 🔵 Embed values into practice A clear vision doesn’t just sit in a mission document — it becomes the lens through which all decisions are made. 📖 Dive into the full article here: https://ow.ly/NwS550X8ZEK 📑 Browse our digital-first Pupil Premium guide - designed to save time, strengthen decision-making, and maximise impact: https://lnkd.in/dK4iRCDE

💡 Help strengthen the evidence base in education – become a peer reviewer We’re expanding our peer reviewer panel and are looking for experienced researchers with expertise in: • Quasi-experimental designs (QEDs) • Early years and 16–19 education • Mixed methods (including practice reviews) As a peer reviewer, you may be asked to review evaluation protocols, statistical analysis plans, study plans, practice reviews, and evaluation reports—helping to ensure the rigour and quality of EEF-funded research. 📄 Apply here → https://ow.ly/8gYz50XcucT 🗓️ Deadline: Wednesday, 12 November 2025 Join us in shaping robust evidence that supports better educational outcomes. 🌱

📢 Invitation to trial: GCSE resit tuition programme for FE and sixth form colleges - final call! General FE and sixth-form colleges are invited to join a new trial of Get Further's GCSE Resit Tuition Programme—an evidence-informed approach to supporting learners resitting English and maths. Delivered through small-group, college-based sessions, the programme is led by trained tutors and uses a tailored curriculum which aims to: 🔹 Strengthen subject knowledge 🔹 Increase student confidence and motivation 🔹 Improve GCSE attainment Participating institutions will benefit from access at a significantly reduced cost. 📍 Learn more and register your interest: https://ow.ly/918p50X8Y9T

🔍 In this new blog, our senior content and engagement manager, Harry Madgwick explores new findings from our annual survey on how teachers and leaders use research in their work. The findings reveal that while evidence engagement is increasingly embedded in schools, many educators still find it challenging to translate research into classroom practice. This reinforces the vital role of organisations who sit between research and practice — from professional development providers to academic partners. As Harry writes, bridging this gap must be a collective priority. That’s why we’ve launched our Research Evidence Mobilisation for School Leaders funding round, supporting projects that help leaders make better use of evidence in decision-making. 🔗 Read the full blog: https://eef.li/aPFKrF

📣 Calling primary school teachers! Would you like to test an innovative method of school-led evaluation – whilst contributing to national research? We’ve reopened recruitment for a brand-new project to allow more schools to take part. We're looking for Key Stage 1 and 2 primary school teachers to take part in a brand-new WhatWorked Education study to test the feasibility of a new research method - teacher-led micro RCTs. The study will explore whether teachers can use an online platform, WhatWorked Teachers, to deliver and evaluate interventions using teacher-led micro-RCTs (randomised controlled trials). By taking part, you will: ✅ Test a short 6‑week spelling intervention based on Look, Say, Cover, Write Check (LSCWC). ✅ Decide whether to randomise at class-level. A Trial Wizard will guide you through randomisation. ✅ Enter simple pre-test assessment scores into the WhatWorked Teachers platform, with the support of the Trial Wizard. ✅ Deliver the intervention and enter simple post-test assessment scores into the WhatWorked Teachers platform, with the support of the Trial Wizard. ✅ Receive an automated impact report to evaluate the approach in your own classroom. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eu967raR

🎧 New podcast episode: Exploring the evolving role of the Pupil Premium As one of the most significant policies in the English education system, the Pupil Premium remains a key lever for improving attainment for disadvantaged pupils. In our latest episode of Evidence into Action, we bring together policy, research, and practice to ask: How can schools make the most of it—today? 🔍 Natalie Ohene, Senior Policy Manager at the EEF, shares findings from our recent research, which reviewed how schools are using their Pupil Premium strategy statements—and what the data reveals about priorities and challenges across the system. Joining Natalie are: • Lisa Wise, Headteacher at Wilbury Primary School • uart Mayle, Assistant Principal at Brambles Primary Academy, Tees Valley Education Together, they unpack: • Trends in how schools approach Pupil Premium planning • Real-world strategies for supporting disadvantaged pupils • How schools are embedding evidence into their decision-making 📢 This is a rich, practical discussion for school leaders, policymakers, and anyone interested in using resources more effectively to close the attainment gap. 🎙️ Tune in here: https://eef.li/aP9Gzd

💡 How do you make professional development (PD) really stick in a busy sixth form college? Oldham Sixth Form College has been using the KEEP Framework—Knowledge, Engagement, Execution, Practice—to strengthen their PD strategy and improve outcomes for both staff and students. In this new blog, Louise Astbury explores how KEEP isn’t just a model—it’s become a shared language for reflection, practice, and improvement. 👇 Read how KEEP is helping design PD that’s three times more effective: https://ow.ly/ubK150Xag4q 🔗

📊 Building a culture of solid attendance in the early years has an impact on later learning. In this new blog, Molly Devlin and Vickee Twort from Ark Schools explore why improving attendance in the early years is a critical priority, especially for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. With worrying national trends in early absence, they share four actionable strategies from their Birmingham schools that are already making a measurable difference: ✅ Building trusted relationships with families ✅ Making attendance everyone’s responsibility ✅ Communicating clearly and personally ✅ Offering targeted support when needed At Ark Victoria, this approach has led to 95% attendance — with no gap between Pupil Premium and non-Pupil Premium pupils. 📖 Read the full blog: https://ow.ly/j82S50X7O31 For more help in promoting good attendance, join this webinar with Ark on 22nd October at 4:00 PM packed with practical tips and support. Sign up: https://ow.ly/Py1c50X7O30

Calling all maths teachers and school leaders in England! We're conducting a research survey to better understand how maths is taught, guided, and adapted in English schools — and we’d love your insights. 🕒 It takes just 12 minutes to complete 🎁 Participants can enter a £50 Amazon voucher prize draw 🔗 Take the survey here: https://lnkd.in/egax3C5E We’re particularly interested in: • How maths lessons are planned and adapted • Where you seek guidance and support • Your professional approaches and experiences There are no right or wrong answers – just your professional perspective. Please share with your network.

💡 How can school leaders create the conditions for teaching assistants to make the greatest impact? In this new blog, EEF Associate and SEND specialist, Gary Aubin explores the strategic deployment of TAs, with a focus on: ✅ Building a culture of shared responsibility ✅ Aligning systems for better teacher–TA collaboration ✅ Embedding daily practices that improve preparedness Whether you're leading SEND, managing deployment, or supporting classroom teams—this is essential reading. 📚 Read the full blog: https://ow.ly/UBmM50X7EO5 🌟 Visit our SEND Hub for key resources 👉 https://ow.ly/Wu2w50X7EO7 Take a look at our updated guide on effective teaching assistant deployment 👉 https://ow.ly/9T2l50X7EO4