Research School Network: Aspirer RS Blog New Beginnings, Exciting Times

New Beginnings, Exciting Times

Last week was exciting for the Aspirer Research School Team – we had our first Research School Senior Leadership Meeting! It is amazing to think that in the three years since we started, the Aspirer Research School has grown from the initial tentative steps of a couple of interested teachers based in a school that firmly believed in using research to help them make effective decisions, to a growing team of over twenty people, working across three hubs, directed by an SLT!

We met at Peover Superior Primary School, a school central to the Aspirer Research School (you can read about their inspirational evidence fuelled school improvement journey here), to discuss all things evidence, translation into practice and to make plans for the next year. Of course, our meeting involved plenty of planning for the future – but we never miss an opportunity to learn from each other; our discussion remained firmly on the impact for the children! 

Phil Brooke and Claire Williams will be heading up the Associate Research School at from Alexandra Park Primary School, Stockport, with Sarah Izon and Steve Wheeldon running the Research School Hub, at Wilbraham Primary School in Fallowfield, Manchester. Phil Brooke and Claire Williams will be heading up the Associate Research School at from Alexandra Park Primary School, Stockport, with Sarah Izon and Steve Wheeldon running the Research School Hub, at Wilbraham Primary School in Fallowfield, Manchester.

The new Associate Research School and Research School Hub will allow Aspirer to reach wider and extend the opportunities for schools, leaders and teachers to get involved. We have planned an extensive menu of free twilight sessions, Research Breakfasts, Research2Teaching seminars, small scales studies and longer impactful professional learning opportunities – all designed to help schools use robust research evidence. 

We are starting off with a series of free Research Breakfasts and twilight sessions at each school – you can sign up here. Please do come along, share your thoughts and get involved – we are keen to learn with everyone, from everyone, on behalf of the children and young people we work for. 

Watch out for more details of upcoming events and training – they will be coming thick and fast in the next few weeks!