Research School Network: Implementation: Engaging People The EEF’s new implementation guidance report places a focus on engaging people

The Education Endowment Foundation have published the latest edition of one of their most popular guidance reports, A School’s Guide to Implementation. The guidance is designed to support school leaders and decision-makers in implementing change in the most effective way.

It’s focused on three key elements:

• The behaviours that drive effective implementation,
• the contextual factors that facilitate it,
• and a structured, but flexible, process to enact it.

When we consider implementation in schools, we can often consider the what, how and when. Yet one of the consistent messages in the latest update is to focus on the who:

Engage

One of the effective implementation behaviours is to ​‘Engage people so they can shape what happens while also providing overall direction.‘

Sometimes we focus on ​‘buy-in’, and the idea that we need to persuade people to implement a practice. Or we might engage in a faux ​‘consultation process’, where the outcome is predetermined. While consultation and buy-in are not necessarily bad things, they can often be tokenistic. For effective implementation we need to see the value in engaging those at the heart of the implementation process. The guidance recommends:

• Engage people so they have the potential to influence change
• Engage people in collaborative processes
• Engage people through clear communication and active guidance

When we do this effectively, implementation outcomes are likely to improve.

People who enable change

Recommendation 2 of the guidance is to ​‘attend to the contextual factors that influence implementation’. One of these contextual factors is the people involved in implementation. Implementation will be most successful if those involved:

• have the knowledge, skills, and expertise to help implement the intervention;
• feel empowered to act and can empower others; and
• have agency — choice over actions — within their remit.

In order for these things to be in place, those who are leading the implementation process need to ensure that they create the conditions for these to thrive. Professional development, clear communication, time and resources, all contribute to ensuring these are in place.

The guidance report is a great addition to the landscape. Sign up for our newsletter to learn about our events to unpick the guidance even further.