: Blog five | What can you expect when participating in an EEF project? The process can still be a novel and uncertain one, and so here we outline what to expect when participating in an EEF project.

Enquire

The EEF’s guidance on implementation in schools stresses the importance of the exploratory stage. They highlight the importance of comprehensively identifying areas for improvement using a robust diagnostic process and then focussing on the fit and feasibility of any intervention. We should apply this process to deciding on project participation and allow ample time for exploring and assessing the suitability of a project.

First, before deciding on a project to get involved in it is important to consider the following in your school’s setting:

1. Does this programme support a particular objective in my setting? Think about the specific areas for improvement identified in your school and whether this programme actively contributes to these.

2. Do my staff have the time to engage in this approach? The EEF’s guidance on professional development stresses the importance of PD being context appropriate and so it is essential to consider whether staff have the time required to engage.

3. Are we willing to take part in a trial and potentially be part of the control group? See our blog ​‘How does a Randomised Control Trial work?’. If you are part of the control group you may receive funding support but would not implement the programme in your school.

4. What stage is the project at in the project pipeline and are we happy to get involved at this point?

It is important to consider what stage your chosen project is in. If you are getting involved at the innovation stage this might involve input in designing and packaging an intervention, and which might not yield positive results, but would contribute to evidence picture and could grant early access to promising approaches. If the project is part of an Randomised Control Trial with the chance of being in a control group or is it at the scale up stage where projects have been shown to be effective.

In addition, the EEF stress the importance of Engaging and Uniting around any chosen implementation plan. Engaging a variety of stakeholders, from staff to students and parents, in the decision of what to implement could be an effective approach and ensuring that all parties feel United behind a chosen intervention is crucial to its success.

Register

When you’ve found the project you’d like to take part in, you can submit your details through the project page on the EEF website Take part in an EEF project | EEF (educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk). The delivery team will get in touch with you directly to discuss the next steps and answer any questions you have about signing up to the project and delivering the programme.

Registering doesn’t commit you to taking part, and you can express an interest in more than one EEF project at any one time. Schools can also sign up to more than one EEF project at a time, although we encourage schools to consider capacity and wouldn’t allow schools to sign up to two programmes that are delivered to the same pupils in the same subject, as that can impact our ability to assess the impact of each project.

Continued support

Regardless of the stage a project is in you can expect continued support and guidance from the delivery team at the EEF. They can answer questions whilst you explore suitability, explain the process further and will also be on hand throughout the delivery process to guide you, providing necessary resources and assisting with the effective implementation of any project.

Benefits

Beyond these practicalities schools should also expect all the benefits mentioned in our previous blog. These range from altruistically improving evidence based best practice nationally, to deepening professional development in your own setting, accessing a potentially high value intervention or approach, and nurturing a culture of curiosity and evidence literacy in staff as well as students.

To find out more about the projects that the EEF are currently funding visit the EEF website here Projects | EEF (educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk)

To explore projects that are currently recruiting in your area, visit Take part in an EEF project | EEF (educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk)