Research School Network: Don’t just give revision resources – teach students how to use them Embedding a whole-school culture of effective study skills

Study skills will be at the front of our minds at this time of year, as our students are in the midst of their national exams. However, the work to equip them with the skills to study effectively needs to start early.

In a busy school day, students are exposed to a constant stream of new information, strategies and materials. Without structured guidance, it’s no surprise that even excellent resources can sit at home unused. The EEF’s guidance report on metacognition and self-regulated learning emphasises that students need to be explicitly taught how to organise and manage their independent study, and this includes being told how to use the range of resources that are out there.

This is best done at subject level but set within a whole-school culture of continuous support.

We look at what the evidence says about effective study skills, and examine how this might be systematically embedded within schools, departments and classrooms using some practical examples from a local secondary school.