Research School Network: Accelerator Fund announcement New opportunities for schools to make the most of research evidence

The EEF is working with the Department for Education (DfE) in 2021 – 2022 to expand its work supporting schools to access evidence-informed programmes. The work is focused on the RSC regions of the North, East Midlands & Humber, and West Midlands. There are 8 projects recruiting schools, across a variety of types of settings. This includes trials of approaches that show promise, as well as additional programmes being offered to schools at a subsidised rate.

There are four trials recruiting schools:

• Learning Language and Loving It: Testing the impact of a training programme for Early Years practitioners to promote language and early literacy
• English Mastery: Testing the impact of a knowledge rich KS3 English curriculum
• Peer Assisted Learning strategies: Testing the impact of a 20-week structured paired reading intervention to improve reading fluency and comprehension
• The 5Rs approach to GCSE Maths resits: Testing the impact of a programme focusing on key GCSE maths content and revision techniques

There are four programmes, that have shown to be effective in a previous EEF trial, being made available at a subsidised rate for schools:

• 1stClass@Number: Small-group intervention delivered by teaching assistants to support pupils struggling with numeracy in Year 2.
• Embedding Formative Assessment: Professional development programme to improve formative assessment strategies across secondary schools.
• Reciprocal Reading: A structured approach to teaching strategies at KS2 that students can use to improve their reading comprehension.
• Switch On Reading: An intensive one-to-one, daily, 10-week literacy intervention delivered by teaching assistants to improve Y7/Y8 pupils’ reading.