Research School Network: Introducing Town End Associate Research School The new addition to the North East Research School Network

Town End Associate Research School (TEARS) launched on Tuesday 3^rd December accompanied by Christmas carols from the Town End Academy Choir.


Nichola Fullard, Head of Town End Academy, introduced the new member of the North East Research School Network. With a history of school to school support, Town End Academy has been a designated Teaching School since 2012. Town End Academy provides School Direct primary training in Sunderland and with partners across the North East. Continual Professional Development is delivered to trainees, Newly Qualified Teachers and school-based mentors, with an emphasis on supporting mental health and well-being. In addition, mentor training is supported through the provision of accredited qualifications.


Town End Academy has, over the years, engaged with research and developed partnerships with the Education Endowment Fund (EEF). As part of the WISE Academy MAT, Town End’s Specialist Leaders in Education have led on projects such as Sunderland Talks (a multiagency approach to Early Years) and Empowering Literacy. The Specialist Leaders in Education have been lead advocates for the EEF’s Primary Literacy Guidance report, especially in Early Years, reading and oracy.


Currently, Town End Academy is working in partnership with University College London and North East Teaching Schools Partnership to produce training materials for the Early Career Framework. The Early Career Framework, which will be trialled in the North East from 2020, is a two-year programme of development for Newly Qualified Teachers that is underpinned by evidence-based research and the work of the EEF.


Shotton Hall Research School are excited to welcome Town End Associate Research School to the North East network. This partnership will strengthen the provision of primary support in the North East region. Town End Research School will be contributing to the work of the Research Schools Network by utilising rigorous and robust evidence bases to inform primary classroom practice with particular attention to what good teaching looks like for disadvantaged students. The Literacy programmes that Town End Associate Research School will be delivering in the new year are developed through the Research Schools Network, based upon DfE CPD standards and include follow on support to enable system change.


If you are interested in the support and training offered by Town End Associate Research School, more information is available on their website here and on the Shotton Hall Research School website here.