NatCen to investigate use of educational research in schools

The Education Endowment Foundation, in collaboration with The Economic and Social Research Council, has commissioned NatCen to investigate to what extent schools in England use educational research, and how this informs teaching practice.

NatCen will survey headteachers and senior leadership team members in 800 primary and secondary schools across the country. There will also be a secondary qualitative stage.

Dr. Jane O’Brien, director of Children & Young People at NatCen, said: “Researchers carry out lots of work on schools and teaching practice yet we don’t know very much about whether teachers keep up to date with and use research, or how we can make it appropriate to them.

“The findings from this study will enhance understanding of how schools access, use and implement research and should ultimately help improve the impact of educational research on teaching practice and how research findings are presented and disseminated.”