Action-research

Research Projects

from member

departments

Home > Membership > Research

As a teacher-driven charity, we are committed to supporting action-based research conducted in schools.

Our programmes encourage members to explore what works in schools, in a range of contexts, to create an evidence base that can be applied across our network. Reports from some of these research projects are summarised below.

  • Why we believe in research
  • To promote informed decision-making regarding teaching practice
  • To challenge current teaching methods
  • To establish a forward-thinking approach in the profession
  • To give the profession an authoritative voice in education policy

Our members’ research focuses on:

  • Improving teaching and learning
  • Supporting collaboration
  • Encouraging staff to develop their specialist subject knowledge
  • Extending and enthusing pupils, within and beyond the curriculum

School leaders

Primary and Secondary Leadership Programme members begin to define their projects at our Leadership Residentials. They then embark upon a three-year research project linked to one of the research areas.

Subject leaders

Subject leaders begin the Subject Leadership Programme at our Subject Enrichment Residentials. They set annual objectives across the four areas in order to achieve the PTI Mark each year.

Subject leaders are then invited to begin the Subject Leadership Research Programme after three years of Subject Leadership Programme membership. They sent annual milestones, and tend to build on an aspect of departmental work that has already been identified as particularly interesting or pressing.

Subject Leadership Research Programme project summaries

Member Project

Developing composition skills utilising music technology and acoustic composition

Posted 11 Feb 2021

Member Project

​Inspiring more boys to engage with literary texts

Posted 11 Feb 2021

Member Project

​Enhancing student achievement in History through enrichment activities and flipped learning

Posted 11 Feb 2021

Member Project

​Supporting and collaborating with local secondary schools in the Brighton and Hove area and beyond

Posted 11 Feb 2021

Member Project

​The effect of embedding and recycling of key linguistic structures on written and spoken production

Posted 11 Feb 2021

Member Project

​Raising the profile of MFL beyond Key Stage 4

Posted 31 Jul 2020

Member Project

Using extracurricular lectures to develop writing, research and oracy skills

Posted 17 Mar 2020

Member Project

​Improving motivation and attainment of underachieving Key Stage 4 boys

Posted 17 Mar 2020

Member Project

​Improving problem solving skills in Mathematics

Posted 16 Mar 2020

Member Project

Introducing more literacy into KS3 French to encourage a life-long appreciation of language

Posted 28 Feb 2020

Member Project

Promoting wider reading in Science

Posted 28 Feb 2020

Member Project

Stretching and challenging high achieving students in Geography

Posted 28 Feb 2020

Member Project

Improving problem solving skills in Mathematics

Posted 28 Feb 2020

Member Project

Developing algebraic and multiplicative reasoning

Posted 28 Feb 2020

Member Project

Enthusing and encouraging boys and low-achieving students in English

Posted 07 Aug 2019

Member Project

Engaging and challenging students through developing Science homework

Posted 08 Mar 2019

Member Project

Developing feedback and reflection to create a culture of learning in Science

Posted 08 Mar 2019

Member Project

Using coaching and mentoring to build confidence and enthusiasm in Science lessons

Posted 08 Mar 2019

Member Project

Increasing stretch and challenge in Science lessons to raise attainment across Key Stage 4

Posted 08 Mar 2019

Member Project

Redesigning the Science curriculum to raise attainment

Posted 08 Mar 2019

Member Project

How teaching key scientific concepts early can affect achievement at Key Stage 3 and beyond

Posted 08 Mar 2019

Member Project

Improving student participation by providing leadership opportunities

Posted 08 Mar 2019

Member Project

Using technology to improve Music students’ access, reflection and self-motivation

Posted 08 Mar 2019

Member Project

Increasing the use of authentic resources in and outside the MFL classroom

Posted 08 Mar 2019

Member Project

Ensuring disadvantaged students are encouraged to continue instrumental or vocal lessons through KS3

Posted 08 Mar 2019

Member Project

Offering an additional Mathematics option to help improve GCSE Mathematics attainment

Posted 08 Mar 2019

Member Project

Developing a High Learning Potential History programme to prepare students for further education

Posted 08 Mar 2019

Member Project

Inspiring a thirst for learning beyond the Key Stage 3 curriculum to increase GCSE History take-up

Posted 08 Mar 2019

Member Project

Developing an academically rigorous History curriculum to improve attainment at Key Stage 5

Posted 08 Mar 2019

Member Project

Beyond ‘because’: Developing boys’ extended writing in History

Posted 08 Mar 2019

Member Project

Raising engagement, independence and attainment at GCSE through personalised learning homework

Posted 08 Mar 2019

Member Project

Using global connections to challenge pupils’ perceptions of world issues

Posted 08 Mar 2019

Member Project

Developing a culture of reading for pleasure

Posted 08 Mar 2019

Member Project

Extending students’ vocabulary through extending and widening their reading

Posted 08 Mar 2019

Member Project

Developing the Art department to become an effective teaching and learning community

Posted 08 Mar 2019

Member Project

Assessing the effect of Marine Studies on further education choices

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Using strategies to stretch, challenge and engage pupils and improve uptake of Triple Science

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Investigating the impact of GCSE Astronomy on GCSE Triple Science and further study

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Addressing misconceptions in Science at KS2 to aid progress

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Using external competitions to develop higher order Science skills

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Promoting the study of Languages and increasing uptake beyond Key Stage 3

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Improving MFL teaching and learning by developing consistent feedback and home learning

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Routinely spontaneous: Increasing students’ target language use and grammatical accuracy

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Investigating the extent to which Modern Languages teaching strategies can be employed in other subj

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Using foreign language film to extend and inspire

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Using authentic literary resources to improve engagement with MFL at KS3

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Increasing enjoyment and uptake through extracurricular provision

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Investigating links between language learning and other subjects

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Using MFL teaching to improve literacy

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Investigating approaches to teaching grammatical structures effectively

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Improving pupils’ mastery of Mathematics to increase confidence and improve progress

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Raising achievement in Mathematics through high standards of teaching and learning

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Effective approaches for teachers to develop connections within the Mathematics classroom

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Improving independent learning skills and historical argument

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Incorporating literacy skills in History lessons to strengthen understanding and performance

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

A cross-curricular approach to the Great War to improve understanding and attainment

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Do exam-style homework booklets improve attainment in History at Key Stage 3?

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Does collaborative teaching improve historical understanding?

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Using primary sources to lead enquiry-based learning

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Establishing IB Global Politics as a post-16 option

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

The impact of extracurricular trips and activities on students’ passion for History

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Raising GCSE Geography uptake through an improved Key Stage 3 curriculum

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Supporting local primary schools with the new Geography national curriculum

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Studying great literature to enthuse students and improve the quality of their writing

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Encouraging and supporting more students to feel enthused about English

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Using the new curriculum to maximise rigour and enjoyment of English at GCSE

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Using strategies beyond the curriculum to increase interest in English at Key Stage 5

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Member Project

Fostering enthusiasm and independence in students’ approaches to literary texts

Posted 25 Jan 2018

School Leadership Programme project summaries

Member Project

​Challenging and engaging Key Stage 3 pupils to develop independence and a love of learning

Posted 11 Feb 2021

Member Project

​Improving literacy skills

Posted 11 Feb 2021

Member Project

​Improving the quality of Teaching and Learning (T&L)

Posted 11 Feb 2021

Member Project

​Raising attainment and improving progress of Higher Attaining Pupil Premium students

Posted 11 Feb 2021

Member Project

​Developing a culture of speaking and engagement throughout the pupil body

Posted 11 Feb 2021

Member Project

Developing a school based CPD programme to improve teaching, learning and assessment

Posted 11 Feb 2021

Member Project

​Values-led school improvement across a MAT

Posted 31 Jul 2020

Member Project

​Improving outcomes for disadvantaged students: Eliminating the gap

Posted 17 Mar 2020

Member Project

Raising aspirations for disadvantaged students in Birmingham

Posted 17 Mar 2020

Member Project

Strengthening middle leadership

Posted 28 Feb 2020

Member Project

Establishing a training centre

Posted 28 Feb 2020

Member Project

Improving the levels of outstanding teaching and decreasing the PP/ non-PP attainment gap

Posted 12 Mar 2019

Member Project

Developing teaching and learning through coaching and self reflection

Posted 12 Mar 2019

Member Project

Increasing the resilience of girls to meet academic challenges with confidence

Posted 12 Mar 2019

Member Project

Improving expectations and challenge in KS3 English teaching, leading to “challenge for all”

Posted 12 Mar 2019

Member Project

Implementing learning and teaching strategies to develop confident, successful learners

Posted 12 Mar 2019

Member Project

Encouraging girls to speak out confidently and thus impact the learning dialogue

Posted 08 Mar 2019

Member Project

Raising the level of teachers’ subject knowledge and pedagogy

Posted 25 Jan 2018

Primary Leadership Programme projects

Primary research projects

  • Using the skills taught through talk for writing to produce quality foundation curriculum outcomes (Ark Academy, London)

  • To develop teachers' confidence and subject knowledge in Geography, focusing especially on outdoor learning, which will impact on and deepen children's love of learning (Bishop Winnington-Ingram CofE Primary School, London)

  • To measure the impact of using video editing (film making) as a means to raise standards in writing skills and enthusiasm (Brady Primary School, London)

  • To research the impact of a Reflective Inquiry Coaching Model on the quality of teaching and learning, leadership and subject knowledge in Maths (Stanley Grove Primary Academy, Manchester)

  • To measure the impact of using science as a means to raise standards in writing skills and engagement of Year 5 pupils (Burbage Primary School, Wiltshire)

  • By using ‘IRIS’ to empower teachers to take ownership of CPD in order to reduce variation in teaching quality between subject/year groups/ key stages (City Academy Whitehawk, Brighton)

  • To improve standards in writing through using drama as a vehicle for learners to develop creative ideas (Colvestone Primary School, London)

  • To improve the quality of pupil learning in Geography through developing teachers’ subject knowledge and subject-specific pedagogies (Elmhurst Primary School, London)

  • Extended writing in history: teaching pupils how to structure their writing to answer a question and apply their historical knowledge to reasoned argument (Millbank Academy, London)

  • To improve the quality of Mathematics teaching through developing teachers' subject knowledge and raising the profile of the subject with all stakeholders; whilst developing a 'mastery' maths curriculum (Handsworth Primary School, London)
  • To improve children's attainment and attitudes to writing through a review of approaches to writing and support strategies (Histon and Impington Infant School, Cambridge)

  • How do we support teachers to improve their pedagogical knowledge in teaching geography to ensure passion? (Histon and Impington Junior School, Cambridge)
  • To develop the use of creative teaching strategies as a means to improve the children's ability to express themselves effectively through language (Holland Park Primary School, Essex)

  • Reading for pleasure and its impact on achievement –initially focussing on Year 5 (Lena Gardens Primary School, London)

  • To develop subject (excellence) based teaching in science area in order to fulfil SIP Area of development - improve teaching and learning in science (Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School, Brent)

  • To plan and use an authentic enquiry project as an intervention that will deepen childrens’ understanding of learning power and accelerate progress and develop staff knowledge and confidence in the teaching of science (Overton C of E Primary School, Hampshire)

  • To build on young children's natural enthusiasm for learning through immersive projects in science and history (Pashley Down Infant School, Eastbourne)

  • The impact of scientific enquiry on pupil learning and on their ability to transfer this way of learning to other areas (Powers Hall Academy, Essex)

  • To develop specialist art teaching to raise engagement and enjoyment for children and adults (Sheringham Community Primary School, Norfolk)

  • To improve the quality of pupils’ learning experiences in science through developing teacher subject knowledge and subject specific pedagogy (St Mary Magdalene Academy, London)

  • All children to reach 75% mastery of a maths concept each time it is taught (St Mary's Primary School, Jersey)

  • By increasing the teachers confidence and competence, they will secure better outcomes for pupils whilst ensuring enjoyment in Maths and Science (Twydall Primary School, Nursery and Children's Centre, Medway)

  • Using Religious Education as a driver for improving children’s ability to reflect deeply on their learning and ask reflective and meaningful questions (Wonersh and Shamley Green CofE Aided Primary School, Surrey)

  • To measure the impact of embedding Singapore Maths principles to secure mastery and raise standards (Woodlands Primary School, Cheshire)