Leaders across the EEF’s Research School Network (RSN) will gather in York today to celebrate and prepare for the Network’s next phase.
The two-day conference will focus on maximising opportunities, sharing insights and evidence, and crucially, building effective partnerships. The conference prepares for the launch of the EEF’s new regional strategy in September.
The Research Schools Network are a central part of this. Launched in 2016, they support schools, colleges, and early years settings to use evidence to improve teaching and learning, with a focus on children and young people from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
From September 2023, the Network will consist of 33 Research Schools, including six new schools and six current Associate Research Schools, who will become full Research Schools.
The new regional strategy focuses on three key areas:
- Providing more exemplification of evidence in practice and communicating this through local networks.
- Enabling change at scale by working with middle tier organisations and building capacity of others in the system to use evidence.
- Developing direct support for schools through sustained partnerships working with local authorities and multi academy trusts.
Our regional partnerships are a core part of the RSN’s work. Partnerships begin by working together on an ​‘Evidence Exploration’ partnership, which identifies an education priority that can be effectively addressed and co-develops a solution. Some partnerships will then continue the journey through an ​‘Evidence into Action’ partnership, involving bespoke professional development and ongoing support over a sustained period.
Speaking of the updated Research Schools Network and launch of the new regional strategy, Lizzie Swaffield, National Delivery Manager (Partnerships) said:
The Network is currently identifying potential partnerships and aiming to work with schools where there are high numbers of pupils eligible for free school meals and where closing the attainment gap is a priority.
For more information about regional partnerships, you can download our new guide.
The RSN is funded by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), an independent charity dedicated to breaking the link between family income and educational achievement. The EEF works across every region in England and its partnership work is coordinated by a team of Regional Delivery Leads.