Curriculum

Out-of-Classroom Learning: Practical information and guidance for schools and teachers

The booklet exemplifies opportunities presented by a consortium of organisations to support young people’s experience of out-of-classroom learning. It is the basis for developing an understanding of Real World Learning where Every Child Matters (ECM) is at the heart of learning, which is fun, motivational, inclusive and achievable. There is also invaluable guidance to support teachers and...

24.06.10

What is the effect of block scheduling on academic achievement?

This is an EPPI-Centre systematic review of the effect of block scheduling on academic achievement. As the name suggests, block scheduling is an approach to school scheduling whereby students are typically timetabled for fewer classes per day (typically between three and five), but each class lasts for a longer period of time (on average 70-100 minutes).

16.06.10

Identifying Components of Attainment Gaps

The resource is a standalone report produced by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, which is designed to increase understanding of a number of factors affecting pupil attainment at the end of Key Stage Four. The report uses data collected as part of the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England (LSYPE) project. The research explores if the LSYPE data can be usefully combined...

09.06.10

Research into Teacher Effectiveness: A Model of Teacher Effectiveness

In June 1999, management consultants Hay McBer were commissioned by the DfEE (now the Department for Education) to analyse what effective teachers do in practice. Evidence was drawn from interviews, questionnaires, observation and focus-group discussions with teachers at three levels of professional development (main professional grade, through the threshold and outstanding teachers). The full...

02.06.10

The Rhetoric of ICT and the New Language of Learning: a critical analysis of the use of ICT in the curricular field

This academic paper, published in the European Educational Research Journal, is a study of how information and communication technologies (ICT) are perceived in educational settings. It seeks to establish a critical link between the political rhetoric of ICT within the Norwegian education system and what the authors refer to as a new 'language of learning' that ICT can help to facilitate.

25.05.10

Teachers TV Outdoor Learning Week

Teachers TV has a week of programming focusing on teaching and learning outside the classroom, w/c 24 May. This includes a number of programmes in the "Great Lesson Ideas: Learning Outside the Classroom" series.

24.05.10

Achievement and Inclusion in Schools and Classrooms: Participation and Pedagogy BERA 2008

This paper discusses the relationship between educational achievement and inclusion and considers what conceptual approaches might support an examination of this relationship.

19.05.10

Article published to TTRB Special Educational Needs

Engaging public support for eradicating UK poverty

This publication is one of a series of review articles (or ‘Round-ups’) for public consumption for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF). Written in September 2009, it examines various aspects of attitudes to poverty in the UK, drawing upon a range of findings from the JRF ‘Public Interest in Poverty Issues’ Programme, for which the author is Programme Advisor. This review examines public...

12.05.10

As we see it: improving learning in the museum

This resource is a conference paper presenting research conducted in Australia, describing and analysing pupil learning experiences in the Australian Museum in Sydney. The paper is jointly authored by a member of the Faculty of Education & Social Work, University of Sydney, and a member of the museum staff. The paper was presented at BERA 2003.

27.04.10

A Phenomenographic Investigation of Teacher Conceptions of Student Engagement in Learning

This journal article explores the meaning of the term ‘student engagement’ in learning. The article draws attention to disagreements about what counts as student engagement and contends that it means different things to different people. It highlights the fact that certain conceptions of engagement (for example, students physically participating in class activities) may not be educationally...

21.04.10

Transforming Education Outside the Classroom. Sixth Report of Session 2009-10

This recently published report from the House of Commons Children, Schools and Families Committee endorses the importance of learning outside the classroom and recommends further funding from the DCSF to improve and increase provision. Despite ‘a very strong body of evidence’ to show the benefits of out-of-school learning, the report suggests that little progress has been made since the previous...

16.04.10

Young people’s decision-making in 14-19 education and training: a review of the literature

This briefing paper reviews a specific range of the empirical research literature on the decisions that 14 to 19 year olds make about education and training. There is a section on studies which focus on demographic factors which will appeal to those interested in the relationship between macro and micro level factors; there is a section on school level studies which will appeal to those...

12.04.10

Effective Classroom Practice: A mixed-method study of influences and outcomes

This is the full research report of a two-year mixed method study funded by the ESRC into effective classroom practice in both the primary and secondary phases of schooling. This research, which was undertaken between 2006 and 2008 by a team at the University of Nottingham, built on an existing longitudinal four-year research project involving 80 teachers, and aimed to draw out the key factors...

07.04.10

Managing Change in Small Primary Schools

This is the summary of a fuller research report on change management in small primary schools throughout Scotland. The research was funded by the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department (SOEID) and conducted in 1996/97 for the Scottish Council for Research in Education (SCRE). Evidence is drawn from two phases: a postal survey sent to all headteachers of small Scottish primary schools...

30.03.10

Teachers TV Healthy Schools Week

Teachers TV has a week of programmes (w/c 29 March) looking at how some schools are playing their part in tackling the obesity crisis amongst our children, including tips and advice from the UK and abroad to help children stay healthy, fit and mentally strong.

29.03.10

Digital participation, digital literacy, and school subjects: A review of the policies, literature and evidence

The clearly stated aim of this thirty-page document is to “provide a critical introduction to the policies and research on the subjects of digital literacy and digital participation, seeking to show what they mean for classroom practice". Published in 2009, the document forms a recent addition to Futurelab’s Digital Participation project, a research and development programme which models, trials...

23.03.10

Analysis of factors influencing the contribution of talk to learning during collaborative group work in science

This is a paper presented at the 2009 BERA Conference. The report considers the factors that affect pupil contributions during collaborative work in science. It reviews approaches to analysing the cognitive demand of talk in groups, the rules and roles in group talk and the nature of group tasks. The paper presents evidence from primary school classrooms to show their possible impact on cognitive...

12.03.10

UCET Conference: The Implications of the Cambridge Review for Teacher Education

UCET have organised a one-day conference on the implications of the Cambridge Review for Teacher Education, which will take place at the Ramada Manchester Piccadilly on 26th March 2010.

27.02.10

Planning for change: the impact of the new Key Stage 3 curriculum

This is an Ofsted report which evaluates the progress of the implementation of the new Key Stage 3 curriculum. The report draws on visits to 37 schools between May 2008 and March 2009. The new National Curriculum for Key Stage 3 came into effect for Year 7 pupils from September 2008, and carried with it a clear expectation that schools develop a more integrated approach to curriculum planning and...

26.02.10

SEN Personalised Learning Task

This resource is a university based website which supports PGCE students undertaking the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Personalised Learning Task.

18.02.10

Article published to TTRB Special Educational Needs