Key figures in education have come together for a regional conference on putting research into practice in schools, especially during a budget crisis.
Speakers included Sir Kevan Collins, John Tomsett (pictured) and Alex Quigley, who discussed ways to make better use of evidence to inform teaching and learning in the North Lincolnshire and York regions.
Tomsett, the headteacher of Huntington School, explained why evidence should be used when budgets are tight, and how sharing key information can be valuable.
The event was organised by Huntington Research School, together with North Lincolnshire county council and the Research Schools Network – a national project aiming to create a network of schools sharing teaching tips and innovative ideas based on academic research.
The event, which hosted academics such as Professor Kate Cain of Lancaster University and Dr Joni Holmes from the Medical Research Council’s Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge, was open to teachers and school leaders based in the area and beyond.
Alex Quigley, the director of Huntington Research School, said: “Research evidence is not some shiny bauble extra on the tree, it’s integral to our work in school improvement. As teachers, we need to use every tool.”
There are currently 11 primary, secondary and special schools involved in the network – which is overseen by the Education Endowment Foundation and the Institute for Effective Education – with five more set to join at a later date.
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