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Leading Learning Forward

Education Partnership

KYRA Research School

 

 

KYRA Research School is committed to supporting schools across North and North East Lincolnshire, working in close association with the Education Endowment Foundation and with the DRET Teaching School Hub (David Ross Education Trust). More information and links can be found below.

At KYRA Research School, we bridge the gap between research and classroom practice, partner with schools to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils through evidence-informed implementation, robust evaluation, quality CPD and follow-on support.

We are delighted to have received sponsorship funding, via the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), to work with schools in North and North East Lincolnshire.

KYRA Research School,  as part of the EEF’s Research School Network, works in partnership across Lincolnshire and the East Midlands. Our core activities are focussed on facilitating evidence-based professional development, developing partnerships, and sharing the evidence of what has worked.

We are working in partnership with schools and colleges, MATs, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire Councils, and DRET Teaching School Hub and its partners to build capacity and support schools in:

  • Lincolnshire
  • North Lincolnshire
  • North East Lincolnshire
  • Leicestershire
  • Leicester City
  • Rutland
  • Northamptonshire

Evidence Leads in Education and Evidence Advocates

Since 2017 we have designated 55 Evidence Leads in Education (ELEs) who are practitioners from all phases. ELEs support the work of KYRA Research School, the Associate Research School, and the Evidence Hub across the region. They facilitate the Research School Network’s suite of professional development, lead evidence briefings, and are deployed to other requests for support as they arise.

Currently, there are eight designated ELEs for North and North East Lincolnshire.

ELE

Phase

Martha Mullen

Early Years Primary

Scott Berry

Primary

Jade Hickin

Secondary

David Goodwin

Secondary

Matt Cooper

Secondary

Leigh Hirst

Secondary

Gary Thomas

Post-16

Rickeana McCurdy

Post-16

What is an Evidence Lead in Education?

ELEs are outstanding primary or secondary teachers, who are middle and senior leaders with the skills to support individuals or teams in similar positions in other schools. They understand what outstanding leadership of evidence-informed school improvement looks like and are skilled in helping other leaders to achieve it in their own context.
 

COMMUNICATING

Motivator

  • uses coaching and mentoring skills to encourage others
  • facilitates an inclusive, productive environment when working with groups of people

Collaborator

  • works with other evidence-informed educators across the region

Influencer

  • can see the big picture, convinces others of the need to base practice on evidence
  • understands change management and problem-solving techniques

Respects context

  • reaches shared understanding of local challenges, through excellent listening skills
  • respects and values local expertise: in terms of context, professional judgement
  • understands that the research evidence provides ‘best bets’ rather than ‘certain solutions’

MOBILISING RESEARCH EVIDENCE                              

 

Gatekeeper

  • is a guardian of the evidence base, challenging misinterpretation of it

 

Research literate

  • has good understanding of forms of evidence, their relative merits and their applicability in school decision-making
  • maintains own knowledge of the evidence base in their field of expertise

 

Interpreter

  • makes the evidence accessible to practitioners
  • synthesises evidence for a variety of audiences e.g. training, presentations

 

Exemplifier

  • able to exemplify what recommendations arising from research evidence look like in practice
  • draws on a network of colleagues in order to exemplify beyond own area of expertise

 

IMPLEMENTATION & EVALUATION

 

Implementer

  • has good understanding of the evidence base on Implementation in schools

-    supports others in preparing to implement change

 

Evaluator

  • has good understanding of types of evaluation
  •     leads evaluation of plans / projects, or support others with this

 

Analyser

  • can analyse various data in order to identify genuine priorities for improvement

 

Innovator

  • identifies interesting projects, support bid writing
  • signposts others to promising approaches highlighted by Research
  • can design original research projects (or willing to learn)

 

 

What is an Evidence Advocate?

Evidence Advocates will be experienced Primary and Secondary Headteachers in either North or North-East Lincolnshire who have both the capacity to be deployed by Kyra Research School for 2 days per year and can demonstrate that they have used research evidence to improve pupil outcomes. Applicants will commit to be designated for two years initially.

We expect the EAs to be familiar with the EEF’s suite of tools, to talk confidently about the evidence base to other Headteachers and understand the benefits of effective implementation and evaluation of school improvement initiatives. EA deployments are likely to include presenting to other Headteachers at briefings and local networking events, and to represent Kyra Research School locally. The intention is that EAs will build local leadership capacity.

Evidence Advocates are school leaders who represent KYRA Research School at leadership briefings and network and partnership events, for example.

What’s coming up?

Kyra Research School offers the full suite of the Research School Network’s evidence-based professional development. Currently, we are taking bookings for the following programmes:

  • Improving reading programme: primary
  • Improving reading programme: secondary
  • Training and retaining great teachers
  • Evidence-informed governance
  • Making the difference for disadvantaged pupils
  • Meta-cognition and self-regulated learning
  • Memory for learning
  • Series of Evidence Briefings

Find out more

More information and booking forms https://researchschool.org.uk/kyra/events

Read more about Kyra Research School here: https://researchschool.org.uk/kyra

Read more about Learn AT Associate Research School here: https://researchschool.org.uk/kyra/about/learnat-associate-research-school

Get involved

Keep in touch by subscribing to our newsletter https://researchschool.org.uk/kyra/news/newsletter

Follow us on Twitter: @KyraResearch  @LearnATResearch

Email us to discuss how we can work together:

Page updated: 4 April 2022

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