STEM Knowledge Networks
This booklet provides twelve case studies from STEM Knowledge Networks. These were projects supported by the National STEM Centre in partnership with the National Centre for the Excellence in Teaching Mathematics (NCETM). Schools were required to enable at least two or more STEM departments to work collaboratively by releasing teachers…
National Curriculum: From Policy to Practice
This booklet was written to provide a guide to the National Curriculum for students in compulsory education, those aged five to sixteen. Published in 1989, it examines the legal requirements of the curriculum in the light of the Education Reform Act (ERA) of 1988. Chapters aim: • to show how the ERA requirements relate…
Technical Drawing Courses in Secondary Schools: an HMI Discussion Paper
This paper gives an account of a survey, carried out by HM Inspectors in 1980-81, looking at technical drawing and other drawing office based courses in secondary schools. They also visited 11 industrial companies and 15 institutions of further and higher education to discuss their expectations of students in terms of technical drawing…
Supporting Scotland's STEM Education and Culture: Second Report
This report, published by the Science and Engineering Education Advisory Group in January 2012, addresses many of the challenges and opportunities arising in implementation of the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) as it affects the delivery of STEM education and engagement. It examines the ways in which STEM education may…
Values and Variables: Mathematics Education in High-Performing Countries
This report, commissioned by the Nuffield Foundation, addresses two questions: • What is the range and type of research evidence from countries with high performance in mathematics that gives insights into the reasons for their relatively high position? • What constitutes high performance in mathematics learning and…
Mathematics in A Level Assessments
A report produced by the Nuffield Foundation on the mathematical content of A level assessments in business studies, computing, economics, geography, psychology and sociology. In the UK fewer students engage with mathematics after the age of 16 than do their peers in other countries. One way of addressing this issue is to consider…
Global Grant-Making: a Review of UK Foundations' Funding for International Development
This report published by the Nuffield Foundation in January 2012 provides an up-to-date picture of the scale of UK foundation resources devoted to international development. It also identifies how these resources are distributed across region and need, and how foundations approach international funding activities. Commissioned…
Evaluation of the Wellcome Trust Camden STEM Initiative
This report, published in March 2012 by the National Foundation for Educational Research, presents the findings of an evaluation of the Wellcome Trust’s Camden Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Initiative which provided funding to eight Camden schools to develop interdisciplinary projects. Projects…
Believers, Seekers and Sceptics: What Teachers Think about CPD
In 2005 the Wellcome Trust commissioned this survey of teachers and managers in state maintained schools in England, focusing on three main aspects of continuing professional development (CPD): • What do different types of teacher want from CPD? • What are the benefits of CPD, and for whom? • What, if anything,…
Acquisition of Science Subject Knowledge and Pedagogy in Initial Teacher Training
Published by the Wellcome Trust in October 201, this report looks at how one-year postgraduate Initial Teacher Training (ITT) courses in England and Wales support trainees’ acquisition of subject knowledge and topic specific pedagogy across the sciences. The study, which was the first of its kind to look into the acquisition…
The Curriculum From 5 to 16: Curriculum Matters 2
This resource, published in 1985, was the second in a series of discussion documents published by HM Inspectorate intended to stimulate debate about the National Curriculum in primary and secondary schools. It suggests an approach to teaching a broad, balanced, inclusive curriculum for all students. The focus of this report is…
Half Our Future (the Newsom Report)
This report of the Central Advisory Council for Education (England) resulted from research into the state of secondary education, focusing on students aged 13 to 16 who were of average or below-average ability. The report was known as the Newsom Report, named after Mr J H Newsom, chairman of the advisory council. It identified serious…
Case Study: the Family, Continuity and Change
This resource presents a case study showing how one project used qualitative and quantitative methods of research to discover how much families have changed over the decades since the 1960s. The case study shows how ethnographic research, studying people in their own environment, is conducted. Data gathered highlights changes…
Ethics: Participants' Interests, Confidentiality and Consent
This resource looks at research ethics and the importance of confidentiality in research projects. Researchers must be aware of ethical issues and the effects that their research can have on research participants. The information sheet raises questions that can be debated in classroom lessons and encourages young people to give…
What Makes Good Research?
This resource explains how important it is that social research is conducted in a scientific way, following definite rules that have been developed over time with the aim of ensuring that the results are not just the product of the researcher’s own beliefs. The paper stresses the importance of research being valid, reliable…
Social Research: How Does It Work? What Is Research For?
This resource looks at what social researchers do and why they do it. Research is recognised as vital for expanding our knowledge, providing vital information for government and other agencies, as well as helping us to understand our own society and those societies which are beyond our own experience. This information sheet concentrates…
Population Growth
From the Economic and Social Research Council (ERSC), this briefing provides figures on global population growth and highlights the key issues in population management and the factors that influence fertility rates. Case studies illustrating a number of different approaches to population control around the world are described, including…
Genomics
From the Economic and Social Research Council (ERSC), this briefing explores how understanding genomics may offer potential benefits to society, but also looks at how we might use and regulate that knowledge. The resource describes the possible applications of synthetic biology. The emerging personal genomics industry is discussed…
National Curriculum - Task Group on Assessment and Testing Report
This booklet, published in 1988, was written in anticipation of the government passing the Education Reform Bill introducing the national curriculum to England and Wales. The new Bill would establish a new system of assessment of students’ progress. Written by the Task Group on Assessment and Testing, this publication summarises…
The School Curriculum
This report from the Department of Education and Science published in March 1981 sets out the governments recommendations for the school curriculum for the 5-16 age range as a result of several years of public discussion and government consultation. This report predates, but would have influenced the content of, the National Curriculum. The…
Standards in Public Examinations 1975 to 1995
This report, jointly published by the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority (SCAA) and Ofsted under the chairmanship of Ron Dearing, presents the findings of an investigation into whether standards in GCSE and A level examinations were maintained in the period up to 1995. The improving examination grades during this period had…
Finnish Pupils' Success in Mathematics
This resource from Ofsted is a full report and summary of the findings from a visit, in September 2009, made by two of Her Majesty's Inspectors to educational establishments in Finland. Evidence was gathered from three schools and a university from each of three towns about the factors that contributed to Finnish students’…
5/5- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Teacher guidance
Evaluation of Starting Out: Final Report for the TDA
This resource contains an evaluation report on the two-year mentoring pilot programme for science and mathematics teacher trainees and early career teachers funded by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) which started in July 2009. 'Starting Out' was delivered by the Learning and Skills Network (LSN) and…
Professional Standards for Teachers in England from September 2007
Produced in 2007, these professional standards were intended to help guide teachers' professional development and career choices. The professional standards cover the following career stages: Q – qualified teacher status C – core standards for main scale teachers who have successfully completed their induction…
The Chemical Brothers and Sisters Come of Age
This briefing, from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), looks at the widespread use of recreational drugs by young people and the implications for law policies and enforcement. Researchers gathered some frightening statistics concerning the numbers of young people who have tried and are using drugs, often at the same…
Addiction: Teenage Kicks - the Debate Rages on
This school briefing, from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), gives the facts about drink, drugs and alcohol addiction amongst teenagers and young people. Despite, media stories about famous people struggling with their addictions, drug use, smoking and drinking is increasing and death rates are rising. The briefing…
Why Girls Can't Say No to Cigarettes
This briefing, produced by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), looks at a study which shows that girls are twice as likely as boys to smoke. Researchers looked into the peer pressure put upon young people to smoke, comparing the pressures on girls and boys. They give recommendations for anti-smoking campaigns that would…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Information sheet
Alcohol: the Spirit of Friendship
This resource, from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), looks at worrying studies into young people's drinking habits. Studies have looked at how and why excessive drinking has become a normal part of life for many young people and the psychological pressures put upon people to drink alcohol, especially on young…
What Do Social Scientists Do? Sociology
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) resource gives information about careers related to sociology. It starts with a definition, explaining the ways in which sociologists study the effects of social issues and the way society is organised. The resource then lists career possibilities for sociologists using their analytical…
A Curriculum for Excellence: Progress and Proposals
Published in 2006 by the Scottish Government, this report looks at the progress towards a Curriculum for Excellence. It was designed to present ideas and stimulate discussion between stakeholders in education within Scotland. The Curriculum for Excellence considers how and what children and young people should learn and experience…
What Do Social Scientists Do? Geography
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) resource gives information about career options for people who study geography. It starts by defining the subject, including its component parts of human and physical geography. Human geography includes studies of cultures, population, economies, health and medicine, rural and urban…
What Is Healthy? What Is Beautiful?
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) school briefing discusses fat as a class issue, as well as a feminist issue. Research shows that middle class families are more likely to be health-conscious eaters, and chances are the shops in their neighbourhoods offer a wider range of healthy food. The resource looks at the facts…
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