KINGSBRIDGE Community College has become one of five schools across England to become a focal-point of education research after winning part of £2.5 million of funding from the Education Endowment Foundation and the Institute for Effective Education.

As a research school, the college will look to build networks between large numbers of schools across the south-west and support them to make better use of evidence to inform their teaching and learning.

Following a competitive application process, Kingsbridge was identified alongside schools from York, Macclesfield, Lincoln and Sandwell as having the knowledge and expertise needed to help steer the profession towards what the evidence suggests really works for children in the classroom.

Lorwyn Randall, assistant principal for research, teaching and learning at KCC said: ‘We are excited to have been given the opportunity to help disseminate the national research base and put powerful evidence in the hands of teachers and education professionals across the region. We know the positive impact high quality teaching has on student learning and outcomes and helping colleagues move towards an evidence informed approach will mean greater opportunities for the young people in our care.’

The five new research schools are all recognised as leaders in bridging between education research and everyday classroom practice. The South-West Research Schools Network led by Kingsbridge will look to support up to a thousand schools over the next three years.

This will be by encouraging schools across the south-west to make use of evidence-based programmes and practices through regular communication and events; providing training and professional development for senior leaders and teachers on how to improve classroom practice based on the best available evidence; supporting schools to develop innovative ways of improving teaching and learning and providing them with the expertise to evaluate their impact.

Unveiled at a Department for Education conference on Thursday, Roger Pope, executive principal of Kingsbridge Community College said: ‘Schools are now leading the system. We will draw on the extensive networks we have built through our Teaching School Alliance and through national organisations such as Challenge Partners so that the maximum number of schools benefit from a research-based approach to raise standards.’