Our goal is to find ways to improve educational outcomes through policy change and interventions that are grounded in robust evidence.
We fund research and development projects relating to education across all life stages – from early years through school, to further and higher education and vocational learning. We want to understand young people’s pathways as they move through these stages, and how they acquire skills and capabilities.
Many young people are disadvantaged in the education system, by factors such as special educational needs, disability, socio-economic background and location. Through the research we fund, we help to understand and address these disadvantages. We also aim to improve the quality of teaching and learning, and to understand and support teachers.
We recognise that education is not just what happens in the classroom – we also want to understand the wider influences on people’s education and chances in life, such as the role of families and informal learning.
Why education needs research
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Pupils are on average three months behind on learning as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, and teachers estimate almost half need intensive catch-up support. The quality of teaching and learning has a major influence on educational achievement. Research can help to understand how effective learning takes place, and how teaching practice and education policy can help pupils achieve their potential.
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Women who are the first in their family to graduate from university earn 7% less in their mid-20s compared to female graduates whose parents attended university. In contrast, first generation male graduates tend not to face a similar pay penalty. Our research helps to understand the relationships between educational achievement and labour market success, as well as many other spheres such as health and well-being, civic engagement and parenting.
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The majority of graduating BTEC students – who are more likely to be from disadvantaged backgrounds – achieve at least a 2:1, demonstrating that for many students, these qualifications lead to university success. Research helps us to understand the factors that influence educational achievement, such as family background, where you live, and the choices of provision and pathways that are available. Research also sheds light on why these relationships exist and how disadvantages might be mitigated.
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Widespread closures of schools, colleges and universities in response to COVID-19 led to a rapid transition to fully-remote distance learning for the majority of students. There is debate about how to build robust remote learning capabilities and infrastructure into the education system and more high-quality research into distance learning in schools and colleges, outside the context of the pandemic, is required.
What do we fund in education?
We are currently funding research, development and analysis projects, with a focus on:
- Skills and capabilities that equip children and young people for life and work, both within and beyond educational institutions.
- Teaching quality, particularly projects that improve practice through evidence-based interventions and those that harness digital technologies to improve teaching, learning, parental engagement and child development.
- Young people’s pathways, with an increased focus on young people following non-HE routes.
- Educational disadvantage, including special educational needs, physical disabilities, mental health issues, socio-economic disadvantage, geographical disadvantage and looked after children.
- Direct interventions that improve young people’s lives and align with the four priorities identified above and which are grounded in evidence.
Students and teachers
One of the objectives of our work in education is to address the shortage of research and quantitative skills across social science students in the UK. Our student programmes provide opportunities for students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to develop their skills and confidence in quantitative and scientific methods.
Since 1962, the Foundation has also supported major curriculum projects and the creation of a wealth of teaching resources across STEM subjects and beyond.