This paper explores geography mentors' written lesson observation feedback by analysing data from across a one-year Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programme delivered through a university-school partnership in England, asking two main questions: in what ways is geography/geographical knowledge discussed in written lesson observation feedback…

Over the last decade, in both the Netherlands and England, national policy-driven changes have increased schools' responsibility in initial teacher education. This research gathered teacher educators' stories of challenges experienced 'on the ground' in these school-university partnerships. The aim was to explore the reality of working within…

In England the recommendation and award of qualified teacher status (QTS) is currently linked to the assessment of trainee teachers' competencies against performance criteria descriptors. Q-methodology was used to look for subjective differences in attitudes to the assessment of trainee teachers in school. This is a quantitative approach to…

This chapter -- as the keynote at the InnoConf in September 2020 -- is set out as a call for action. Following a brief introduction focusing on the wider context of the skills and lifelong learning debate in the UK, the term 'transition' is defined and the commonly known (language education) transition points in the English education system…

Background: This paper considers the role of collaborative enquiry as a means of developing equity in education. The context was a collaborative project in which a university was supporting local schools in carrying out enquiry into their practice, with the purpose of moving the practice towards greater equity. Purpose: The research question…

The challenges to education brought about by the pandemic provide an opportunity to take a fresh look at how universities in England can best deliver on access and participation and accelerate education recovery. With John Blake due to start as the new Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students (OfS) in early 2022, we…

Social demand for higher education has more than doubled in the past 20 years. However, only one-third of all countries' higher education systems are enrolling more than 50% of the traditional age cohort. Despite major advancements in achieving higher levels of access and participation, inequalities and inequities in higher education persist and…

This report, authored by Graeme Atherton, examines how universities who are seen as leading internationally and/or in their own national contexts are supporting greater access and success for learners from low-income and other marginalised groups. What can English universities learn from global institutions? By looking at how they work with…

This paper reports findings from a project that explored the use of a modified form of "lesson study" in a one-year programme of secondary school initial teacher education (ITE). Twelve mentors and student-teachers worked in pairs to design and teach two "research lessons" in the course of two eight-week teaching practice…

Background: In England, there is a growing need to improve the lives of secondary school students who are defined as disadvantaged and to support these students in their attainment and attitudes to secondary school science. Purpose: This paper reports on a project designed to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds by pairing them with…

This report was conceived as one of three publications that collectively provide a commentary on research awareness and research use within schools in England. This third report in the series presents findings from a small-scale, detailed study of teachers who are operating as their school's Research Lead. The small scale of the study is…

The rhetoric of "partnership" is ubiquitous in UK policy at national, regional, local and organizational levels. Self-styled partnership activity is espoused by most schools in England and Wales. This article considers the implications of the growth of partnership for conceptualizing leadership. It draws on evidence of interviews with…

This article presents research findings of work undertaken by a Networked Learning Community in the north of England on implementing cooperative learning in primary and secondary schools. In twelve primary and two secondary schools, in a social and economically deprived area, cooperative learning is becoming embedded. How this has been supported…

This pamphlet begins by setting out new proposals for the organization of English sixth form curriculum and examinations. The paper then indicates possible main implications of these proposals for English universities. An appendix covers the growth and changing character of sixth forms. (Author/MLF)

This paper argues that for change in schools to occur, the active collaboration of significant actors within each institution is essential. A collaboration in an English secondary school is used to illustrate the highly personal nature of change based on self-help. (Author/MT)