Improving Science Education Application Form Guidance Notes

Transcription

1 Imprving Science Educatin Applicatin Frm Guidance Ntes Grants Rund: Imprving science utcmes and prgressin fr students aged 5-16 (Clsing date: 9 th April 2018) The EEF and Wellcme are seeking prpsals fr educatinal interventins that aim t imprve the science attainment and/r prgressin f disadvantaged pupils. This is a call fr prpsals as part f a multimillin pund funding prgramme that will supprt wrk bth in and ut f schls, including CPD prgrammes fr teachers, resurces and curriculum prgrammes, external experts running prgrammes within schls and als pupils accessing external enrichment activities crdinated by their schl. The EEF and Ryal Sciety cnducted a literature review that analysed the current science attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their mre affluent peers, identified pssible reasns fr the attainment gap and als reviewed the existing evidence abut what wrks fr imprving utcmes. This funding rund aims t further fill gaps in the existing evidence base by funding and evaluating prmising interventins, prgrammes and appraches designed t imprve the attainment and prgressin f this grup f students. The aim f this funding rund The attainment gaps in science between disadvantaged pupils and their mre affluent peers are large. Pupils that are eligible fr pupil premium funding (FSM pupils) are arund 2.5 times less likely t achieve level 2 at age 7 and level 4 at age 11 than pupils nt eligible fr this funding. This attainment gap grws larger with time and FSM pupils are arund three times less likely t be entered fr the EBacc in science, and als achieve science scres that are 0.63 standard deviatins lwer than nn FSM pupils this represents a difference f eight mnths prgress. Attainment gaps pst-16 are largely driven by pr attainment at GCSE and lw numbers f FSM pupils prgress t study science pst-16. One clear cnclusin frm these data is that the main barrier t participatin in science fr disadvantaged yung peple is pr prir attainment. If appraches can be identified which successfully bst attainment this barrier can be reduced, enabling FSM pupils t access science study pst-16 and als the vast range f careers that a science qualificatin facilitates entry t. Supprting infrmatin The recent review cmmissined by the EEF and Ryal Sciety can be fund here. The review identified sme prmising appraches and gaps in the evidence: Prmising areas that prjects culd address: Opprtunity gap whether FSM pupils have access t the same resurces t be able t learn science 1

2 This includes bth pprtunities prvided at schl and at hme. FSM pupils have access t fewer resurces and experiences utside f schl. Ensuring that FSM pupils are therefre prvided with the pprtunity t access science experiences and resurces thrugh their schl may therefre be ne way f clsing the attainment gap. This culd include trips r prjects within the schl. Scientific reasning being able t plan scientific experiments and understanding hw t judge the value f experimental results Scres n scientific reasning tasks crrelate highly with scientific attainment and are als gd predictrs f future success. Evidence als suggests that children frm mre affluent backgrunds d better than thse frm less advantaged families n tests f scientific reasning. In additin scientific reasning appears t be malleable, with interventin studies testing appraches that teach children abut planning scientific experiments and interpreting data shwing impacts n scientific reasning tasks. Prjects that aim t imprve scientific reasning culd therefre be a gd way f clsing the attainment gap. Literacy and science learning the rle f literacy in science attainment and prgressin There is a psitive relatinship between scres in reading and spelling tasks and science attainment, again these scres are als gd predictrs f future success. Several pssible reasns fr this relatinship have been suggested, including pupils being able t understand what they read in science lessns (which ften includes cmplex and unfamiliar wrds, requiring knwledge f mrphemes and hw different scientific wrds relate t each ther) and als reading cmprehensin having features in cmmn with science understanding such as creating cherent arguments and making inferences. Current evidence therefre suggests that science prgrammes that integrate literacy int science lessns are likely t be psitive. Metacgnitin and science learning pupils understanding f hw they think, remember and learn science Sme evidence exists that indicates a link between metacgnitive abilities and science attainment. There are als interventin studies that indicate metacgnitive interventins impact n attainment and ptentially impact n pupils with lwer current attainment t a greater extent. These include getting pupils t reflect n the standard f wrk cmpleted in science lessns and als prviding instructin arund cntrl f variables, frming hyptheses and applying cnceptual mdels t new cntexts. There is therefre sme evidence f prmise that metacgnitive interventins culd help t address the attainment gap. In additin, the Wellcme Trust recently published their results frm the Science Educatin Tracker (a natinally representative survey f mre than 4,000 students between year 10 and year 13 in state - funded schls acrss England) this highlighted several areas that we wuld be interested in, including: increasing the amunt f quality practical wrk, increasing the pprtunity t take part in quality wrk experience, and imprving gender parity in cnfidence and prgressin in science. In all f these prmising areas the available evidence is relatively sparse and therefre mre can be learnt under each area. In additin there may be prmising evidence utside f these specific areas and we wuld als welcme applicatins utside f these areas as lng as there is evidence f prmise that the prgramme is likely t impact n attainment and / r prgressin. Mre infrmatin n levels f evidence can be fund belw. Prject criteria Successful prpsals will: 2

3 Fcus n raising the science attainment and/r the prgressin f pupils within the age range 5-16 in UK schls. We are particularly interested in appraches that seek t imprve the attainment f disadvantaged learners (pupils eligible fr pupil premium funding) and wuld expect applicants t be willing t wrk in challenging schls. The prgressin f students is likely t fcus n prgressin t study a science A-level r ther pst-16 science qualificatins. Be infrmed and supprted by encuraging evidence f an impact n attainment and prgressin. If available, evidence f the impact f the apprach being prpsed shuld be prvided. Please refer t the Suttn Trust and the EEF s Teaching and Learning Tlkit and the recent review A review f SES and science learning in frmal educatinal settings, bth available n the EEF website as a starting pint. Be practical, apprpriate, affrdable and scalable. Our aim is t identify interventins and appraches that, if shwn t be successful, culd be taken n by ther schls. Therefre we are nly interested in testing initiatives that are practical and affrdable fr schls. We als need t understand what training and supprt is needed s that schls and teachers can use the interventin effectively. Be willing and able t be independently evaluated. We will rigrusly evaluate the impact n attainment and, if apprpriate, impact n prgressin f the prjects, wherever pssible by randmly allcating which schls r pupils receive it. We will appint an independent evaluatr, and wrk with successful applicants t design an apprpriate evaluatin plan. Nte that this des nt need t be included in yur prject plan and budget. Be led by a prject team with expertise in the relevant areas. Fr example, the team shuld have experience f delivery with teachers, r within schls. Ideally, the team wuld include smene with extensive teaching experience. We welcme applicatins frm a variety f rganisatin including, schls, universities, charities and fr-prfit rganisatins. Type f prjects We are interested in prjects that are either: Testing the impact f a fully develped interventin thrugh a randmised cntrlled trial (with the evaluatin aspect designed in cllabratin with the independent evaluatr). Fr this t be applicable the interventin wuld need t have been previusly been delivered in a number (at least 10) schls and be fully develped in terms f the resurces and training required. There wuld als be clear descriptins f what gd fidelity t the interventin lks like and evidence indicating that the prgramme is likely t impact n attainment. An example f an existing EEF prject that met this criteria is Thinking, Ding, Talking Science, which had previusly been evaluated in 16 primary schls thrugh a match study. In additin there was backgrund evidence that supprted the ratinal fr the prgramme. Testing the feasibility and cllective evidence f prmise f a mre develpmental prject thrugh a pilt evaluatin (again, with the evaluatin aspect f the prject being designed in cllabratin with the independent evaluatr). Fr prjects t be suitable fr this funding they wuld need t have evidence (frm the literature) supprting the ratinale fr the apprach and why we wuld expect this t lead t the intended utcmes. They wuld als need t demnstrate the need fr the prject and that they are nt re-develping smething that already exists. Yur prpsal We d nt have a set minimum r maximum size f grant that we award. Past grants have ranged frm 90,000 t 1.5m, with the rest smewhere in between: we spend as much as we have t, but nt a penny mre than we need t, in rder t trial prjects we think can imprve attainment utcmes. We will wrk with successful applicants (and the independent evaluatrs) t decide the scale required fr a rbust evaluatin, but we wuld expect it t be delivered in settings the applicant hasn t previusly wrked in. Therefre in the initial applicatin frm, we require nly an indicatin f the scale f prject yu wish t deliver, and its estimated cst. 3

4 Timeline fr decisin-making EEF and Wellcme will review applicatins and we plan t have a decisin abut funding in September We anticipate that mst prjects wuld start delivery in schls in September 2019 as this allws time fr develpment and recruiting schls. A mre detailed timeline, including sme key dates is belw: Science Educatin Research netwrking event 13th February 2018 (Yrk) Science Educatin Research netwrking event 15th February 2018 (Lndn) Applicatin deadline 9 th April 2018 Review f applicatins by EEF, Wellcme and external reviewers Invitatin t interview (A maximum f fur team members will be able t attend) By 31st May Face-t-face interviews at Wellcme Trust 14 th June 2018 All applicants infrmed n the utcme f End f June 2018 their applicatin First stage sign-ff fr successful prjects End f June 2018 Meeting with independent evaluatr (During this July August 2018 time yu will be paired with an independent evaluatin team. Yu will be required t attend at least ne set up meetings at the EEF where yu will wrk will wrk with EEF/Wellcme and the evaluatin team t finalise the experimental design and evaluatin methdlgy. During this time yu will need t develp mre detailed and updated budgets based n the decisins made.) Final sign-ff fr successful prjects September 2018 Secnd meeting with independent evaluatr Octber 2018 Grant agreements signed December 2018 A key date t nte is the 14 th June, which will be the day f interviews fr shrtlisted applicants, the interview will be held in Lndn at the Wellcme Trust and mre details will be prvided shuld yu be invited t attend. If yu are nt invited t interview this desn t necessarily mean that yu are unsuccessful. All applicants will have heard the utcme f their applicatin by the end f June Netwrking Events fr Science Educatin Research The EEF and Wellcme will be hlding tw events (in Lndn and Yrk). These events are intended as an pprtunity fr yu t meet peple (researchers, teachers, infrmal practitiners etc) wh are interested in imprving the utcmes f yung peple in science. We hpe the cnversatins and knwledge exchanges between participants will lead t new ideas and cllabratins fr testable interventins suitable fr this rund r further runds. Mre infrmatin abut the events can be fund here. Hw t apply T submit an applicatin please register fr the rund via the EEF website and cmplete the nline frm. Try t minimise the use f abbreviatins and acrnyms t avid any cnfusin fr the reader; define them 4

5 when they are first used. Keep technical jargn t a minimum. Fllwing the clsing date, Wellcme, EEF and external reviewers will review the applicatins received against the prject criteria as defined abve. Fr further infrmatin, please cntact Emily Yemans n emily.yemans@eefundatin.rg.uk, r Lia Cmmissar n l.cmmissar@wellcme.ac.uk. 5

6 IMPROVING SCIENCE EDUCATION - APPLICATION FORM Eligibility criteria D yu intend t implement this prject in schl settings, r in infrmal setting, but with the pprtunity facilitated thrugh schls in the UK? Please nte that we are pen t innvative ideas frm bth within the UK and verseas that are applicable t the UK educatin system. As EEF can nly fund prjects in English schls we wuld expect at least part f the prject t take place in English schls, hwever Wellcme funding wuld allw fr sme schls frm ther parts f the UK t be invlved. Are yu applying fr an independent evaluatin f yur fully develped interventin r funding t test the feasibility f a mre develpmental prject thrugh a pilt evaluatin? We are nt a surce f funding fr nging delivery f existing prgrammes. If successful, yu will be required t wrk with new settings that yu have nt previusly wrked with, and t cllabrate with an independent evaluatin team wh will wrk with yu t design a rbust evaluatin. Are yu applying t deliver yur interventin in mre than ne schl r setting? We d nt fund prjects in ne r very small numbers f schls/settings. Our smallest prjects have been in 3-4 schls, but are typically in mre than 50, and ften ver 75, institutins. As detailed in the guidance ntes we are interested in testing fully develped interventins thrugh a randmised cntrlled trial, these interventins wuld need t be delivered in mre than 50 schls. We are hwever als interested in mre develpmental prjects and these are likely t take place in schls. Prjects d nt need t have identified schls befre applying and recruitment criteria will be develped with the independent evaluatr prir t schls being apprached. Sectin 1: Abut the prject 1.1 Prject title (max 15 wrd) Please give yur prject a title. Simple, descriptive titles (e.g. Peer-tutring in the Nrth-East r Mentring prject fr Year 7s ) are welcme. If funded these titles may change in discussin with the EEF and Wellcme. 1.2 Please state the main research questin that yu expect the evaluatin f yur prgramme t answer. Fr example, Des training teachers in hw t use frmative assessment lead t imprved science GCSE results? 1.3 Which key stage are yu targeting? Please select the main key stage fcus f yur interventin: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4 1.4 Is yur prject: whle schl / whle class / targeted interventin? Please give an indicatin f whether the interventin is aimed at whle schl change (e.g. training all teaching staff); whle class (e.g. training teachers t imprve their classrm practice); r a targeted interventin (e.g. additinal small grup supprt fr struggling pupils, r supprt fr parents). 6

7 1.5 Wh will deliver the interventin? Please select frm: Teachers/Teaching Assistants/External staff/other Please select wh will be directly respnsible fr imprving utcmes fr pupils. Fr example, if a teacher receives caching t imprve their practice, please select teacher, nt external staff 1.6 Please utline yur prpsed prject. Please fcus n the interventin, including the specific activities that, e.g., schls, teachers and pupils will be expected t d. (maximum 400 wrds) Please give a clear, simple descriptin f what yur prject will d. What wuld it lk like frm the pint f view f a participating schl/setting? Please ensure that within yur answer t this and ther questins, yu have answered the fllwing: Why? The ratinale fr the interventin. Yu can assume that we have sme understanding f the brad issues facing disadvantaged pupils, but any details specific t yur interventin e.g. specific language deficits shuld be explained Wh will benefit frm the prject (the ultimate recipients e.g. all pupils in the year r targeted grups?) What? What materials (e.g. structured activities fr TAs) and practices (e.g. class teaching pedaggies) will be intrduced/altered in rder t try t imprve utcmes? Wh will deliver the materials and practices? Will it be teachers/tas r external experts? Hw ften will they use the apprach (e.g. weekly sessins)? Wh will train the teachers/tas in the apprach? Hw will this happen? What nging supprt will there be? 1.7 Hw much time and resurces are required t implement yur interventin? (maximum 200 wrds) Fr example, hw lng des the initial training take? What preparatin is required befre this? Hw is the training delivered? What is the frequency f the interventin (e.g. weekly 30 minute sessins)? Hw lng des the delivery f the interventin last (e.g. ne term)? Hw much des the training cst? 1.8 What is the evidence fr the principles behind the prgramme? (Maximum 200 wrds) What is the evidence that the cntent f the prgramme is likely t imprve the attainment, skills r prgressin f disadvantaged pupils? Are the appraches and pedaggies backed up by rbust educatinal thery and research? Fr example, this culd include evidence fr a particular pedaggy (e.g. feedback), drawing n wider internatinal research abut its impact. Evidence frm the Teaching and Learning Tlkit culd be a starting pint, as well as the recent review cmmissined by the EEF and Ryal Sciety and the Wellcme Trust Science Educatin Tracker. We d hwever expect the strngest applicatins t have mre detailed justificatins and t draw n ther evidence surces. Please prvide links t the mst relevant research articles. Shrt references are sufficient. 1.9 What is the strngest evidence that the prpsed prgramme has an impact n attainment, r prgressin? Please select frm: 7

8 i. Randmised cntrlled trial ii. Quasi-experimental design trial (e.g. matched cntrl) iii. Pre- and pst-test data iv. Case study data 1.10 Please describe the evidence fr yur prgramme s impact n attainment and/r prgressin (maximum 300 wrds) Please include infrmatin abut the sample size, utcme measures and key findings f any evaluatins cmpleted, and prvide links/references t any evaluatin reprts cited. Wherever pssible, please shw evidence that children wh participate in the prpsed prject (r smething similar) imprve relative t a cmparisn grup f similar children wh d nt participate. References t the wider literature shuld nly be used t supprt the specific appraches that yu re suggesting, fr example shwing that a very similar interventin had a psitive impact when tested using a rbust methdlgy. This evidence culd be drawn frm internatinal studies. Mre infrmatin abut what the EEF cnsiders t be gd evidence can be fund n the evaluatin sectin f ur website If the prpsed prject has been implemented previusly in the UK, please describe its reach and impact, and the cst s far. (Max. 200 wrds) We are interested in hw develped the prject is and what its reach and impact has been t date. Hw many UK schls/settings have participated s far? We are mst interested in prjects that have been delivered t sme extent already, and therefre d nt require extensive develpment befre pilting r testing in large numbers f settings If the prpsed prject were t be funded by EEF and Wellcme and a psitive impact were fund, what d yu think are pssible ways that the prpsed interventin culd be taken t scale? (Max. 100 wrds) We are interested in hw yur interventin might be scaled up s that it culd be delivered in large numbers f schls in England. Fr example, des the lead rganisatin have the capacity and skills t grw the mdel? Or wuld it need t be partnered with a larger rganisatin/netwrk? 1.13 References t quted research Please prvide either full references r URLs t key reprts quted in the previus answers here. Sectin 2. Abut yur rganisatin NOTE: Except where stated, please relate all answers t the lead rganisatin. 2.1 Name f rganisatin 2.2 Where is yur rganisatin based? Please select frm a drpdwn bx f lcal authrities. If yu rganisatin is natinal, please prvide the lcatin f yur head ffice. 2.3 Organisatin type Please select the mst apprpriate categry frm: Primary Schl; Secndary Schl; Further Educatin Cllege/6th Frm; University; Lcal Educatin Authrity; Charity; Frprfit cmpany; Multi-academy trust/teaching Schl Alliance; Cmmunity Enterprise Cmpany/Scial enterprise; Other. 8

9 2.4 Please describe briefly the experience and expertise f the prject team (Max. 400 wrds) The prject team is central t ensuring EEF/Wellcme funds are well spent and the prject has the maximum impact. We wuld like t knw abut them and their track recrd in this area (e.g. recruiting schls t prjects, managing cmplex prjects, wrking with partners and engaging with schls and teachers). 2.5 Please give the name and a brief descriptin f any partner rganisatins that will cntribute t this prject (Max. 200 wrds in ttal) Please indicate what rle the partner rganisatin(s) will play in the prpsed prject. It is nt necessary t list the schls yu hpe t trial yur interventin in, hwever d indicate any schls r teachers wh will be playing a rle in develping r delivering the prject. 2.6 Applicatin cntact name Please prvide the name f the persn frm the lead rganisatin wh will act as the main pint f cntact. 2.7 Applicatin cntact address 2.8 Applicatin cntact telephne number 2.9 Applicatin cntact rle/psitin Sectin 3: Finances 3.1 What is the estimated cst per schl f yur interventin? (Maximum 50 wrds) If yu already prvide the interventin t schls and pupils please indicate hw much it csts per schl/pupil. If yu dn t currently ffer the interventin t schls and pupils please estimate hw much yu think it wuld cst per schl/pupil if yu were t ffer it at scale. This estimate shuld nt include the additinal csts that result frm participating in an evaluatin (e.g. recruitment f schls, liaisn with evaluatr). We are lking fr prjects that can be funded frm schls Pupil Premium (currently 1,300 per primary-aged pupil, 935 per secndary-aged pupil). 3.2 Apprximately hw many schls/settings d yu intend t wrk with? Please nte that we ask that applicants are willing t be flexible n the exact scale and delivery mdel, in rder t ensure that a rbust evaluatin can be undertaken. We wrk with successful applicants and an external evaluatr t jintly design a prject and evaluatin plan. Hwever, it is useful t have an indicatin f the numbers f schls that yu are intending t wrk with. 3.3 Hw much funding frm the EEF and Wellcme are yu seeking in ttal? (Max. 100 wrds) If pssible, please break the budget dwn int 5 brad types f csts: Interventin develpment Schl recruitment Interventin delivery (e.g. training, resurces) Prject management and admin Other (please specify) A mre detailed budget is nt required at this stage; prject budgets ften change substantially nce we begin wrking with successful applicants. Fr example, we may wish t change the number f schls invlved in the prject in rder t get a mre 9

10 rbust estimate f its impact. We will ask fr a mre detailed budget breakdwn if yur applicatin prgresses t later stages f the prcess. Yu d nt need t include csts f running the evaluatin the EEF will cmmissin an external research team wh will be respnsible fr designing and delivering the evaluatin, in partnership with yu. 3.4 What funding are yu intending t secure frm ther surces? (Max. 100 wrds) T enable us t cntinue funding innvative, evidence-based ideas we nrmally expect all applicants t apply with a cntributin within the range f 5% t 50% f the verall prgramme csts, r t be able t cmmit t fundraising fr such a cntributin. Please include in yur applicatin yur plan fr identifying this cntributin. If there are particular reasns why yu think yu will be unable t d this, please let us knw. Fr prfit applicants are expected t substantially subsidise the prject cst. Schl r lcal authrity applicants d nt need t secure funding frm ther surces. We typically expect schls participating in trials t cntribute t the implementatin f the prject where apprpriate (fr example, paying a subsidised fee fr the interventin). If yu have apprached, r are cnsidering appraching, any ther rganisatins t seek funding fr this prject, please utline these rganisatins and the amunts sught here. Sectin 4: Other funding pprtunities and events 4.1 Are yu happy t hear frm the Wellcme Trust directly abut ther funding pprtunities r events? Yes/n 10