1. Welcome & Introduction

3.  The largest educational research unit in a UK university (75 staff)  1.1 million assessments are taken each year  More than 50% of UK secondary schools use one or more CEM system  CEM systems used in over 50 countries  Largest provider of computerised adaptive tests outside US

4. To help educators improve educational outcomes, through  Assessments that support learning  Monitoring and feedback systems for self-evaluation  Rigorous evaluation of the impact of different approaches  Promotion of evidence-based practices and policies

5.  More about this during the day …

6.  Information to help educators evaluate teaching and learning in their school  Light-touch, low stakes assessment  Using data over time to look for areas of strength and weakness and identify trends  Confidential  Free from political interference  Consistency over time

7. Layers of information group middle and senior management Classroom teachers 2. Monitoring and feedback systems for self- evaluation Level of detail

8. Monitoring system against which the impact of research-based interventions can be measured Overview of school profiles Bespoke reporting Ages 3 – 18 Durham University quality mark State of the art assessment using latest in measurement theory group

9. Evidence of progress UK benchmarking Information for self-evaluation middle and senior management

10. Classroom teachers Objective, reliable student level data Information to personalise learning Information for target setting Identify gifted and talented Identify student who need more help Validation of teacher judgement Track student progress Diagnostic information

11.  Fife Peer Learning Project  First project to implement and evaluate large-scale systematic approach  Launched in November 2006  129 out of 145 primary schools in the authority  Impact evaluated using a randomised controlled trial (RCT)  Same age, cross age, light and intensive, maths and reading

12.  Cross age worked best for both maths and reading  Two year age gap ◦ Year 5 tutoring Year 3 then Year 6 tutoring Year 4 ◦ Same pupils over two year period  One twenty minute session per week, intensive condition didn’t add anything

13.  Select pairs ◦ Rank on ability, consider personality differences ◦ Maintain pairs over initial difficulties  Tutee choses a book that interests them ◦ Check for readability  Tutor and tutee read together until tutee signals that they confident to continue alone  Error correction ◦ If tutee fails to self correct after 4-5 secs tutor corrects ◦ Tutor praises ◦ Pair continue to read together until tutee signals

14.  Advisory role ◦ Lord Bew report ◦ Select Committee for Education ◦ Media  Undertake research to find out what works  Dissemination of the best evidence

16.  Conducted by Professor Robert Coe and Professor Steve Higgins at Durham University  Large scale meta-analysis  Strict, pre-set criteria for inclusion in study  Limitations in interpretation

17. Ability grouping AfL After school classes Arts Feedback Homework ICT Individualised Learning Learning styles Meta-cognitive skills One-to-one tutoring Parental involvement Peer tutoring Performance pay Pre-school Small classes Sports Summer schools Teaching assistants

18. Promising May be worth it Not worth it Cost per pupil Effect Size (months gain) £0£0 0 10 £1000 Feedback Meta-cognitive Peer tutoring Pre-school 1-1 tutoring Homework ICT AfL Parental involvement Sports Summer schools After school Individualised learning Learning styles Arts Performance pay Teaching assistants Smaller classes Ability grouping

19.  Probably worth investing in ◦ Feedback ◦ Meta-cognitive & self-regulation strategies ◦ Peer tutoring  Less effective (or not good value) ◦ More teachers / TAs (smaller classes) ◦ 1-1 support (ECaR, ECC) ◦ Setting / streaming ◦ PRP

20.  Katharine.bailey@cem.dur.ac.uk Katharine.bailey@cem.dur.ac.uk  http://www.suttontrust.com/research/toolkit-of- strategies-to-improve-learning/ http://www.suttontrust.com/research/toolkit-of- strategies-to-improve-learning/