Department for Education (UK)

Research Problem

Which interventions are most effective at recruiting and retaining good teachers within a constrained funding envelope - particularly in shortage subjects such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and Modern Foreign Languages, and in the most challenging schools/areas?

Research Problem

What can cognitive science and neuroscientific developments tell us about effective teaching approaches?

Research Problem

How do skills needs in the national and local economy and qualifications of our labour force match up? Can careers advice policies, the Teaching Excellence Framework and spending decisions improve effectiveness?

Research Problem

What role should government play in encouraging upskilling or reskilling for those in the labour market to make skills supply more responsive to local economic needs? What barriers do working individuals face when retraining?

Research Problem

What are the impacts of teacher workload on graduate career decisions and staff retention? What are the potential impacts of improved flexible working, pay and financial incentives for graduates?

Research Problem

What factors influence the recruitment and retention of teachers at all stages of their careers – particularly in schools that serve disadvantaged communities?

Research Problem

What are the drivers of pupil attendance and absence?

Research Problem

How effective are attendance interventions in improving outcomes for pupils?

Research Problem

What are the features of high-quality tutoring? Applied research might demonstrate how schools can use tutoring across phases and subjects to help pupils who are behind, or to stretch pupils.

Research Problem

Are these programmes acceptable to families and easily scalable?

Research Problem

What offers would further incentivise parents, particularly from disadvantaged communities, to take up childcare and get back into work? This should include building a local level understanding of supply and demand, costs, and provider profit margins.

Research Problem

How can we best support and promote mental health and wellbeing in schools, colleges and higher education?

Research Problem

How do we create a SEND and AP system that better meets the needs of children and their families? Building on the SEND and AP improvement plan, we would like to better understand local delivery, partnership working in the system, cost and financial stability. What does good provision look like and how can we share best practice?

Research Problem

How effective are the key reforms set out in ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’ in response to the Care Review that seek to improve the provision of children's social care across Local Authorities? These include recruitment of foster carers, support for kinship carers and provision of children's care placements.

Research Problem

In what ways can AI and other digital technology reduce teacher workload and improve student outcomes? How can AI and digital technology impact on productivity?

Research Problem

What models of management and professional development of teaching and nonteaching roles support efficient and safe use of data and technology including AI?

Research Problem

What is the extent of regulatory burden and data supply in the HE sector, and how could the regulatory approach be more effective and efficient?

Research Problem

What is effective practice in pedagogy and curriculum design in technical education, apprenticeships and adult training? Where are the barriers to delivery of high-quality courses, and how might these be overcome?