The problem with research in real-life schools: Demystifying research in the busy school environment
Written by: Sean Harris and Stuart Mayle
9 min read
SEAN HARRIS, TEES VALLEY EDUCATION & TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY, UK
STUART MAYLE, BRAMBLES PRIMARY ACADEMY, TEES VALLEY EDUCATION, UK
Teachers continue to be championed through research studies as a critical lever for success with regard to pupil outcomes (Harris and Sass, 2007; Hattie, 2003; Spada et al., 2023). Research reminds school leaders and teachers of their value, but it comes with challenges in the real-world environments of schools.
School leaders and teachers have had to respond to many complex challenges in recent years. Poverty and disadvantage are arguably the most complex of these (Ayadurai et al., 2024); the ongoing cost-of-living crisis is creating new challenges for schools (Lucas et al., 2023), and rising absence rates (DfE, 2024) continue to be a challenge for schools across the UK. Research reveals that recruitment and retention issues persist in the profession, compounded by increased teacher workload pressures (McLean et al., 2024). In the midst of managing
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