We talk a lot about research-informed education here at Impact Wales. We talk about it in the context of our Sketchnotes and Professional Learning Packs, we talk about it in terms of the bespoke support we offer to schools, and we’ve even dedicated an episode of our podcast to it.
In fact, you could say it’s our USP. So, why do we place such importance on teaching and learning being research informed?
We’re not guided by ideology, or by a particular set of beliefs or ideals. Our guiding ethos is simple – to do what works, what makes the most impact in schools.
For that, we look at what the research says. Everything we do – every Sketchnote we create, every webinar we host, every piece of support we provide – has to be underpinned and informed by the best evidence available.
We’re the only education company working in Wales that focuses on the research in this way.
But it’s what we do with the research that’s more important. All of our professional learning packages for schools and teachers are completely bespoke. We distil the key things that schools and teachers need from the mountain of research available and tailor our work to the individual context.
We believe teachers should teach from a research-informed standpoint and in a research-informed way. The content has to be rooted in research and the method by which it is shared should also be rooted in research.
Why should teaching in Wales be research-informed?
Every education system should be research informed, but it’s particularly important for Wales.
This is a crucial time for Wales’s education system. Schools are still dealing with the disruption of the last two years and the fallout from the pandemic, and in just six months’ time they will have to get to grips with the new responsibility of choosing what children should be learning when Curriculum for Wales is rolled out.
Even before the pandemic, the education system had serious issues with structure and standards, and it had fared poorly on international comparators like the Pisa tests. We know Wales is behind the curve in terms of standards. The pupils of Wales need the right education so they can compete with their compatriots in the UK and around the world.
That’s why we need research-informed education in Wales – now more than ever.
How can Impact Wales help?
The nature of Curriculum for Wales means that schools and teachers will have to design their own curricula to realise the four core purposes.
Creating a curriculum can be a challenging process. It has to be research informed, it has to be sustainable and it has to make a difference.
Impact Wales can help your school create a curriculum that achieves all that as well as being bespoke to your individual context.
We are education specialists who know what research-informed pedagogy looks like. We do what works, and we always evaluate our work to make sure we keep improving. To see how we can help your school put Curriculum for Wales into practice, get in touch.