About us

CUREE works at the leading edge of research and evidence-informed educational practice. Our aim is to help teachers make informed decisions about the most effective and efficient approaches to use in their own context. We search regularly and comprehensively to find the most useful research, and constantly use evidence about effective learning processes to create new, engaging and accessible tools for Continuing Professional Development (CPD), for teaching and learning and for organisational development


PACA wholly independent company, led by Philippa Cordingley, CUREE is internationally recognised for the quality and impact of our work supporting practitioners, leaders and policy makers.  We work in collaboration with a range of individuals and organisations. We work with schools, networks and Local Authorities across the country to support and inform CPD.  Our clients also include national organisations such as the government, in particular the DFE and BIS, the National College, the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA), the Learning and Skills Improvement Service and Specialist Schools and Academies Trust. In recent years we have contributed very substantially to the growing shift towards evidence-informed practice in education by:

  • Helping school leaders to decide on cost effective approaches by knowing what really works
  • Increasing the interest and skills of practitioners in their own classroom enquiries
  • Making research and evidence useful and attractive to practitioners and policy makers
  • Using research to underpin CPD which enhances teaching and learning
  • Increasing policy makers’ desire to build on what the evidence shows us

Our work ranges from creating detailed technical reports to lively articles and activities, tools and multimedia resources designed to be used in practical contexts by teachers. Our team is also skilled in undertaking large and small scale evaluations and producing research based briefings and tools for policymakers.

CUREE's statement of values can be found here.

We aim to develop the knowledge base in education by understanding the people and practice in context. This may involve testing preconceptions and asking the right questions in new and deep ways to get to the heart of what is really happening amidst the complexity.

"If we knew what we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?" - Albert Einstein, 1879-1955

Our experience

CUREE has a lively team of teachers, writers, researchers and information specialists who combine their respective pedagogic, research, knowledge-management and journalistic skills to bring research to life for practitioner and policy audiences. We believe that learning that is to be put to use in complex work settings like classrooms is best done collaboratively. We have also developed expertise in facilitating networked and research-orientated partnerships.

For more information about CUREE's aims and projects, download our leaflet [PDF, 333 kB]