Primary | Centre for the Use of Research & Evidence in Education (CUREE)

Reservoirs of Hope as a metaphor for spiritual and moral leadership in headship, and why some headteachers leave headship early 'when reservoirs run dry'

Aim: The study aimed to: Describe the perceived spiritual and moral bases of headship in a range of heads; Explore the use of the metaphor of reservoirs of hope in describing the preservation of individual values and institutional self-belief against external pressures; Promote practitioner reflection on critical incidents when spiritual and moral leadership was tested; Codify heads individual strategies for sustainability, replenishment and development; and Analyse why some headteachers leave headship early due to the possible failure of their sustainability strategies when reservoirs of hope

Narrative Writing Project

Aim: The overall aim of the first phase of the project was to raise attainment in narrative writing for children in Year 6. The second phase involved extending the project to all children in Key Stage 2. The first phase is complete and the second phase is still being evaluated.

Knowledge and understanding + skills = wonder child?

Aim: To investigate factors that develop independence in problem-solving and to improve problem-solving throughout the curriculum.

Raising awareness of more able children

Aim: to identify more able children and help them to achieve their full potential.

Creative Thinking in a Community of Enquiry

Aim: The aim of this project was to investigate to what extent the thinking skills approach known as the Community of Enquiry could stimulate and support creative thinking in young children.

Improving writing through a creative approach

Aim: The main aim was to build and implement an approach to raising achievement using a creative strategy based on the current evidence about improving childrens motivation for writing. Specifically the objectives were: To raise the attainment in writing of an underachieving Year Two class through a creative approach. To improve pupils attitudes towards, and engagement with, the writing process. To make clear links to the Primary Framework Objectives for text, sentence and word level within an integrated approach.

Teacher confidence and teaching and learning in data handling

Aim: To examine the effect of teacher confidence on pupil confidence and hence achievement in the teaching and learning of mathematics with particular reference to data handling.

Is there truly a shirt of happiness or not? Developing thinking through a Community of Enquiry approach.

Aim: To consider whether a Community of Enquiry approach would improve the ability of Y5 and 6 pupils to discuss issues arising from texts by asking relevant questions. Individual teachers were keen to: Develop written responses to comprehension texts; or Improve the quality of questioning and discussion.

Using action learning to support the development of primary teachers mathematical knowledge

Aim: The aim of this doctoral project (with Sussex University) was to improve the mathematical performance of an inner city primary school by developing the subject knowledge, pedagogical skills and the curriculum content knowledge of its teachers.

Exercise for learning

Aim: To introduce the INPP daily exercise programme and to assess whether it had an impact upon reading. To train support staff to implement the daily programme. To inform and involve parents in the project.