Evidence into Action

By Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)Education

Evidence into Action episodes

June 04Maths: prioritising problem solving
In this episode, Alex Quigley and Grace Coker explore problem solving in maths and why it is a priority.
They are joined by Professor Camilla Gilmore (Professor of Mathematical Cognition at Loughborough University and Curriculum Specialist at Maths Horizons), Dr Helen Drury, (Dean of Maths Education at Purposeful Ventures and Co-Lead at Maths Horizons), and practitioners Tom Pole (Director of Tudor Grange Research School and Associate Principal at Tudor Grange Academy) and Mike Williams (Maths lead and Year 6 teacher at Alexandra Park primary school).
Together, they draw on insights from research and the classroom to unpack what effective problem solving looks like, and why giving all pupils opportunities to tackle rich mathematical tasks is important.
Guest speakers:
Professor Camilla Gilmore (Professor of Mathematical Cognition at Loughborough University and Curriculum Specialist at Maths Horizons) LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/camilla-gilmore
Dr Helen Drury (Dean of Maths Education at Purposeful Ventures and Co-Lead at Maths Horizons) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-drury/ ; https://www.linkedin.com/company/maths-horizons/
Tom Pole (Director of Tudor Grange Research School and Associate Principal at Tudor Grange Academy) LinkedIn: LinkedIn - @Tudor Grange Research School; Bluesky - @tgresearchsch.bsky.social
Mike Williams (Maths lead and Year 6 teacher at Alexandra Park primary school) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-williams-2021bb413/; X: https://x.com/mikewteach?s=21
Resources
Education Endowment Foundation (2021) Improving mathematics in Key Stages 2 and 3 Guidance Report. London: Education Endowment Foundation. Available at: EEF-Improving-Mathematics-in-Key-Stages-2-and-3-2022-Update.pdf
Education Endowment Foundation (2021) Improving mathematics in Early Years and Key Stage 1 Guidance Report. London: Education Endowment Foundation. Available at: EEF_Maths_EY_KS1_Guidance_Report.pdf
Education Endowment Foundation (2025) Metacognition and Self-regulated Learning: Guidance Report. London: Education Endowment Foundation. Available at: Metacognition and Self-Regulated Learning - Guidance report | Education Endowment Foundation
Further resources:
Maths Horizons problem-solving and reasoning resources
EEF blog, Using worked examples to support mathematical problem-solving
EEF blog, Thinking Aloud to support mathematical problem-solving
Episode Transcript
Maths: prioritising problem solving | Evidence into Action
49 min
May 10Exploring disadvantage in 16–19 settings
In this episode, co-hosts Alex Quigley and Helen Urbanowicz explore socioeconomic disadvantage in 16-19 education.
Joined by David Robinson (Education Policy Institute), Ruth Kendrick (Group Director of Teaching and Learning, New City College) and Emma Mills (Head of Teaching and Learning Development, Truro and Penwith College), they unpack what the evidence says about widening attainment and participation gaps, including the growing post-16 participation gap and what leaders can do in different contexts.
The conversation focuses on practical actions that highlight high-quality, evidence-informed teaching and professional development, remove hidden costs and structural barriers, and prioritise belonging so learners can access and thrive.

Guest speakers:
David Robinson (Director of Post 16 and Skills, Education Policy Institute EPI)
Ruth Kendrick (Group Director of Teaching and Learning, New City College)
Emma Mills (Head of Teaching and Learning Development, Truro and Penwith College)

Resources:
EPI (2024) Closing the Forgotten Gap: Implementing a 16-19 Student Premium. London: Education Policy Institute. Available at: Closing the Forgotten Gap: Implementing a 16-19 Student Premium - Education Policy Institute
EPI (2025) Annual report 2025: Disadvantage. London: Education Policy Institute. Available at: Education Policy Institute | Annual report - Disadvantage 
EPI (2025) Annual report 2025: Regional Gaps. London: Education Policy Institute. Available at: Education Policy Institute | Annual report - Regional gaps

Further resources:
Find the EEF’s 16-19 hub
Sign up to EEF’s 16-19 newsletters.
Explore EEF’s Effective Professional Development guidance.
Find out more about the EEF’s Evidence Partner Colleges.

See here for the episode transcript - Exploring disadvantage in 16–19 settings | Evidence into Action
40 min
February 26Metacognition: Moving forward with new evidence
In this episode, co-hosts Alex Quigley and Corinne Settle (EEF’s Teaching and Learning Specialist) discuss the implementation of metacognition strategies. Experts and practitioners from various phases and subject areas join us to unpack these approaches, exploring what they look like in practice and the impact they have on learners.
Guest speakers:
Dr Beverley Jennings (EEF Programme Manager)
Tom Colquhoun (Director of Somerset Research School and Assistant Headteacher at The Blue School, Wells) BlueSky: @somersetrs.bsky.social; Instagram: @somersetresearchschool; LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/somerset-research-school-134400386
Emily Smeaton (Director of North Yorkshire Coast Research School and Lecturer in ITE at York St John University) X: @NYCResearchSch; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/north-yorkshire-coast-research-school

Further resources:
Education Endowment Foundation (2024) Metacognition and Self-regulated Learning: Guidance Report. London: Education Endowment Foundation. Available at: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-evidence/guidance-reports/metacognition
- Education Endowment Foundation (2024) ‘Updated EEF guide to metacognition and self-regulation’, EEF News, 21 November. Available at: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/news/updated-eef-guide-to-metacognition-and-self-regulation
Resources:
EEF’s Metacognitive strategies
EEF’s Scaffold pupil’s use of metacognition
EEF’s Promoting metacognitive talk
Transcript: Metacognition: Moving forward with new evidence | Transcript
35 min
December 03, 2025Effective professional development in 16-19 settings
In this episode, co-hosts Alex Quigley and Katie Luxton (EEF’s Senior Programme Manager), dive into what effective professional development looks like in 16–19 settings. They're joined by Evidence Partnership colleagues to unpack the latest evidence, share practical tips on putting this into practice, and highlight what’s making a real difference in their setting.
Guest Speakers:
Mandy Senior (Assistant Principal- Thomas Rotherham College, Trust improvement partner- Inspire Learning Trust)
Sue Smith (Learning and Development Manager, East Lancashire Learning Group)
Further resources
EEF’s 16-19 hub with the latest news and links to key resources, and for further insights into our Evidence Partnership colleges.
EEF’s Effective professional development guidance for 16-19 settings
EEF’s KEEP framework (knowledge, engagement, execution, practice)
EEF’s schools guide to implementation – very relevant also to 16-19 settings.
Sign up for EEF’s 16-19 newsletter here.
34 min
October 14, 2025Sustaining your Pupil Premium strategy
In this episode, co-hosts Alex Quigley and Kirsten Mould talk to EEF’s Senior Policy Manager, Natalie Ohene, about the findings of a research project investigating how schools in England allocate spending on their Pupil Premium statements. They then discuss approaches to sustaining your Pupil Premium strategy with school leaders.
Guest Speakers:
Natalie Ohene (EEF Senior Policy Manager), LinkedIn
Lisa Wise (Headteacher of Wilbury Primary School and Executive Lead for School Improvement at Children First Academy Trust) @WilburyPrimary @ChildrenFirstAT
Stuart Mayle (Headteacher of Brambles Primary Academy) LinkedIn Tees Valley Education LinkedIn
Further resources
Verian project report, Understanding Pupil Premium spending in schools
The EEF Guide to the Pupil Premium
The EEF Guide to the Early Years Pupil Premium
For more support, get in touch with your local Research School
51 min
July 14, 2025Deployment of teaching assistants
In this episode, co-hosts Alex Quigley and Kirsten Mould discuss the EEF’s newly updated guidance on deployment of teaching assistants.
They are joined by expert Gary Aubin who discusses the role of TAs in supporting children with SEND, followed by practitioners who reflect on effective TA deployment in their settings:

Gary Aubin (EEF SEND Associate, co-author of the Deployment of Teaching Assistants Guidance Report, and the lead of Whole Education’s work supporting MATs in relation to SEND) @SENDMattersUK @sendmattersuk.bsky.social Gary Aubin LinkedIn

Sam Smithies (Assistant SENDCo, Hathershaw College Oldham) Instagram: @hathershawcollege @THELINK.HATHERSHAW

Claire Akroyd (Head of School, West Vale Academy, Halifax) Facebook: West Vale Academy Instagram: @westvaleacademy1

Further resources
EEF, Deployment of Teaching Assistants Guidance Report (Updated March 2025)
EEF Teaching & Learning Toolkit strand on Teaching Assistant Interventions
DfE, Use of teaching assistants in schools Research report (September 2024)
RSN Blog by Claire Akroyd, Intentional deployment of Teaching Assistants; an integral component of inclusion
RSN Blog by Sam Smithies, Supporting Independence: A Learning Support Assistant’s Reflection and Growth
48 min
June 23, 2025Talking the talk: subject-specific talk across the curriculum
In this episode, host Alex Quigley and the EEF’s Literacy Specialist, Chloe Butlin, discuss the importance of subject-specific talk across the curriculum. They are joined by experts and practitioners from different phases and subject areas:
Shareen Wilkinson (Education Adviser and Author, and Executive Director of Education, LEO Academy Trust) X: @ShareenAdvice BlueSky: @mrswilkinson.bsky.social LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/shareen-wilkinson
Alex Fairlamb (Assistant Principal (Teaching & Learning) at Kings Priory School, and WAT T&L Network Lead) X: @lamb_heart_tea BlueSky: @lambhearttea.bsky.social Website: alexfairlamb.com
Rachel Dixon (Curriculum Area Leader for Science, Oldham Sixth Form College) @pinnacleLTRS , https://www.linkedin.com/company/oldham-sixth-form-college/

Further resources
EEF, Improving Literacy in Key Stage 2 Guidance Report (November 2021)
EEF, Improving Literacy in Secondary Schools Guidance Report (July 2019)
EEF blog, What does the evidence base tell us about effective oral language practice?
EEF blog, From talk to text: integrating oral language within writing instruction
EEF blog, Building strong readers: why oral language is the foundation of the reading house
39 min
April 01, 2025Why manipulatives matter in the maths classroom
In this episode, Host Alex Quigley and the EEF’s Maths Content & Engagement Specialist, Grace Coker, are exploring why manipulatives matter in maths.
They speak to Dr Sue Gifford to discuss the research evidence around the use of manipulatives and are then joined by practitioners from both primary and secondary schools to find out the benefits of using manipulatives in their settings.
Dr Sue Gifford (Early Childhood Maths Group)
Emma Barker (Assistant headteacher and maths lead, Amberley Primary School; Primary Mastery Specialist and Lead Specialist for Great North Maths Hub) @MissEBarker
Guy Carpenter (Director of Research and Innovation, Dudley Academies Trust) @gcarp567 www.linkedin.com/in/guy-carpenter-192560305
Further resources
EEF, Improving Mathematics in the Early Years and Key Stage 1 Guidance Report (October 2021)
EEF, Improving Mathematics in Key Stages 2 and 3 Guidance Report (November 2022)
EEF blog, Myth-busting mathematical manipulatives
EEF blog, Five ways manipulatives can be used to develop mathematical understanding
EEF guest blog by Emma Barker, Manipulatives: a window into pupils' mathematical thinking
42 min
March 11, 2025Teaching: an art or science - part 3
In the final episode of our three-part series, ‘Teaching: an art or science?’ host Harry Madgwick meets with Yamina Bibi to discuss how teachers can best exercise their professional judgment, with insights from a panel of experts.

Episode 1: Teaching: an art or science - part 1
Episode 2: Teaching: an art or science - part 2

Yamina Bibi (Project specialist at Chartered College of Teaching and freelance consultant)

Panel:
Dr Cat Scutt (Deputy Chief Executive, Education and Research, Chartered College of Teaching)
Sarah Cottinghatt (Professional development consultant and instructional coach)
Dr Sally Riordan (Associate Professor of Social Policy Research, Northeastern University London)
Further resources
Metacognition Guidance Report
Engaging with Evidence report
27 min
March 04, 2025Teaching: an art or science - part 2
In this second episode of our three-part series, ‘Teaching: an art or science?’, host Harry Madgwick meets with Sarah Stock, Director of Newcastle Research School, to discuss teachers’ use of research evidence, with insights from a panel of experts:

Sarah Stock (Director of Newcastle Research School, Primary School Improvement Lead NEAT Academy Trust)

Panel:
Dr Cat Scutt (Deputy Chief Executive, Education and Research, Chartered College of Teaching) @CatScutt
Sarah Cottinghatt (Professional development consultant and instructional coach) @scottinghatt
Dr Sally Riordan (Associate Professor of Social Policy Research, Northeastern University London)
You can catch up on part 1 here.

Further resources
EEF, Teacher Feedback to Improve Pupil Learning Guidance Report (October 2021)
EEF Blog, The ShREC approach
EEF, Vocabulary in Action tool (based on Beck model)
EEF, Using Research Evidence: A Concise Guide (January 2024)
Research Schools Network Clips from the Classroom
34 min