Evidence into Action

By Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)Education

Evidence into Action episodes

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
February 25, 2025Teaching: an art or science - part 1
In the first episode of a three-part series, ‘Teaching: an art or science?’, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host, Harry Madgwick (EEF senior content and engagement manager) and expert guests including:
Damilola Ajagbonna (Deputy Headteacher, Hitchin Boys’ School)
Dr Cat Scutt (Deputy Chief Executive, Education and Research, Chartered College of Teaching)
Sarah Cottinghatt (Professional development consultant and instructional coach)
Dr Sally Riordan (Senior Research Fellow, UCL)
In this episode, Harry meets with his mentor from when he was an ECT to discuss what ECTs must master first upon entering the profession, what good mentoring can involve, and how to stay present and motivated as a teacher, accompanied by insights from a panel of experts.
31 min
January 14, 2025Breakfast clubs
In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host Kirsten Mould and expert guests. They discuss breakfast club provision in schools, implementation challenges, impact, and advice for those looking to set up breakfast club provision in their setting.
Lindsey McDonald, Chief Executive, Magic Breakfast, @LindseyMac_ @Magic_Breakfast (Start – 19:50)
Toni Hayzen, Headteacher, Pembroke Park Primary School and Nursery, @PrimaryHT_Mum and
Ash McGann, Headteacher, Burton Green Primary School (19:59 - End)
Further Resources:
EEF Breakfast Interventions: Rapid Evidence Assessment (August 2024)
TES, How to Build an Effective Breakfast Club: What the Research Says (August 2024)
To find out more about the Magic Breakfast Early Adopters Scheme: Early Adopters Scheme - Magic Breakfast
School Food Matters | School Food Matters
45 min
October 07, 2024Retrieval practice
In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host, Rachael Cattrall, EEF Content Specialist Alumna) and expert guests. They discuss the evolution of retrieval practice and insights into cognitive science, including how these principles and practices are being applied in classrooms.
Dr Tom Perry, Associate Professor, University of Warwick (Start - 24:10)
Rachel Wilson, Year 6 teacher & Deputy Research Director of Norwich Research School (24:10 - 37:50)
Mark Miller, Director of Bradford Research School, Dixons Academies Trust (37:50 - End)
Further Resources:
Cognitive Science Approaches in the Classroom: a Review of the Evidence (summary)
EEF Podcast: Cognitive Science in the Classroom
The Processes of Memory: A brief explainer
Cognitive Load Theory: A brief explainer
57 min
August 27, 2024Implementation in schools
In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host, Kirsten Mould, EEF Senior Content and Engagement Manager, and expert guests. They discuss implementation in schools following the recent update of the EEF's implementation guidance report. They explore how we think about implementation and what it looks like in a practical sense.
Jonathan Sharples, Associate Professor, EEF (Start - 28:23)
Phil Stock, Director of Greenshaw Research School (28:23 - 49:27)
Laura Spence, Director of Gloucestershire Research School (49:27 - End)
Further Resources:
EEF, A School’s Guide to Implementation guidance report (Updated April 2024)
Engage and Unite: moving beyond buy-in – blog from Greenshaw Research School
1 hr 10 min
June 25, 2024Using research evidence well in education
In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host, Kirstin Mulholland, EEF Associate for School Engagement and Evidence Use, and expert guests. They discuss using research evidence well in the context of education, exploring the development of a culture and capacity for engaging with evidence in schools.
Prof Rob Coe, Director of Research and Development at Evidence Based Education, EEF Senior Associate (3:10 - 30:03)
Sean Harris, Lead for Research Improvement and Innovation at Tees Valley Education Trust (30:03 - 48:33)
Claire Williams, Deputy Headteacher of Alexandra Park Primary School and Director of Alexandra Park Research School (48:33 - End)
Further Resources:
EEF Using Research Evidence – a concise guide (Published January 2024)
Research School Network
The COM-B Model for behaviour change – an explainer from The Decision Lab
1 hr 9 min
March 21, 2024Supporting school attendance
In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host, Freya Morrissey, EEF Content Specialist for Learning Behaviours, and expert guests. They discuss the complex topic of attendance and explore what the evidence tells us about the best ways to support it.
Owen Carter, Director at ImpactEd (Start - 19:48)
Jane Elsworth, Director of Huntington Research School (19:48 - 41:28)
Oliver Kerr, Headteacher of Old Moat Primary School, Manchester (41:28 - End)
Further Resources:
Impact Ed: Understanding Attendance report
EEF Supporting School Attendance webpage
EEF’s Attendance intervention rapid evidence review 2022
For quick and easy access to future episodes, search for 'Evidence into Action' in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts and make sure you subscribe there.
59 min
January 12, 2024Primary Science
In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host, Grace Coker, EEF Content Specialist for maths, and expert guests. They discuss high-quality science teaching that fosters progress and children’s interest in science.
Sarah Earle, Reader in Education, Bath Spa University (Start - 28:14)
Ben Rogers, Director of Curriculum and Pedagogy, Paradigm Trust (28:14 - 47:21)
Mikaela Moore, Director of Primary Science, Delta Academy Trust (47:21 - End)
Further Resources:
Improving primary science guidance report, Education Endowment Foundation (Published November 2023)
Guidance and resources to support teaching and assessment, Teacher Assessment in Primary Science (TAPS)
Explorify resources
For quick and easy access to future episodes, search for 'Evidence into Action' in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts and make sure you subscribe there.
1 hr 4 min
November 13, 2023Defining disadvantage
In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by Kirsten Mould and expert guests to discuss how best to support pupils from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Guests include:
Dr Rebecca Montacute, Head of Research and Policy, Sutton Trust (Start - 30:32)
Marc Rowland, Pupil Premium Adviser, Unity School’s Partnership (30:32 - 53:26)
Gill Fearns, Director, Lancashire Research School (53:26 - End)
Further Resources:
Contextual Admissions, Sutton Trust
The COVID Social Mobility and Opportunities (COSMO) study
Elitist Britain, Sutton Trust
The EEF Guide to the Pupil Premium, Education Endowment Foundation (Updated September 2024)
For quick and easy access to future episodes, search for 'Evidence into Action' in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts and make sure you subscribe there.
1 hr 13 min
September 06, 2023Personal Social and Emotional Development (PSED) in the early years
In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host Nicola Cherry, EEF Early Years Content Specialist and Early Years Delivery Manager for North Somerset Council, alongside expert guests. They discuss PSED and how we can support how early years practice can be enriched through evidence-use.
Claudia Coussins, Deputy Head of Early Years - Policy and Practice, Anna Freud Centre (Start - 20:45)
Ruth Coleman, Headteacher, Highfield Nursery School (20:45 - 38:44)
Louise Jackson, Independent Consultant, Author, Trainer and Teacher, Wye Early Years (38:44 - End)
For quick and easy access to future episodes, search for 'Evidence into Action' in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts and make sure you subscribe there.
Further Resources:
EEF Early Years Hub
Since this episode was recorded there have been updates to the Early Years Evidence Store, including the Personal, Social & Emotional Development theme, the Self-Regulation & Executive Function theme and the ‘Supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing in the early years’ guide.
1 hr 4 min