

Chaired by Professor Simon Burgess, University of Bristol - slides (PDF) With presentations from: Professor Carole Torgerson, Durham University - slides (PDF)

(PDF) Dr. Ben Styles, Research Director at National Foundation for Educational Research - slides (PDF)

(PDF) Victoria Menzies, Research Trial Officer at Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring - slides (PDF)

(PDF) Dr. Kevan Collins, Chief Executive of Education Endowment Foundation - slides (doc) The last few years has seen a massive increase in the use of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in UK educational research. Central to this has been the Government’s awarding of £135 million to the Educational Endowment Foundation to fund and evaluate school based trials aimed at raising the attainment of disadvantaged pupils in England’s primary and secondary schools. Over 100 trials have now been funded, involving over a fifth of all schools. This meeting will discuss the many statistical and practical challenges which arise when designing, implementing, analysing, and evaluating school RCTs in education. The meeting will also discuss whether policy makers actually listen to and use trial results appropriately and the extent to which pupil outcomes have improved or not as a consequence. This meeting will discuss the many statistical and practical challenges which arise when designing, implementing, analysing, and evaluating school RCTs in education. The meeting will also discuss whether policy makers actually listen to and use trial results appropriately and the extent to which pupil outcomes have improved or not as a consequence.