The School provides a significant focus both for the sharing of and generation of research.

We aim to increase teachers’ access to high-quality research through hosting conferences and meetings and inviting academics to lead our ‘Rush Hour Research’ event series. Subject leaders at the School have access to academic journals and are well-read and up to date. Many of our teachers already hold masters and doctoral qualifications when they join and many more then take up opportunities for further study.

We receive a high level of interest in conducting research at the School and are engaged in a significant number of projects, both local and national. Research at the School takes a variety of forms, for example participation in large randomly controlled trials, co-creation of research between academic staff, pupils and teachers, and projects led by academic teams at the School of Education.

We welcome expressions of interest in research at or with the School and we would advise you discuss these at an early stage with the School. Generally, only projects which involve research with the pupils or staff as co-researchers will be accepted or the research is of benefit to the school but please download this form and email to Ann Evans, School University Relationship Officer, University of Birmingham School. and we will review your application.

Once the University of Birmingham School has approved the research, the next stage in the process is to complete the full application form, available from Ann Evans, which will be sent for approval by the University of Birmingham School Advisory Group chaired by Professor Julie Allan from the School of Education.

Exploring Newness – Students at UoBSchool, Dr Sophie Hadfield-Hill, Professor Peter Kraftl, University of Birmingham

The research is student-led and has been supported by two colleagues from the School of Education at the University of Birmingham who specialise in Children’s Geography, Sophie Hadfield-Hill and Peter Kraftl.

They have focused on four broad themes:

· Young people’s experiences of settling in within the first months of arriving in a new school and importantly a new building

· Young people’s everyday experiences of transition (from a diversity of primary and secondary schools)

· Spaces of settling-in and transition – exploring the relationship between settling-in and the building.

· Journeys to school and what impacts that has on the school day Ruth Till presented this research at the Researching with and for Children Conference at the University of Edinburgh (8-9 May 2017). For more information about the research please contact Dr Sophie Hadfield-Hill.

ICCAMS Mathematics – Mr R Jhalli, Mr D Clark, UoBSchool

Ravi Jhalli and Dave Clark from UoBS Maths Department have now attended four of eight training days for the Increasing Confidence and Competence in Algebra and Multiplicative Structures (ICCAMS) project. As Project Leaders, they are currently delivering the sixth and seventh pairs of ICCAMS lessons to their Year 7 Sets. They are also supporting the teacher of the other two Year 7 Sets in the delivery of earlier pairs of lessons.

The project extends into 2018 with current Year 7 pupils receiving further ICCAMS teaching in their Year 8. As the project nears its conclusion, UoBSchool pupils along those from the other ten schools in the Midlands part of the project will be assessed. Their results will be compared to other pupils whose schools are in the project, but not delivering ICCAMS teaching. For more information please contact Dave Clark.

Schools of Virtue – Emily Burn, University of Birmingham

The Schools of Virtue project is looking at character education across three schools in Birmingham, including 2 secondary and a primary school. The aim is to identify how character education has been implemented and to explore the effect of this. The final report is due in the Autumn. For more information please contact Emily Burn.

Our School: Our Space –  Inclusion and Special Educational Needs – Professor Julie Allan, University of Birmingham

Researchers (Julie Allan and Clara Joergensen) from the University of Birmingham are undertaking a project ‘Our School: Our Space’ which aims to learn about the school as it grows and aspires to be an inclusive school. Work has already taken place with Year 7 students and with Sixth Form students, involving them taking photographs which they have then discussed with the researchers. The next stage of the research will involve observations of social spaces and of classrooms. For more information please contact Professor Julie Allan.

Motivation, physical activity and health – Professor Joan Duda, University of Birmingham

Between March and July 2016, 18 pupils participated in a study to examine how environment created in Physical Education and Youth Sport (eg by the PE teacher and coaches), may influence the reasons why young people chose to take part in PE, sport and physical activity, and how this might impact on levels of physical activity engagement.

One paper based on this particular data collection is still in the review process. For more information please contact Professor Joan Duda, University of Birmingham.

Making wiser choices online – Professor Lee Rogerson, University of Birmingham, Adam Hamflet, UoB School

The Jubilee Centre is running some research with a number of schools, including The University of Birmingham School, relating to moral choices online.

The project has involved students from certain classes receiving a short four session programme of study exploring moral dilemmas, virtue reasoning and virtue literacy associated with using the internet and online activity. For more information please contact Lee Rogerson, University of Birmingham.

How does collaborative artist teacher practice impact communities of learning in school? – Carol Wild, Birmingham City University and Jessica Quinn UoB School

This pilot study adapts a CPD summer School workshop normally conducted at Birmingham School of Art for a classroom environment. The pilot (and the consequent longer term study) seeks to address failings in previous research into Artist Teacher CPD run by the Arts Council and the NSEAD (National Society for Art & Design) by moving the focus of the research from the gallery/university context to the art classroom.

It is proposed to hold a small-scale exhibition within UoB School to disseminate the findings of the study. This marks the final stage of the pilot study and is an important part of the research process, aiding the filtering and editing of data produced during the research week. For more information contact Carol Wild, Birmingham City University.