Excellence in Research on Schools

Hillage J, Pearson R, Anderson A, Tamkin P | Research Report RR74 | Department for Education and Employment | Jul 1998

An analysis of the direction, organisation, funding, quality and impact of educational research, primarily in the schools field.

Research is only one of the influences on policy formation and practice, and its impact is difficult to measure. However, research is valuable if forward-looking, policy-relevant and practical.

The actions and decisions of policy makers should be better informed by research, which should be on a larger scale. The research process needs to serve the policy-making cycle, presenting accessible information that can be turned into action.