What Works?: Research and evidence for successful teaching

From the authors of the Sutton Trust-EEF Teaching and Learning Toolkit comes What Works?, a must-read guide that summarises the research and hard evidence of what works and what doesn't in primary and secondary classrooms, and provides practical strategies for transforming pupils' progress. Lee Elliot Major and Steve Higgins look at common teaching approaches, including raising aspirations, improving behaviour, outdoor learning and parental engagement. They present the research and evidence behind each approach and provide practical steps for best practice in the classroom to boost the learning and life outcomes of all pupils. Explored in a concise, accessible manner, the research and evidence is distilled into clear, precise guidance that can be used immediately, ideal for any busy teacher. What Works? makes it easy for all primary and secondary teachers to become research-informed practitioners in every aspect of their teaching. From debunking enduring education myths to providing practical next steps and strategies that really make a difference, this is the essential guide to evidence-based teaching and a must-have for every teacher looking to increase their impact in the classroom.

About the Author :
Lee Elliot Major is former Chief Executive of the Sutton Trust and a founding trustee of the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), chairing its evaluation advisory board. Lee was previously an education journalist and worked for the Guardian and the Times. He is now Professor of Social Mobility at the University of Exeter. Steve Higgins is Professor of Education at Durham University. Before working in higher education, he was a primary school teacher in the north-east. Steve is also the author of numerous educational books, chapters and research articles. Steve and Lee are co-authors of the Sutton Trust-EEF Teaching and Learning Toolkit and have given more than 50 keynote presentations and talks on using research and evidence to thousands of teachers across the world. They co-author the monthly 'Explainer' column for TES, advising teachers on education research.

Review :
We love to rush to the big picture and ignore the details, the conditionals and the fine print. Major and Higgins present the nuanced stories about what works best in schools. They deal with the implications, the actions and the messages from the many thousands of studies in a convincing, readable and enjoyably digestible manner. The authors call for an "expertise model" of teaching where professional judgement is informed by evidence from research. This book supports teachers to engage with the best known evidence and tailor this knowledge to support their teaching, thereby providing the opportunity to build learning capacity for all. This book comes from a reliable source which has shaped English education over the last decade, warts and all! With a book such as this, it is only a matter of time before EVERY teacher and school leader is asking, "Show me the evidence." What Works? is a must-read for class teachers and school leaders: an in-depth analysis of a range of teaching approaches, the research behind them, and how to effectively implement them to improve pupil outcomes. This new work offers discussions of 21 sets of research relating to approaches to teaching and learning. Classroom realities are centre stage throughout, with a clear understanding of the complexity of teachers’ and leaders’ roles in making improvements. Ways of evaluating research are clearly presented and are useful starting points for workplace discussions. The book is useable by a wide audience: individual teachers, departments or year teams over different phases, CPD organisers, leadership teams, teacher trainers and school governors. This fascinating book provides teachers with both the cutting-edge science on teaching excellence and the debates behind the science. Evidence on best practice is distilled in an accessible way, building out from the now world-famous Teaching and Learning Toolkit designed by Major and Higgins, which sits at the heart of the book. As well as focusing on the research evidence for different practices, the authors provide insight on the respective strengths and limitations of the meta-analytic approach, and the challenges of applying "what works" in diverse contexts. This is a book for all those professionals wishing to become even better teachers and to understand research evidence rather than simply consume it. As a resource that can be used on multiple levels by individual teachers, departments or phase teams and senior leaders, this book offers serious value for money. A must have for every school CPD library! The book summarises very succinctly what we all aspire to be. It is not what you do, but the way that you do it, that is important. This book would be brilliant for CPD or an inset training in any school and a valuable asset to any staffroom book shelf. ‘This is a well-constructed text that synthesises a vast amount of research into manageable bite-sized chunks for anyone seeking information and guidance on best practice.’