Research - Professional Learning Institute

What is our aim?

Development and implementation of a comprehensive, cohesive and inclusive trust wide training plan which:

Establishes a culture of research and reflective practice to support relentless curiosity amongst practitioners.

Why is it important?

Why is it important? The significant feature of robustness is that it is “a property that allows a system to maintain its functions against internal and external disruption.” (Kitano 2007).

How will we achieve this?

In order to use research and evidence effectively to drive forward continuous improvement, there are a number of considerations which need to be taken into account. The Venn diagram below highlights the importance of approaching evidence informed practice holistically, considering the what, the who, the when and the why, of adopting an evidence informed practice approach.

Offering Professional Learning through a scaled approach

– Summit Learning Trust wide
– Academy / Directorate Level
– Individual Interest
– Working with external expertise
The Education Endowment Foundation’s (2024) guide to Using Research Evidence, provides an excellent introduction to collecting, analysing, and critiquing research within education. Providing guidance on various approaches, and pitfalls to avoid, link below is an invaluable guide.

PLI Five Minute Training Plan

To ensure a consistent approach to Professional Learning opportunities delivered via the Professional Learning Institute, a Five Minute Professional Learning Plan has been collaboratively developed by the PLI, Professional Learning Leads and Summit Lead Practitioners. This plan incorporates all 6 of the core principles of the PLI, linked into the Vision, Values and Strategic Aims of Summit Learning Trust. As highlighted below, a key consideration in the planning stage is the evidence/research informing the session.

Scaling the Heights

Scaling the Heights sessions are designed and delivered collaboratively by the PLI, Professional Learning Leads, Summit Lead Practitioners, and utilise other sources of internal and expertise. The sessions take place across the academic year in the Secondary Academies and focus in on research or evidence which links into Pedagogy into Practice – developing knowledge of general pedagogical approaches which can be transferred into the classroom to continually improve the quality of teaching. The sessions have drawn on the In Action books, with colleagues opting into the sessions that matched with their Professional Learning needs most.

Chartered College Evidence Informed Practice

One of our core principles at Summit Learning Trust’s Professional Learning Institute is to utilise research and evidence-based practice to drive forward long-term developments. Serving over 7500 across the 4 Primary Schools, 3 Secondary Schools and a Sixth Form College in Birmingham and Solihull, the Professional Learning Institute promotes the development of all of our people with the view to providing the highest quality educational experiences to our learners. Integral to quality first provision is an offer of high-quality professional learning. The breadth and depth of materials and opportunities offered by the Chartered College of Teaching form part of the PLI offer to help us in achieving our goals.
As with other areas of education, there has been an explosion of initiatives and information regarding evidence-informed practice and research-rich schools, however, as busy practitioners, it can be difficult to filter through the vast array of resources which are out there, and to identify the research/evidence that offers the ‘best bets’ most relevant to an individual’s context. With so much available, there is a danger of individuals feeling overwhelmed or daunted by the sheer volume, or the process of getting started on evidence-based research/practice. One of the fantastic aspects of the Chartered College of Teaching’s Certificate in Evidence-Informed Practice is the support and structure the course provides, walking the practitioner through the why, what, and how of engaging in research. Like all good quality professional learning, the Certificate in Evidence-Informed Practice offers simultaneous challenge. Find out more about the Chartered College’s Certificate in Evidence Informed Practice on the link below.