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Research

We recognise the importance of research to Scottish teachers and Scottish education. Our research strategy aims to:

• encourage teachers to use and take part in research as part of their CPD
• build a strong evidence base to inform policy
• share research findings with teachers and with the wider community in Scotland

Latest News

Teacher Agency and Curriculum Change project

A research team at the University of Stirling is working to develop an understanding of key factors that impact upon teacher agency in contexts of educational change.

The Teacher Agency and Curriculum Change project is undertaking research in schools to explore teacher agency in the context of a major national curriculum reform, Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence.

Find out more about the project at Teacher Agency and Curriculum Change project.

Current research

Our Research Department is currently working on the following projects:

Name of project	Summary
Preparing for Headship: the impact of professional study on professional knowledge and leadership practices	This is a small project investigating the experience of teachers who have followed the two main routes to achieving the Standard for Headship. Looking at the impact on their professional learning and on their practice as well as on their schools and communities, this project will inform a research paper being presented at the Association of Teacher Educators Europe conference in August 2011.
Experience of people with disabilities participating in the Teacher Induction Scheme	This project examines the support teachers received or the barriers they faced when on the Teacher Induction Scheme.

Publications

We issue published research and teacher research throughout the year.

Published Research

Our most recent published research is Preparing for Headship: the impact of professional study on professional knowledge and leadership practices. The paper, presented at the Association of Teacher Educators Europe by Rosa Murray and Ian Matheson, seeks to explore the extent to which the professional learning and development gained through participating in either the Scottish Qualification for Headship or the National Flexible Route to Headship programmes influences and enhances the professional identities of the participants and of their understanding of leadership. In other words does this learning make a real sustained difference?.

View all of our Published Research.

Teacher Research

Our most recent teacher researcher report was written by Jane Carson, a teacher at Wallace Hall Academy in Dumfries and Galloway. The report evaluates the impact on the planning and delivery of learning programmes in the school as a result of the introduction of Teaching for Understanding as a whole school initiative. She found that the level of impact of the initiative varied widely, largely depending on the subject taught and the career phase of the teachers.

View all of our Teacher Research.