

Evidence into Action
Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)
Evidence into Action is a podcast from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF).
This podcast welcomes experts in the field of education – fantastic researchers with important things to say, alongside a wealth of brilliant teachers and school leaders. Our mission is straightforward: to tackle the most important educational topics and offer you plenty of evidence-based ideas to reflect on and, hopefully, be able to put into action.
This podcast welcomes experts in the field of education – fantastic researchers with important things to say, alongside a wealth of brilliant teachers and school leaders. Our mission is straightforward: to tackle the most important educational topics and offer you plenty of evidence-based ideas to reflect on and, hopefully, be able to put into action.
Episodes
Mentioned books

6 snips
Mar 21, 2024 • 58min
Supporting school attendance
Owen Carter, Director at ImpactEd Group, focuses on evidence-based decisions linking attendance with academic success. Jane Elsworth, Deputy Headteacher at Huntington School, highlights the unique attendance challenges faced by disadvantaged students and the role of effective family communication. Oliver Kerr, Headteacher of Old Moat Primary, discusses the importance of consistent expectations and communication in addressing attendance issues worsened by the pandemic. Together, they explore strategic solutions and the necessity of fostering a sense of belonging to boost school attendance.

12 snips
Jan 12, 2024 • 1h 4min
Primary Science
In this engaging discussion, Sarah Earle, a Reader in Education at Bath Spa University, Ben Rogers, Director of Curriculum and Pedagogy at Paradigm Trust, and Mikaela Moore, Director of Primary Science at Delta Academy Trust, delve into enhancing primary science education. They emphasize the power of formative assessments and the role of dialogue in addressing misconceptions. The conversation explores the importance of explicit vocabulary teaching and inquiry-based learning, all aimed at fostering curiosity and analytical skills in young learners. Listen for insights on integrating scientific concepts into everyday learning!

Nov 13, 2023 • 1h 12min
Defining disadvantage
In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by Kirsten Mould and expert guests to discuss how best to support pupils from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Guests include:
Dr Rebecca Montacute, Head of Research and Policy, Sutton Trust (Start - 30:32)
Marc Rowland, Pupil Premium Adviser, Unity School’s Partnership (30:32 - 53:26)
Gill Fearns, Director, Lancashire Research School (53:26 - End)
Further Resources:
Contextual Admissions, Sutton Trust
The COVID Social Mobility and Opportunities (COSMO) study
Elitist Britain, Sutton Trust
The EEF Guide to the Pupil Premium, Education Endowment Foundation (Updated September 2024)
For quick and easy access to future episodes, search for 'Evidence into Action' in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts and make sure you subscribe there.

6 snips
Sep 6, 2023 • 1h 4min
Personal Social and Emotional Development (PSED) in the early years
Claudia Coussins, Deputy Head of Early Years at the Anna Freud Centre, shares insights on integrating adult therapy into early childhood development. Ruth Coleman, Headteacher at Highfield Nursery, emphasizes the importance of relationships and collaboration in supporting children post-COVID. Louise Jackson, a content specialist, discusses innovative strategies for emotional regulation in children, including the use of resilience trackers. Together, they explore actionable approaches to enhance personal, social, and emotional development in early education.

Jun 13, 2023 • 1h 9min
SEN in mainstream and adaptive teaching
In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host, Kirsten Mould, EEF Senior Content Specialist, and expert guests to discuss how best to support pupils with SEND, outlining the current challenges and opportunities in schools.
Gary Aubin, EEF Associate content specialist for SEND and Head of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities at Future Academies (3:10 - 23:47)
Rebecca Gonyora, Director of Inclusion (MAT) Every Child, Every Day Academy Trust and Deputy Regional SEN Lead for East of England and East London (WSS) (23:47 - 43:07)
Jon Eaton, Director of Kingsbridge Research School and Research Lead at Kingsbridge Community College (43:07 - End
For quick and easy access to future episodes, search for 'Evidence into Action' in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts and subscribe.
Further reading
EEF’s Special Educational Needs in Mainstream Schools guidance report
EEF resource: reflecting on your practice
EEF blog: Assess, adjust, adapt – what does adaptive teaching mean to you?
EEF blog: Moving from ‘differentiation’ to ‘adaptive teaching’
Whole School SEND

4 snips
May 2, 2023 • 1h 8min
Metacognition
Join renowned experts in metacognition as they dive into practical learning strategies. John Dunlosky discusses the significance of self-monitoring and common misconceptions around student confidence. Jo Ashcroft emphasizes the integration of these strategies in K-12 education, while Freya Morrissey highlights the need for effective study tools and emotional resilience post-pandemic. They collectively explore how teachers can empower learners, particularly those facing challenges, by fostering metacognitive skills that enhance retention and application of knowledge.

Jan 24, 2023 • 59min
Vocabulary and Language
In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host Alex Reynolds, Literacy Content Specialist for the EEF, and expert guests to discuss vocabulary instruction, connections to reading and the curriculum.
Professor Jessie Ricketts, Director of Language and the reading acquisition research group for the Department of Psychology at Royal Holloway University of London (Start - 27:25)
Marcus Jones, Literacy Lead at Huntington Research School and English Teacher (27:25 - 50:32)
Host and co-host reflections (50:32 - End)
Further Resources:
EEF Vocabulary in Action Classroom Strategies Resource
EEF Vocabulary in Action: Misconceptions Resource
EEF Blog, Through the Keyhole of the Reading House, Part 1: Vocabulary, Comprehension and Word Reading

Nov 29, 2022 • 1h 1min
English as an Additional Language
In this instalment, hosts Alex Quigley and EEF Senior Content Manager Kirsten Mould are joined by expert guests in linguistics and education, alongside education leaders, to discuss how best to support pupils with English as an Additional Language.
Guests include:
Prof Victoria Murphy, Director of the Department of Education & Professor of Applied Linguistics, University of Oxford (Start - 27:45)
Diana Sutton, The Bell Foundation (27:45 - 42:27)
Karl Rogerson, Principal of Billesley Primary School and Director of Billesley Research School (42:27 - End)

4 snips
Nov 2, 2022 • 1h 3min
Evidence-informed Leadership
Experts discuss the complexities and benefits of evidence-informed school leadership, highlighting the tension between evidence-based approaches and local school context. They explore the challenges and potential impact of the National Tutoring Program, emphasizing the need for evaluation and considering various factors. The importance of creating a positive vision for school improvement, rebalancing accountability and support, and engagement with research evidence is emphasized. The changing landscape of professional development and the role of mechanisms in facilitating behavior change are discussed. Challenges of implementing evidence-informed leadership include securing buy-in, creating a culture of growth, and staff capability.

May 25, 2022 • 51min
Supporting pupils during exams
In this new instalment, our expert panel discuss the evidence around how to prepare pupils for exams effectively.
Regular host Alex Quigley is joined by our Learning Behaviours Content Specialist, Kirsten Mould, in discussion with:
Prof. David Putwain of Liverpool John Moores University (Start – 26.55);
Sadie Thompson, Deputy Director of HISP Research School and Modern Foreign Language teacher (26.55 – 40.23); and
Simon Cox, Director of Blackpool Research School and Maths teacher (40.23– End).