New Approaches to Learning Strand

Background: why the New Approaches to Learning strand?

Through this strand, we seek to use our independence and flexibility to support exploratory work relating to learning in schools and early years’ settings that is unlikely to get statutory funding because it is new, risky, unorthodox or overlooked. We are keen to back work that tackles thorny educational issues and improves young people's educational attainment and motivation. We will only support work where it is likely to influence national policy and practice.

Purpose: what is the New Approaches to Learning strand aiming to achieve?

To research, test and evaluate new approaches to teaching and learning that address current and future challenges in early years settings and state schools (age 0 - 18). We are interested in developing models of effective practice that are of national significance in the following areas:

• Early interventions that will enhance the language, literacy, numeracy and social skills of disadvantaged children
• Systems to improve learning support and continuity for vulnerable young people at points of educational transition
• Models that increase the flexibility and relevance of learning for young people at Key Stages 3 and 4. (This might involve changes to school structure, curriculum, teaching and assessment methods)
• Measures to improve take-up of the Sciences, Maths and Modern Foreign Languages in secondary schools
• Developments that build a flexible and skilled schools' work force to meet changing educational needs.

Occaisionally, we may support work in other areas. If there are burning issues that you are keen to address, do contact us, as we may be able to help, funding permitting!

Available funding 

• The budget is £4.5 million over three years from 2008 - 2010, subject to annual review
• Grants are likely to be in the range of £15,000 - £250,000.  Smaller grants upto £15,000 are available for initial groundwork to test the case for a larger proposal. These might cover the costs of research, consultation, business planning or evaluation
• We anticipate that we will make around 20 grants per year.

What are we looking to fund under the New Approaches to Learning strand? 

We will support research and project costs including staffing, evaluation, dissemination and modest overheads.

We will look for applications that:

• Are well researched and have a strong evidence base
• Meet a real need
• Either:
  i) propose new approaches to addressing complex educational issues or
  ii) scale up effective practice that deserves a wider national platform
• Will improve educational outcomes for young people
• Involve collaboration between influential education researchers, practitioners, policy makers and other education stakeholders
• Include clear and practical delivery plans
• Include convincing plans for national dissemination
• Will be independently evaluated
• Include a clear and reasonable budget
• Are likely to make a lasting impact on national education policy and/or practice.

What is excluded from support?

• Capital projects, including refurbishment
• Proposals for local/regional work that is unlikely to have an impact on national policy and practice
• Proposals from individual pre-schools, schools, colleges or small clusters of schools
• Proposals without the support of both policy makers and education practitioners
• Proposals for work exclusively outside schools or pre-schools.

Application process

1. In the first instance please contact Hilary Hodgson by email or phone (020 7812 3700) to check whether your proposal meets the criteria for the fund. Your email should include a brief description of the proposal and please include a contact number in your message.

2. If you are elligible, we will ask you to complete a First Stage Application, this should include:

a) a form. Download an electronic version of the form (Word 48k).

b) a short statement summarising what you would like to do under the following headings: (on no more than three sides of A4, using a font no smaller than 12-point).

• A summary of the previous impact of the applicant organisation(s) on national education policy/practice
• The aims of the proposal
• The evidence supporting the need for the work
• The main project tasks and timescale
• Who would lead the work and why they are best qualified to do so
• Describe the long-term difference the proposal is likely to make to national education policy or practice
• List the rough costs of the work and tell us from where else, if anywhere, you are seeking funding.

c) A copy of your organisation's most recent accounts (or a budget for the current year if your organisation is new, or the appropriate departmental budget if you are a university or local authority).

d) Organisation's constitution (if you are not a registered charity, with the exception of local authorities).

We will contact you within one month to let you know whether you are invited to proceed to the second stage of the application process. If you are successful, we will let you know what additional information we need and by when.

September 2009

^ page top