Middlesbrough College has joined forces with leading colleges to form a new partnership focused on applying research into impactful teaching and learning.
The Evidence Partnership is a collaborative initiative designed to help further education providers and sixth form colleges across England to access, understand and implement research to improve learning outcomes – with a particular focus on supporting socio-economically disadvantaged learners.
The six partners – Middlesbrough College, East Lancashire Learning Group, Thomas Rotherham College, New City College, Exeter College, and Truro and Penwith College – bring valuable insights from a range of local contexts. This breadth of experience forms a strong foundation for collaboration, enabling the collective to explore and address the key priorities of the 16-19 sector.
The partnership aims to strengthen regional networks within the sector, share and promote evidence-informed recourses and approaches, and build a collective understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing post-16 education.
The initiative is supported by Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), an independent charity dedicated to breaking the link between family income and educational achievement.
Zoe Lewis, EEF Trustee and Principal/CEO of Middlesbrough College, said:
“I’m delighted the EEF is growing its work in the post-16 space. The evidence collective is a key way of ensuring that high quality research is coupled with a collaborative approach so that its relevant to the needs of the sector and actionable for busy teachers and leaders.”
At Middlesbrough College, the partnership is led by Tamara Pierce, Group Director of Teaching, Learning and Assessment, who serves as Evidence Partnership Director. During Tamara’s maternity leave, John Chance will assume this role. Lucy Jones, Head of Teaching and Learning, is the Project Leader. Together, they bring extensive further education experience, alongside a strong focus on curriculum sequencing and effective professional development.
Lucy Jones commented, “Evidence only improves outcomes when it changes what happens in classrooms. The Evidence Partnership is about turning research into practical action, helping teachers make informed decisions that genuinely improve learning.”
