The HMC Action Research Hub will be run in partnership with the University of Warwick; with Dr Nomisha Kurian, Assistant Professor in Education Studies, as the lead researcher.
Dr Kurian has considerable expertise in action research and is widely published in areas such as child wellbeing and rights in the digital age. Together, HMC and the University of Warwick will support teachers to design and carry out ethically robust, evidence-informed action research that strengthens professional practice and enhances outcomes for pupils.
Initial 12-month Pilot
Initially, the Hub will provide professional learning in practitioner inquiry for a twelve-month cycle, for up to twenty-five schools in its pilot phase. Colleagues joining the Hub will receive:
- High-quality, academically rigorous training in action research design, methods and evaluation, through online workshops and provision of asynchronous resources
- Facilitation of action research sets to foster collaboration and sharing of best practice
- Personalised mentoring from academics in the University of Warwick’s Education Studies department
- Opportunities to showcase projects at conferences
- Support with publication and dissemination of research findings.
Upon successful completion of the pilot year, HMC will build a repository of project reports and case studies for ongoing sharing of best practice.
Scroll down to find out more about action research, FAQs, our introductory webinar and registering your interest.
Why action research?
Action research in schools is typically practitioner based, small scale, and qualitative.
The idea is to:
- Focus on one key issue or challenge in your teaching practice
- Design an intervention informed by relevant literature
- Evaluate the impact of your intervention and share insights with others
Some important values and aims of action research include:
- Teacher agency
Action research can foster greater teacher autonomy and professionalism. Teachers are empowered to act in the best interests of their pupils; this may entail challenging assumptions and critical pedagogies. - Open-endedness
Action research is disciplined and systematic, but open-ended and iterative. It does not necessarily aim to establish ‘proof,’ but gathers reasonable evidence to support claims to new knowledge. - Collaboration
Action Research hubs foster collaboration and professional dialogue with colleagues around the globe, to enrich knowledge and understanding, and drive innovation. - Pupil wellbeing and inclusivity
Action Research projects must adhere to high ethical standards with pupils’ best interests at the forefront of research design.
Read more about the philosophy of action research in our blog here.
What can I research?
Action research questions typically arise organically from unique classroom contexts, so the Hub will happily support schools with projects that support their own teaching and learning aims / school priorities.
We are especially interested in proposals which sit broadly in the following areas:
- Assessment, pedagogy and curriculum innovation
- Pupil wellbeing and engagement
- Equality, diversity and inclusion
View the introductory webinar, where you can learn about HMC’s new Action Research Hub in partnership with the University of Warwick. In the webinar, Kate Howell, HMC Director of Education, introduces the project, its aims and ethos and Dr Nomisha Kurian, Assistant Professor of Education at Warwick, explains the philosophy of action research, professional learning offering, and the structure of the 12-month programme. Colleagues can also learn more about how they can register interest in the pilot phase of the project.
How can I register my interest?
Register your interest to take part in the pilot by submitting a short initial proposal here.
For an informal discussion about how the project may work in your school, email Emma Hellyer, Head of Assessment and Innovation, at: [email protected].
