EEF trials now recruiting!
Get involved in education research in Norfolk.
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- Why take part?
- Trials recruiting in Early Years
- Trials recruiting in Primary
- Trials recruiting in Secondary
- Trials recruiting in Post-16.
Why take part in research?
Contribute to the evidence base and support your colleagues to improve teaching and learning.
Over half of all schools in England have taken part in an EEF trial. Every one of them has made a valuable and long-term contribution to the education evidence base by supporting the profession to improve teaching and learning through better use of evidence.
Access professional development for your staff.
Most of our projects involve high-quality professional development and support resources, so taking part can support your staff and settings ongoing improvement.
Deliver promising approaches in your setting at a heavily subsidised rate.
The majority of our projects are fully funded or heavily subsidised, meaning there is little or no cost for your setting.
What trials are recruiting in…
Early years:
EEF and NDNA have relaunched Maths Champions – a fully funded programme that:
✅ Builds practitioner confidence
✅ Strengthens children’s early maths
✅ Has proven impact in independent trials
Available at no cost to PVIs, maintained, and school-based nurseries across England.
Deadline to sign up: 30 June 2026.
Partnership for Children is inviting early years settings to take part in the Early Skills for Life pilot.
The programme is a universal personal, social, and emotional development (PSED) and self-regulation programme for 3-4 year olds, with additional small-group targeted support for children needing extra support.
Key details:
✅ Free to participate.
✅ Incentives: £100 book token for all settings, £250 for 6 case study settings, £20 prize draw for wider settings, plus backfill for training.
Deadline to sign up: 29 May 2026.
Triple P UK Ltd, in partnership with the University of Birmingham and funded by the EEF, is inviting early years settings to take part in the evaluation of Positive Early Childhood Education (PECE).
The study explores how a professional development programme can:
✅ Support self-regulation for 3–4-year olds
✅ Strengthen positive interactions between children and staff
✅ Improve staff confidence in early years practice.
Settings taking part will contribute to national research and receive valuable data on children’s social and emotional development.
📘 Intervention settings receive coaching, training, and online modules, plus a contribution towards backfill costs — free to take part.
💷 Control settings receive £1,450 for supporting data collection.
Deadline to sign up: 31 July 2026.
OxEd, in partnership with Assessment and funded by the EEF, is inviting primary schools to take part in the OxEd Whole Class and NELI effectiveness trial.
The programme for reception pupils is a 20-week oral language enrichment delivered through three weekly whole-class sessions, with the option to include NELI, a targeted intervention for children with the weakest language skills.
Key details:
✅ Free to participate
✅ Three-arm school-level randomisation: Whole Class only, Whole Class + NELI, Control
✅ Incentives per class: £400–£500 depending on group; control group also receives £500 plus £300 per class.
Deadline to sign up: 30 June 2026.
East London Research School is inviting primary schools to take part in the Maths Through Picture Books efficacy trial.
The programme is a 10-week, small group intervention for reception pupils who do not yet have a secure grasp of foundational number skills. Teaching assistants, supported by teachers, deliver twice-weekly 15-minute maths-focused shared reading sessions using picture books.
Key details:
✅ Two-armed cluster-randomisation
✅ Cost: £100 per teacher/TA pair
✅ Incentives: £300 for 80 control schools.
Deadline to sign up: 14 July 2026.
Primary:
London South Research School, in partnership with the University of Birmingham and funded by the EEF, is inviting primary schools to take part in the Fluency Focus efficacy trial.
Fluency Focus is a 20-week, whole-class, Year 5 reading intervention designed to improve reading fluency and overall attainment. Schools delivering the programme implement structured reading lessons once a week over two terms, explicitly teaching six fluency strategies to support pupils' engagement with text.
Key details:
✅ Two-armed school-level randomisation: intervention vs. control
✅ Cost: £300 per school
✅ Incentives: £500 for 60 control schools
Deadline to sign up: 31 May 2026.
UCL Institute of Education and the Chartered College of Teaching, funded by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), are inviting primary schools to take part in a School Choices evaluation.
The study explores whether offering teachers the option to complete PPA time offsite may:
✅ Support teacher wellbeing and work – life balance
✅ Improve job satisfaction
✅ Strengthen teacher retention
Schools will be randomly allocated to an intervention or control group, and the impact of this school-level policy will be tested through a randomised controlled trial.
Help shape national evidence on flexible working and teacher retention. Deadline to sign up: 31 May 2026.
The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) is now recruiting the second cohort of its efficacy trial of The Power of Reading, delivered by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE).
The programme supports Year 5 teachers to develop a high-quality English curriculum through:
✅Four in-person training days
✅ High-quality children’s literature
✅ Teaching resources and gap tasks
Deadline to sign up: 1 June 2026.
Nottingham Trent University and the University of Birmingham, funded by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), are inviting primary schools across England to take part in the evaluation of Peer Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS-UK).
The study explores how a structured paired reading approach can:
✅ Improve reading attainment
✅ Strengthen fluency and comprehension
✅ Support effective literacy practice in Year 5
Schools taking part will contribute to national research and receive valuable pupil reading data.
📘 Intervention schools receive training, resources, and delivery support at a subsidised cost of £75 per Year 5 teacher.
Deadline to sign up: 18 May 2026.
Secondary:
Place2Be, funded by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), is inviting state-funded mainstream secondary schools across England to take part in a randomised controlled trial of Learning Together for Mental Health.
Learning Together for Mental Health is a whole-school approach that aims to:
✅ Reduce bullying
✅ Improve pupil wellbeing and mental health
✅ Strengthen school belonging and relationships
✅ Improve attendance and attainment
The programme combines restorative practice, pupil – staff action groups, and targeted support, with early delivery supported by Place2Be and restorative practice specialists.
The trial will be independently evaluated by Ipsos and the Anna Freud Centre. Deadline to sign up: 31 May 2026.
16-19 settings:
Support learners transitioning into post-16 education!
STEER Education Ltd is inviting school-based sixth forms and sixth form colleges to take part in the STEER Tracking pilot.
STEER Tracking is a whole-class socioemotional EdTech programme that gives early-warning data to help reduce risks of disengagement and absenteeism. Learners complete termly wellbeing assessments and receive personalised feedback, while pastoral tutors complete online training and termly action-planning workshops.
Key details:
✅ Free to participate
✅ Supports attendance, engagement, retention, wellbeing, and tutor-learner relationships
✅ Incentives: £200 per setting for case studies; £20 per learner for mini-group interviews.
Deadline to sign up: 1 July 2026.
