Sharing your research with others

Sharing your research with others is of key importance to professional practice. What could be more disappointing than to put all that effort into your research and end up keeping it to yourself? Here are some suggestions about how to share your research with others.

• Pick a topic that is important to others as well as to you
• Let colleagues know what you are researching and explain why it’s important
• Use your information systems and networks to inform a wider audience (such as governors, parents, other schools, the local authority)
• Involve others in the process of refining the questions, carrying out the research and reflecting on your initial results
• Keep colleagues updated on your progress
• Plan to share your findings with others. Identify who will be interested (your audiences) and decide how best to communicate with them.

Hatfield Peverel Infant School: sharing research in progress

Hatfield Peverel School in Essex has about 180 children on roll. Staff noticed a decline in children’s speaking and listening skills and decided to investigate whether there was a connection between this and a reduction in children’s opportunities to learn traditional nursery rhymes. The project was planned to extend over three years.

The research team included Marrie Webster (headteacher), Beverly Thompson (Year 2 teacher) and Marilyn Cook (Foundation Stage Coordinator). Other members of staff became involved in collecting information for the research. The team put some information about the research on the school website, in parents’ newsletters and discussed it at governors’ meetings. They gave regular progress reports on the research during staff meetings and discussed it during school development days.

Marilyn took on the role of Foundation Stage mentor with a group of schools in the area, which gave her access to a wider network of schools. The LEA organised a meeting between a small group of research-engaged schools to exchange information and share experiences. This reassured staff that they were facing common challenges and gave them an opportunity to connect with both primary and secondary schools: ‘You don’t feel in isolation; you feel part of a wider context.’ As the project progressed, the team gained confidence in their ability to run a research project. Their local authority recognised this growing expertise and invited Hatfield Peverel to provide help and advice for staff in other schools wishing to engage in research.

St George’s Primary School: sharing research findings

St George’s primary school in Birmingham wanted to find out how to help ‘newly arrived’ children settle into school. They shared the results of their research with three other schools in a local network, who then decided to investigate the issue in their own contexts. The research involved school leaders, teaching and support staff in all four schools. It resulted in a welcome pack which has been piloted throughout the authority and has attracted interest from other authorities facing similar issues.

• How could you share the progress of your research with colleagues?
• How could you inform parents and governors?
• Are there opportunities to share experiences with staff from other schools who are taking part in research?