School-University Partnership for Educational Research
The 'School-University Partnership for Educational Research' (SUPER) aims to create useful educational research within a schools-university partnership and document and explore the partnership. SUPER also offers a two year part-time research-based Masters in Education.
The Research Schools Partnership was created by the University of Cambridge Faculty of Education and a group of head teachers. These web pages provide information about our partner schools, our research, publications, key contacts, history and current activities. You can also find and follow us on twitter: @SUPER_Network and on The SUPER blog
Events
Super Annual Conference, 25th June 2015
Our annual conference at the Faculty of Education was on the theme of 'the impact of research in a school-university partnership: closing the gap'. Our keynote speaker was our visiting Marie Curie Scholar Dr Frank Cornelissen. A programme of workshops and discussions then followed. For more details see our blog.
researchEd: Research Leads Conference, Cambridge, 14th March 2015
Clare Hood (Samuel Whitbread Academy) and Abi Thurgood-Buss (Dunmow Consortium & the Rodings School) led a session on their work as 'teacher research co-ordinators' supported by Bethan Morgan and Jan Schofield from the Faculty. Tickets for this conference sold out in two days! The conference programme is online. See our blogpost for a brief account of the day, including our presentation and other links of interest.
researchEd: Research Lead Conference, 13th December, 2014
A group of SUPER teacher research co-ordinators and faculty partners presented at the inaugural 'research lead' conference organised by research ED. Read more about it on our blog here.
SUPER researchMEET 4th December, 2014
This was a closed event for SUPER Partnership members only. Schools and faculty partners held a 'teachmeet' style event with a focus on sharing and reflecting on our research. Read more about it on our blog here.
SUPER Annual Conference 26th June, 2014
Over 90 participants from partner schools and the faculty along with international guests attended our annual conference this year on the theme of the impact of research in a school-university partnership. Our visitors from the University of Gothenburg started the afternoon with their collaborative key note. A series of workshops, mini-teachmeets and opportunities for schools to reflect and discuss then followed. More details will be posted on our blog. Our 'storify' of selected tweets from the conference can be viewed here : https://storify.com/Blodwen123/super-conference-2014
SLTeachmeet! Friday 7th March, 5pm - 7pm, Faculty of Education
Update: Event was fully booked! To see a storify of tweets and photos of the event on our blog, click here: http://schooluniversitypartnership.wordpress.com/2014/03/12/super-and-the-slteachmeet-cambridge-on-march-7th-update/
What: Come and create opportunities with like-minded people interested in education to take the lead, share practice, discover new ideas, network and be inspired all during the course of one evening! Anyone can get involved, share great ideas they've trialled in their schools, ask important questions or simply sign up to take part in discussions about the teaching and learning. The twist with an #SLTeachMeet is that all talks will be leadership-themed. You do NOT have to be in an SLT/SMT to attend! You can talk about anything that has inspired you, has worked well in your school, a tool, a strategy, a topic... The list is endless. Set up time is 2 minutes for each presentation. REMEMBER: You do not have to present anything, you can always be an Enthusiastic Lurker!
When:Friday 7th March 2014. Refreshments and informal networking from 4.30pm. Presentations start at 5.00pm.
Where:Cambridge University Faculty of Education, 184 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 8PQ. Easy bus access and 10-15 minutes' walk from the railway station.
How: For more information visit our webpage: http://teachmeet.pbworks.com/w/page/74422952/SLTMCambridge
SUPER Annual Conference 20th/21st June, 2013
Over 70 teachers from our partnership schools attended our conference sessions on Thursday 20th at Wyboston Lakes, with school Senior Leaders, Teacher Research Co-ordinators (TRCs) and the faculty team meeting to reflect and plan for future development on Friday morning. After a thought-provoking key note entitled 'Leading with Instruction' by Dr Karen Johannesen Brock, conference delegates attended a variety of workshops (see below). Posters of school and MEd research projects were also on display.
MEd Perspectives: This workshop was led by former MEd colleagues who explored the impact their research has had upon themselves, their schools and other stakeholders. Discussion time allowed colleagues an opportunity to reflect upon the impact upon individual schools and partnerships of schools, together with developing a research culture in schools. Schools involved: Biddenham, St Ivo, Stratton.
Pupil Perspectives: This session presented the challenges and pitfalls of an active student voice team in schools and started to present solutions to these barriers. Led by Hannah Marshall and Alex Ooms, the Head Boy and Head Girl at Samuel Whitbread Academy, the workshop highlighted student voice projects that have worked well. Hannah and Alex shared their thoughts on when and why students having their own voice doesn't work as well. Drawing on their experience of leading different projects to improve teaching and learning, the students helped to facilitate discussion on how schools can move forward.
Headteachers & Principals' perspectives: This workshop gave an opportunity for school leaders and TRCs to reflect on the impact of SUPER involvement from a Headteacher's perspective. Consideration was given to the challenges and successes of trying to develop a culture of reflective practitioners in a school. Schools involved: Kate Evans, Bottisham and Howard Gilbert, St Ivo.
Researching Schools – leading and developing schools: Ready? Steady? Go! This workshop shared the collective knowledge and experiences of schools who are at different stages of the research journey. We had short presentations from schools starting out on building research cultures. We also posed many questions for participant discussion! Schools involved: Bottisham, Etonbury, Sawston, Samuel Whitbread, Sharnbrook, Stratton.
iPad Research – sharing current findings: This workshop allowed delegates to hear about and explore the experiences of colleagues researching the use of iPads and the impact of student engagement. We considered how this will inform our strategies for Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and iPad use in the future. Schools involved: Biddenham, St Ivo.
Lesson Study Research – sharing current findings: This was an opportunity to challenge and support our thinking (and practice) about Lesson Study and its potential to develop the classroom focused research activity of staff. There are several schools across SUPER who have developed their Lesson Study experience and the workshop shared experiences, challenges and solutions. The session was led by Professor Pete Dudley who has national recognition for his work on Lesson Study. Schools involved: Maple Tree, St Ivo, Stratton, Samuel Whitbread.
SUPER Seminar Series 2013
Seminars (5pm - 7pm, Donald McIntyre Building, Faculty of Education) were open to teachers from SUPER partnership schools.
17th January: Professor Michael Fielding, Institute of Education, London: 'From Student Voice to Radical Democratic Education'.
24th January: Philippa Cordingley, CUREE: 'Sauce for the Goose: Developing a Learning Environment that works for both Pupils and Staff.'
7th February, Professor Jan Vermunt, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge: 'Patterns in student learning and teacher learning: how do they relate?'
7th March: Professor Maurice Galton, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge: 'Building Transition Bridges: KS2 - KS3'
14th March: Dr Megan Crawford, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge: 'The emotions of leadership'
27th November, 2012: Improving practice through partnerships between universities and practitioners: Experiences in the UK and USA
Seminar - more details here: talks.cam.ac.uk/talk/index/41361