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Researchers in Schools
Brochure for Placement Schools
Researchers in Schools (RIS) is the world’s only teacher training programme that is exclusively for PhD graduates and is designed to utilise their skills for the benefit of pupils and schools, with a specific focus on maths and physics.
Why Does Researchers in Schools Exist?
• 14 ITT providers and lead schools across England, including our founding ITT partners, George Abbot SCITT and Lampton London West Alliance SCITT
• King’s College London and the University of Southampton, which generously offer all participants access to their research facilities and widening participation training
• A range of sector-leading STEM businesses provide support for the programme, including Shell, BAE Systems and GlaxoSmithKline
• Challenge Partners, which supported the founding of the programme in 2014
We recruit PhD graduates, places them in non-selective state schools and support them to develop as excellent new teachers who are committed to closing the gap in attainment and university access. As well as their classroom responsibilities, RIS participants deliver Uni Pathways, a structured programme of activities designed to boost university access.
Placement schools provide a two or three-year placement to the new PhD teachers, who work and teach at their school, and deliver Uni Pathways. This offers an excellent opportunity for pupils and schools to work with subject specialists, particularly in maths and physics. Lead Partner Schools and ITT providers train RIS participants, all of whom have a PhD and expertise in the subject they will teach. Together they support participants to achieve QTS, including co-ordinating the programme with placement schools.
In this way, RIS aims to do the following:
1) Champion university access: equipping participants to champion higher education in their school, and deliver programmes that raise attainment and widen access to university.
2) Increase subject expertise: increasing the number of high-level subject specialists in non-selective state schools, including in shortage subjects like Maths and Physics.
3) Promote research: catalysing engagement with academic and educational research within schools and disseminating learning within the school system.
Who delivers Researchers in Schools?
The RIS Programme is managed by The Brilliant Club, an award-winning charity that works to increase the number of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds that progress to highly selective universities. The charity works with 450 schools across England and Wales, and last year worked with over 10,000 pupils.
“We joined the Researchers in Schools Programme because we saw it as an excellent way of developing high quality teachers, in shortage subjects for those schools that are coping with the most challenging circumstances.
Not only do the RIS trainees bring a wealth of current in depth subject knowledge to our pupils, but colleagues too are able to benefit from their recent, cutting edge expertise and their high level research skills. They are always passionate and enthusiastic about their subject and therefore provide a great source of inspiration for the next generation.”
Hilary Langmead-Jones, SCITT Manager, Bright Futures Educational Trust
The RIS Programme is the delivery partner for the NCTL’s Maths and Physics Chairs Programme, which aims to attract subject experts to join the
teaching profession and to increase the pipeline of tomorrow’s scientists, mathematicians and engineers by inspiring the pupils they work with.
The RIS programme is delivered in partnership with:
Dear colleague,
Thank you for your interest in The Brilliant Club, and in the Researchers in Schools programme in particular.
The programme aims to recruit, train and place PhD researchers to become excellent new teachers and champions of university access. We believe the research community has an important role to play in widening university participation and increasing subject specialism. Postdoctoral researchers, with the right commitment and professional skills, can make passionate, engaging and highly effective new teachers.
To date, we have placed over 160 PhD researchers across England, working with a range of ITT providers from Yorkshire to the South West. We have placed in more than 75 non-selective state schools across the country, and last year our participants delivered university-style tutorials to boost university access, alongside their classroom teaching, to nearly 1,000 pupils.
Currently we are looking for placement schools to employ these new PhD teachers and support them to become excellent new classroom practitioners, with a specific focus on the shortage subjects of maths and physics.
This document exists to provide placement schools with an introduction to the programme. It outlines the opportunity to become a placement school, and employ participants for an initial period of up to three years. We would be delighted if your school is interested in applying to place participants, which you can do by contacting RIS using the below contact details or through your local RIS ITT provider.
Thank you again for your interest in the Researchers in Schools programme, and we look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
Jed Cinnamon
National Programme Director, Researchers in Schools
If you are interested in becoming a placement school, please contact our School Placement Manager, Simon Quick:
T: 020 7939 1947
02
Delivery Model
ParticipantsThree years compulsory for maths and physics, two years with recommended third for other subjects
Lead Partner Schoolco-ordinates school partnerships in each network, including recruiting schools and placing candidates; with the QTS programme delivered through an ITT provider in their network in Year One
Researchers in Schoolsco-ordinates the programme, as well managing the recruitment process and providing on-going CPD training to participants
Placement Schoolemploys participants for duration of programme, provides mentoring, support and training
Pre-
Prog
ram
me
Complete recruitment process, complete pre-employment requirements
Work with RIS to recruit 10+ maths and physics participants, and potentially additional non-maths and physics teachers (see partnership manual)
Places successful candidates in their local area, and manages partnership with placement school. Ensures relevant safeguarding requirements met
Attracts PhD graduates and screen through application form
Invite to assessment centre and co-ordinate preparation
Attends assessment centre (optional)
Places participant assessed at assessment centre
Yea
r One
Complete QTS through School Direct Salaried programme
One day a week ‘off-timetable’, on their RIS Day, working towards the aims of the programme
Training timetable (see partnership manual), delivering up to 12 hours by the end of the year
Manage and deliver QTS programme with ITT provider, supporting participants to commence Year Two, with one training day each week
Distribute funding to placement schools
Co-ordinate partnerships and support to secure participant retention and progress
Provide training and pastoral support for participants to progress through programme, and deliver Uni Pathways in their school
Support participants to utilise their RIS Day towards the aims of the programme
Co-ordinate the wider programme and partnerships, including distributing funding to LPS in Year One, and directly to placement schools in Year Two
Works with LPS and PS to support participant progress and retention
Provides each participant with a Professional Co-Ordinating Mentor and a Subject Mentor in the first year of the programme in line with ITT provider and RIS requirements
Employs participant and provides experience of classroom teaching in line with ITT provider and RIS guidance, three days a week
Supports participants to complete Uni Pathways
Yea
r Tw
o
Complete NQT year with placement school
One day a week ‘off-timetable’, on their RIS Day, working towards the aims of the programme
Teaching up to 16 hours across four days in school
Continues to guarantee placement in local school for participants throughout duration of programme
Provides training venue for RIS twilights each term
Provides NQT mentoring and training
Provides timetable in line with RIS requirements: 16 hours across four days
Supports participants to complete Uni Pathways
Yea
r Thr
ee
Classroom teacher at placement school
One day a week ‘off-timetable’ to complete RLE Award
Teaching up to 17 hours across four days in school
Continues to guarantee placement in local school for participants throughout duration of programme
Provides training venue for RIS twilights each term
Training and support to complete Research Leader in Education Award (RLE Award)
Provides timetable in line with RIS requirements: 17 hours across four days
Provides support to complete RLE Award, including classroom-based research project
Benefits for Placement Schools
Partnering with Researchers in Schools provides a range of benefits for placement schools that place and support participants:
• Employ and support PhD graduates to become excellent new subject teachers for an initial period of up to three years, with a focus on maths and physics
• Benefit from Uni Pathways, a university access programme for Key Stage 4 pupils delivered by RIS teachers, based on their academic research and including a focus on GCSE examinations
Recruitment of new teachers• We run a national recruitment campaign to attract high-potential new subject specialist teachers into the teaching profession
• RIS screens and assesses candidates in partnership with a local ITT provider. In some cases, placement schools are able to attend assessment centres to participate in the selection process
• Maths and physics participants commit to an initial three years at their placement school, non-maths and physics two years with a recommended third year
As subject specialists with a background in academia and/or industry, participants are well-placed to promote university access and support pupils to prepare to successfully apply for selective universities. To achieve this, participants deliver Uni Pathways, a programme of activities designed to utilise their skills to benefit pupils across Years one and two (see page six).
Attractive funding packageIn partnership with the NCTL, funding is provided to cover ITT costs and a salary uplift to attract talented maths and physics PhD graduates into teaching across all years of the programme
• Placement schools cover salaries in Year 2 and Year 3 (NQT onwards) and a yearly contribution to the running of the programme (see Partnership Manual). The Brilliant Club covers the rest of programme costs through its NCTL partnership and other charitable activities
Training and supportITT in Year 1 is delivered through the School Direct Salaried route, using existing ITT and school infrastructure. As researchers making the transition to the classroom, PhD new teachers require bespoke, structured ITT support as they become secondary teachers. This is delivered by the Lead Partner School and RIS, combined with training and support from the placement school
• The Brilliant Club has a strong track record in training PhD researchers to develop the knowledge, skills and ambition that pupils need to progress to highly selective universities. The charity provides additional training to support participants: including a residential each summer in years one and two, and termly, high-quality training, supporting career transition and the delivery of Uni Pathways
• In Year Three, all participants will be eligible to undertake the Research Leader in Education (RLE) Award, which brings significant benefits to the placement school and wider network, including the participant undertaking a research project specific to the school’s context, as well as sharing and learning from best-practiceWhat is unique
about RIS?• All trainee teachers have a PhD in their subject
• Teachers have one day a week off-timetable to pursue the programme aims
• Teachers maintain an academic profile through Honorary Research Associate status with University of Southampton or King's College London
80 participants recruited from 600+
applications
King’s College London providing
Honorary Research Associate status to
50 participants
15 world-leading businesses continuing to support the programme
by supporting maths and physics participants and providing learning
opportunities
80600+
50University of
Southampton providing Visiting
Academic status to 30 participants
30900 pupils took part in subject activities and
university–style tutorial programmes led by
participants
900
38% of maths and physics participants
are women
38%
82% of applicants not considering training
through any other route
82%
15
60 maths and physics participants recruited from 250+
applications
60250+ 50 non–
selective state schools
employing participants as teachers
50
2015 CohortImpact so far,
04
RIS Training
“[Researchers in Schools Participants] have all brought invaluable high level understanding of their subject disciplines that they have been sharing with pupils both in lessons, extra-curricular activities, and with colleagues. Schools are fortunate indeed to have such valuable sources of inspiration for pupils' higher levels of learning, and aspirations for higher education.”
Brian Wakeman, Chiltern Training Group
Dr Mauro Mantega2014 Cohort Physics Participant,
Feltham Community College
In February 2015 and March 2016, I took 40 pupils to visit Imagination Technologies, many of whom are studying Computer Science for their A-Levels. They learnt all about the company and the roles available for young people in STEM industries – from product design to engineering and beyond. They also had the chance to visit the demo room and get their hands on some of Imagination’s latest products. The high definition gaming displays were a big hit! Pupils also visited the lab and were able to see the testing and repair of microprocessors and speak to technicians about the problems that they encounter, and how they work to solve them.
“
“
As a researcher I always found outreach really fulfilling but I wanted to have a more active role in education, particularly trying to get girls into science.
Through Researchers in Schools I was given the opportunity to work with hundreds of students. Working with them every week, I feel like I’m having a real impact on their education, while being able to continue my astrophysics research. I could then bring this research into the classroom, making students not just observers but participants in modern science.
Dr Clara Sousa-Silva2014 Cohort Physics Participant,
Highams Park School
“
“RIS training is delivered by a committed team of experienced teachers and school leaders, and will focus on equipping participants to deliver Uni Pathways effectively. This will include supporting them to champion university access and promote research in their school.
The training includes a yearly summer residential, as well as termly training weekends and twilight sessions. Participants staying in the classroom for a third year will have the opportunity to sign up for the Research Leader in Education (RLE) Award.
• Pre-employment training and support – (Year One only) – including undertaking initial school experience and a series of online learning activities to prepare participants for beginning the programme and Summer Training. This is an intensive two-week induction to the programme and the profession, designed to support PhD graduates to move into the classroom. (For returning Year Two participants, a three-day residential in between Year One and Year Two).
• Termly training – (Year One and Year Two) – through The Brilliant Club, participants are provided with a range of proven activity structures and resources to support the delivery of Uni Pathways in their school. Participants also receive training to evaluate the delivery of these activities.
• Award – (Year Three ony) – The RLE Award is a training programme facilitated by RIS that supports and trains participants to deliver a classroom-based research project and lead engagement with evidence-led teaching practice.
Uni Pathways
Participants will use their one day per week ‘off-timetable’ to meet the RIS Programme's aims, alongside their classroom teaching. This may include ongoing subject research in order to stay at the cutting edge of their discipline, engagement with education research. Researchers in Schools provides training and support to participants to enable them to do this.
As PhD graduates, RIS participants have the subject knowledge and understanding of the university landscape to deliver programmes that support pupil academic skills and preparedness for university. To ensure participants' subject expertise is shared with pupils in a structured way, they are required to deliver a set of activities through the Uni Pathways Programme.
Uni Pathways supports pupils to develop the knowledge, skills and ambition to progress to highly selective universities. It includes extra-curricular learning based around the participant's research and a curriculum booster designed to raise GCSE grades. It represents a unique opportunity for placement schools and pupils to work with PhD subject experts, and offers real value for schools. It includes:
- Year One (pupils in Year 10): a unit of university-style tutorials, providing academic enrichment to the curriculum (based on the Scholars Programme model), including one-to-one mentoring
- Year Two (pupils in Year 11) supporting subject attainment directly, including one-to-one mentoring
Participants will select four Year 10 pupils and deliver activities to support pupil attainment and university-readiness across both years. A minimum of two of the pupils must meet university widening participation criteria, including more-able Pupil Premium and/or Ever6FSM pupils. Uni Pathways will be typically held outside of school time, for instance on the participants’ RIS Day.
Uni Pathways
06
Uni Pathways courses delivered by RIS participants in 2015/16:• From Bikes to Cars: Testing Designs using Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Nanorobotics: Locomotion at the Nanoscale
• Solar Cells: Renewable Energy Research and Uptake
• Nuclear Fusion: Can We Harness the Power of Stars?
• Designing Buildings for Climate Change
• Can We Build a Bionic Eye?
• Green Machines – Hydrogen Fuel Cells for the Future’s Cars
@RISchools
0207 939 1947
