Schools have learnt what works; now it’s time to do what works

The Education Endowment Foundation’s first five years have transformed the use of evidence in schools. But much remains to be done, say Lee Elliot-Major and James Turner.

When Michael Gove helped to launch the Education Endowment Foundation in November 2011, it’s fair to say he was as sceptical of the experts then as he famously is today. What convinced the then education secretary to back our endeavour was the promise to evaluate approaches and programmes that aim to improve the results of poorer pupils in schools. 

We would ensure that the £125 million of public money allocated to the EEF would be spent as cost-effectively as possible—and beyond that, we would add an additional £100m through fundraising and investments. This would not be sloppy opinion or ideological rants dressed up as research. This would be robust, independent, cumulative evidence-gathering of the highest standard.