Education Research and Inquiry Certificate
– for teachers and school leaders
Are you ready to take the next step in your research engagement journey?
✓ Learn about practitioner inquiry and how this can be utilised to support teacher professional learning and school development
✓ Be guided through the each stage of the inquiry process – from undertaking a literature review, to choosing research methods, analysing data and sharing your findings
✓ Undertake an evidence-informed inquiry project to gain deeper insights into your teaching or leadership practice, with the ultimate aim to improve outcomes for the pupils you work with
✓ Have choice and freedom to focus your inquiry on an area of classroom or school practice that is meaningful and relevant to you and your context
There are two pathways to achieving the Education Research and Inquiry Certificate, meaning you can select the pathway that is most relevant for your role/Chartered pathway. Individuals on the Chartered Teacher (Mentor) pathway are encouraged to complete the Chartered Teacher version of this course.
For: Practising teachers and middle leaders
Cost: £149 Length: 3-6 months
Eligibility: You will need to be a member of the Chartered College of Teaching to undertake this course.
In this assessment unit, you will deepen your understanding of education research as you plan and implement a small-scale inquiry project within your classroom. You will begin by identifying an aspect of classroom practice as a focus for your inquiry, developing a robust inquiry question and undertaking a comprehensive literature review that will inform your inquiry. As you progress through the course you will build your understanding of a range of research methods, explore ethical considerations and approaches to analysing data, and will be guided through the process of planning and implementing your inquiry project. You will disseminate the findings from your project in a written report and research poster.
Upon successful completion of the unit assessment you will be awarded the Education Research and Inquiry Certificate and 20 credits towards Chartered Teacher Status.
This is a complete online course that has been designed to guide you through the planning of your inquiry project and offers support and guidance to support you in each phase of your inquiry.
There is around 6-8 hours of core learning content:
– Familiarising with the process of practitioner inquiry and understanding its value to teachers
– Choosing a focus and formulating an inquiry question
– Identifying, navigating and appraising research, to support you in undertaking a comprehensive literature review to inform your inquiry
– Understanding of a range of research methods and approaches to analysing data
– Gathering and analysing data from a range of evidence sources as part of the inquiry process
– Guidance on how you can share your findings through a written report and research poster as part of the Classroom Practice Inquiry Project assessment.
The course includes a number of directed activities that will help to move your project forward, including searching for research as part of your literature review and completing your project planning document, but you will also need to engage in research activity that will take you some way beyond the time stated as you engage in a detailed literature review, implement your inquiry project, and prepare to share your findings in your final submission.
Additional supporting content includes:
– Detailed assessment guidance and project planning template
– Assessment exemplars and case studies.
All content will be accessed via the Chartered College of Teaching’s online learning platform, MyPD.
As part of this assessment, you will identify an aspect of classroom practice that you will explore in detail as you plan and implement a small-scale inquiry project within your classroom.
Commonly chosen themes include:
– assessment
– feedback and marking
– cognitive science (e.g. retrieval practice, interleaving, dual coding, metacognition)
– questioning
– scaffolding
– modelling
– supporting EAL learner
– oracy or vocabulary acquisition.
However you are welcome to choose any relevant area of classroom practice as the focus for your project, and are encouraged to align your project with your existing development priorities where possible.
Your final submission must include:
– Written report (3,500 – 5,500 words)
– Research poster (no word limit – 750 words approx.).
Please note: It is a requirement of this assessment that you discuss the ethical implications of carrying out your project with your headteacher and gain your school’s approval prior to commencing your inquiry.
Academic writing
Candidates will need to be comfortable with writing clearly and concisely in a formal tone and style, structuring their work in a logical manner. We expect all candidates to uphold the highest standards in academic integrity, through appropriately referencing their attributions in a consistent format.
✓ Use practitioner inquiry to gain deeper insights into your teaching practice, with the ultimate aim to improve outcomes for the pupils you work with
✓ Have the opportunity to focus your inquiry on specific challenges, exploring an aspect of classroom practice that is meaningful to you and your context
✓ Have autonomy over your professional learning and development as you implement and embed evidence-informed pedagogical approaches in your classroom
✓ Be recognised for highly-effective evidence-informed teaching with a focus on ensuring the best possible outcomes for your pupils. ‘
‘I found the assessment and experience really enjoyable and fruitful towards improving my pedagogical approach’
(Chartered Teacher graduate)
1. How can I purchase this assessment unit?
You can purchase the assessment unit via our online shop on MyCollege. Please note you will need to log in via your membership account. If you do not currently have membership, you can find further information on our website here. If you are intending to work towards Chartered Teacher Status, you will need to ensure you are eligible and can find further information here.
2. I am interested in being considered for Recognition of Prior Certificated Learning (RPCL), where can I find out if my qualifications meet the criteria?
Read about Recognition of Prior Certificated Learning and find out how to apply on our website.
If you have any other questions, please get in touch with us at charteredteacher@chartered.college
For: School leaders (Headteachers, DHT, AHT, Executive. Headteachers and leaders working within similar roles across a school or trust e.g. Director of Education)
Cost: £179 Length: 3-6 months
Eligibility: You will need to be a member of the Chartered College of Teaching to undertake this course.
The Education Research and Inquiry Certificate (Leadership) is an opportunity to deepen your knowledge of education research, engaging in purposeful inquiry to evaluate a key area of policy or practice in your school and gather rich insights to support school development in your context.
You will begin by identifying an area of school practice as a focus for your inquiry, typically linked to an area of school development. You will develop a robust inquiry question and undertake a comprehensive literature review that will inform your inquiry. As you progress through the course you will build your understanding of a range of research methods, explore ethical considerations and approaches to analysing data, and will be guided through the process of planning and implementing your inquiry before formulating recommendations based on the area you identified. You will disseminate the findings from your project in a written report and research poster.
Upon successful completion of the unit assessment you will be awarded the Education Research and Inquiry Certificate (Leadership) and 20 credits towards Chartered Teacher (Leadership) Status.
This is a complete online course that has been designed to guide you through the planning of your inquiry project and offers support and guidance to support you in each phase of your inquiry.
There is around 6-8 hours of core learning content:
– Leading an evidence-informed school – effective implementation and evaluation
– The principles and process of practitioner inquiry and how it can be utilised to support teacher professional learning and school development
– Choosing a focus and formulating an inquiry question
– Identifying, navigating and appraising research, to support you in undertaking a comprehensive literature review to inform your inquiry
– Understanding of a range of research methods and approaches to analysing data
– Gathering and analysing data from a range of evidence sources as part of the inquiry process
– Guidance on how you can share your findings through a written report and research poster as part of the School Practice Inquiry Project assessment.
The course includes a number of directed activities that will help to move your inquiry forward, including searching for research as part of your literature review and completing your project planning document, but you will also need to engage in research activity that will take you some way beyond the time stated as you engage in a detailed literature review, implement your inquiry project, and prepare to share your findings in your final submission.
Additional supporting content includes:
– Detailed assessment guidance and project planning template
– Assessment exemplars and case studies.
All content will be accessed via the Chartered College of Teaching’s online learning platform, MyPD.
As part of this assessment, you will identify an aspect of school practice that you will explore in detail as you plan and implement a small-scale inquiry project in your context. Your inquiry should focus on gaining a deeper understanding of current practice in your school and should not be viewed as an implementation project.
Commonly chosen themes include:
– Assessment
– feedback and marking
– teaching and learning
– curriculum
– behaviour
– SEND
– EAL
– improving outcomes for disadvantaged pupils
– parental engagement.
However you are welcome to choose any relevant area of school policy or practice as the focus for your project, and are encouraged to align your project with existing school development priorities where possible.
Your final submission will include:
– Written report (3,500 – 5,500 words)
– Research poster (no word limit – 750 words approx.).
Academic writing
Candidates will need to be comfortable with writing clearly and concisely in a formal tone and style, structuring their work in a logical manner. We expect all candidates to uphold the highest standards in academic integrity, through appropriately referencing their attributions in a consistent format.
✓ Learn how to use inquiry as a mechanism for rigorous evaluation of school practices
✓ Embed an evidence-informed approach to evaluation and school development
✓ Gain deeper insights into existing school practices, and use what you learn to inform recommendations and future priorities
✓ Have the opportunity to focus your inquiry on specific challenges, exploring an aspect of school practice that is meaningful to you and supports school development priorities in your context
✓ Be recognised for evidence-informed leadership, with a focus on ensuring the best possible outcomes for your pupils
‘I have emerged with far greater confidence in the priorities for my current role, and for my school. I have been able to apply the methods and insights to new projects and seen a really positive response from colleagues to evidence-informed approaches I have been taking’
(Chartered Teacher (Leadership) graduate)
1. How can I purchase this assessment unit?
You can purchase the assessment unit via our online shop on MyCollege. Please note you will need to log in via your membership account. If you do not currently have membership, you can find further information on our website here. If you are intending to work towards Chartered Teacher (Leadership) Status, you will need to ensure you are eligible and can find further information here.
2. I am interested in being considered for Recognition of Prior Certificated Learning (RPCL), where can I find out if my qualifications meet the criteria?
Read about Recognition of Prior Certificated Learning and find out how to apply on our website.
If you have any other questions, please get in touch with us at charteredteacher@chartered.college
Please note you will require active membership of the Chartered College of Teaching to be able to purchase this assessment unit.
When taking accreditations through third-party organisations, we strongly encourage you to verify the provider’s authenticity. Please be aware that some entities have replicated our work.
Contact Us
Please do not hesitate to get in contact with any queries about our course on charteredteacher@chartered.college
