Downe House centre will bridge the gap between education, research and real world learning
A Cold Ash school is trying to bridge the gap between education, research and real world learning in the classroom.
Downe House, an independent boarding school for girls, has officially launched its new Centre for Learning and Research.
The department is responsible for integrating the role of research with the education of young people and understanding the impact it has on them in school day to day.
Director of learning and research at Downe House school Dr Andy Atherton said: “It is vital that we make the connection between evidence-based research and learning progress.
“Like many other schools, we want our pupils to be as successful as possible and to help them maximise their learning outcomes.
“That means exploring new concepts, embracing the latest thinking and ensuring that where relevant, this filters down into the classroom.”
He added: “The last decade has seen an explosion of interest in the related fields of mind, brain and education science.
“The work of the Centre for Learning and Research is to ensure that Downe House always remains at the forefront of these conversations, using the latest findings in cognitive psychology and neuroscience so that our teachers teach better, and our pupils learn more.”
The decision to launch the centre is bolstered by the school’s desire to ensure that everything its pupils do in class, is aligned to and supported by evidenced-based research.
The school says it prides itself on being rooted in pupil success, which means that both teachers and pupils benefit from using cutting-edge education research to improve learning outcomes.
Downe House has also revealed it plans to host two upcoming events championing the role of research in education.
One will be during summer 2024 – as a part of its Partnering for Excellence in Education initiative – and one in 2025, during Lent, which will be a Teaching and Learning Residency and Flagship event.
Both will see other prep schools from within the local and wider community come together to share teaching and learning experiences and outcomes.
