Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
The Education Endowment Foundation has asked researchers at the University of York and Durham University to evaluate the Improving Writing Quality intervention being delivered and supported by the Calderdale Excellence Partnership in 2013 and 2014. The intervention provides memorable experiences for participating pupils and includes professional development for teachers in key elements of the writing intervention Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD), including discussion, modelling and planning.
The evaluation aims to find out if the intervention helps to improve pupils writing skills during the transition from Year 6 to Year 7, especially the writing skills of pupils who are currently working at KS2 Level 3 or a fragile KS2 Level 4.
Who can participate?
Primary and Secondary schools working with the Calderdale Excellence Partnership and willing to agree to all research procedures.
What does the study involve?
Approximately 24 primary schools (feeding into 3 secondary schools) will be randomly allocated in March 2013 to be offered the intervention either in 2013 (intervention group) or in 2014. In primary schools allocated to receive the intervention, the intervention will be delivered to all pupils in Year 6. When pupils move in to Year 7, secondary schools will deliver the intervention to pupils from intervention Primary Schools who were predicted to achieve Level 3 or an insecure Level 4 in English (based on teacher predictions made in the autumn term of Year 6).
At the end of autumn term 2013 all Year 7 pupils (with some exceptions where needed) in participating secondary schools will complete the GL Assessment Progress in English (PiE) 11 (Long Form). The Progress in English results of pupils who have taken part in the intervention will then be compared with the results of pupils who received usual teaching, in order to estimate the effect the intervention has had on pupils writing skills.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participating schools will receive access to a potentially beneficial writing intervention for pupils in Year 6 and Year 7. There are no known risks of participation.
Where is the study run from?
The independent evaluation is being conducted by the University of York and Durham University (UK). Calderdale Excellence Partnership are responsible for communication with schools and delivery of the intervention.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
February 2013 to December 2013
Who is funding the study?
Education Endowment Foundation (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Professor David Torgerson
david.torgerson@york.ac.uk
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Prof David Torgerson
ORCID ID
Contact details
York Trials Unit
ARRC Building
Department of Health Sciences
University of York
Heslington
York
YO10 5DD
United Kingdom
+44(0)1904 321340
david.torgerson@york.ac.uk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
Version 3 13.02.12
Study information
Scientific title
Independent Evaluation of Calderdale Excellence Partnerships Improving Writing Quality programme: A cluster randomised controlled trial
Acronym
Study hypothesis
What is the effectiveness of the Improving Writing Quality programme compared with 'business as usual' on the writing skills of participating children?
Ethics approval
1. Durham University School of Education Ethics Committee, 14/02/2013
2. University of York Health Sciences Research Governance Committee, 20/02/2013
Study design
Pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Other
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Education, English writing skills
Intervention
Intervention: Improving Writing Quality intervention: delivered and supported by the Calderdale Excellence Partnership in 2013 and 2014. This intervention will provide memorable experiences for pupils in Year 6 before the transition to Year 7. The intervention will include professional development for primary and secondary school teachers in key elements of the writing intervention Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD), including discussion, modelling and planning. Pupils will continue to receive the intervention when they move into Year 7.
Control: Usual Teaching
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Combined Score on 2 writing tasks within the GL Assessment Progress in English 11 (Long Form) test
Secondary outcome measures
Scores on reading, spelling and grammar tasks within the GL Assessment Progress in English 11 (Long Form) test
Overall trial start date
26/02/2013
Overall trial end date
31/12/2013
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
Primary Schools: Primary Schools currently working with Calderdale Excellence Partnership, willing to implement the Improving Writing Quality intervention if allocation to intervention and willing to undertake all related research procedures.
Secondary Schools: Secondary Schools currently working with Calderdale Excellence Partnership, willing to implement the Improving Writing Quality intervention and willing to undertake all related research procedures.
Pupils/Children: In participating schools all Year 6 pupils in 2012/2013 school academic year. Analysis will focus on Year 6 pupils predicted to achieve Level 3 or an insecure level 4 in English by the end of Key Stage 2 (based on teacher assessments conducted at the end of Autumn term 2012).
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Child
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
Approximately 24 primary schools feeding into 3 secondary schools. Approximately 288 pupils/children in total in target group.
Participant exclusion criteria
Primary Schools: Primary Schools NOT currently working with Calderdale Excellence Partnership, and/or NOT willing to implement the Improving Writing Quality intervention if allocation to intervention and/or NOT willing to undertake all related research procedures.
Secondary Schools: Secondary Schools NOT currently working with Calderdale Excellence Partnership, and/or NOT willing to implement the Improving Writing Quality intervention and/or NOT willing to undertake all related research procedures.
Pupils/Children: Year 6 pupils NOT in participating primary schools.
Recruitment start date
26/02/2013
Recruitment end date
31/12/2013
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
York Trials Unit
York
YO10 5DD
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
University of York (UK)
Sponsor details
c/o Sue Final
Research Innovation Office
Innovation Centre
York Science Park
York
YO10 5DG
United Kingdom
+44 (0)1904 435154
sue.final@york.ac.uk
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
Charity
Funder name
Education Endowment Foundation (UK)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
1. 2014 results in https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/public/files/Projects/Evaluation_Reports/EEF_Evaluation_Report_-_Improving_Writing_Quality.pdf (added 23/01/2019)