Evaluation of Perry Beeches Academy’s one-to-one coaching initiative – improving reading ability in Year 7 pupils with low reading ability

ISRCTN ISRCTN46140578
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN46140578
Secondary identifying numbers N/A
Submission date
02/08/2013
Registration date
04/09/2013
Last edited
30/09/2015
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Other
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Perry Beeches Academy have devised a one-to-one literacy coaching initiative in their school and have found it to be successful. The intervention is based on work observed in charter schools in Boston, USA. The system uses recent graduates employed by the school. Participants receive five sessions each fortnight. This is being tried in schools in order to see whether the programme can improve the reading and writing abilities of Year 7 students who currently have low reading and/or writing abilities. Should this research discover that the programme is successful, then it is hoped that the scheme will be offered to other pupils within the school, as well as hopefully being rolled out to other schools in the future.

Who can participate?
Year 7 students with suitably poor reading/writing/English skills can participate in this study.

What does the study involve?
Participants will sit a reading and writing ability test in September 2013, before being randomly allocated to either receive the one-to-one intervention, or to carry on with their normal school curriculum. In July 2014, the students will sit another test to find out whether the programme has improved reading/writing levels above and beyond the improvement gained by the standard curriculum.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The main benefit to taking part is the chance for pupils to be involved in a new scheme that intends to improve their writing and reading abilities. There are few disadvantages and risks. The reading and writing assessments do take a little time to complete but we will ensure that they are completed with minimal disruption to participants’ school work. The assessments may feel challenging and some children may feel a little self-conscious about completing them (for example, if their reading is not as good as they would like it to be). However, all results will remain confidential to the research team, and test administrators try to put the participants at their ease throughout.

Where is the study run from?
This study is run in four secondary schools in the UK – two in Birmingham, one in Leeds and one in Hove.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study began in January 2013, with the final report due in November 2014.

Who is funding the study?
It is being funded by the Education Endowment Foundation, UK.

Who is the main contact?
Dr Ben Styles
b.styles@nfer.ac.uk

Contact information

Dr Ben Styles
Scientific

National Foundation for Educational Research
The Mere
Upton Park
Slough
SL1 2DQ
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)1753 637386
Email b.styles@nfer.ac.uk

Study information

Study designRandomised trial with baseline and follow-up reading/writing test
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Other
Study typeQuality of life
Participant information sheet Parental consent letters not available in web format; please use the contact details below to request copies
Scientific titleRandomised trial of Perry Beeches Academy’s one-to-one literacy coaching intervention for 11- to 12-year-olds considered to be vulnerable Level 4 English achievers
Study acronymPB
Study objectivesThe primary research question is: what is the impact of the one-to-one coaching intervention on attainment in reading and writing?
The secondary research question is: are improvements in attainment moderated by having English as an additional language (EAL) or ethnicity? Such interactions may not be causal.
Ethics approval(s)The pattern of headteacher consent followed by parental opt-out consent was approved by Sarah on behalf of the Code of Practice Committee on 23rd Jan 2013
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedStruggling readers/low literacy levels
InterventionThe trial will include two experimental groups:
The 384 children will be randomly assigned to one of two groups:
Group 1. One-to-one coaching intervention (academic year 2013-14)
Group 2. Wait-list control (these will receive the intervention in the academic year 2014-15)
Children in group 1 will begin the programme in Sept. 2013; the autumn term of Year 7. Pre-testing will occur before pupils are randomised to avoid knowledge of the intervention affecting the pre-test results. After pre-testing, pupils will be randomised into the two groups within each school.
Baseline testing will occur in September 2013 with follow-up in July 2014.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureThe paper Short Form of the Progress in English Test (PiE; GL Assessment) will be used to measure reading and writing ability at baseline. The paper Long Form version of PiE will be used to measure reading and writing ability at follow-up. This latter version also contains open response comprehension questions and writing tasks. All pupils will be tested using PiE at the beginning and end of the intervention, regardless of which study arm they have been allocated to. Baseline testing for this project will occur in September 2013, at the beginning of the new school year. The intervention will continue until the post-test in July 2014.
Secondary outcome measuresNo secondary outcome measures
Overall study start date01/01/2013
Completion date30/11/2014

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupChild
SexBoth
Target number of participants384
Key inclusion criteriaYear 7 pupils that are below National Curriculum level 4c in English and/or below level 4c in reading or writing at the end of Key Stage 2.
Key exclusion criteria1. Year 7 pupils with National Curriculum level 4c or above in Engish, reading and writing at the end of Key Stage 2
2. Parental opt-out
Date of first enrolment01/01/2013
Date of final enrolment30/11/2014

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

National Foundation for Educational Research
Slough
SL1 2DQ
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Education Endowment Foundation (UK)
Charity

c/o Camilla Nevill
Millbank Tower
21-24 Millbank
London
SW1P 4QP
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)20 7802 0640
Email Camilla.Nevill@eefoundation.org.uk
Website http://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/03bhd6288

Funders

Funder type

Charity

Education Endowment Foundation (UK)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Funder report results results No No