Evaluating a mastery approach to teaching English in Key Stage 3
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN76965629 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN76965629 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Protocol serial number | Nil known |
| Sponsor | Education Endowment Foundation |
| Funder | Department for Education, UK Government |
- Submission date
- 05/04/2022
- Registration date
- 05/04/2022
- Last edited
- 19/07/2023
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Other
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
The aim of English Mastery is to improve achievement in the subject of English. This is done by providing teachers with subject-specific training, curriculum materials and ongoing in-school support and coaching.
Who can participate?
Key Stage 3 pupils (Years 7 and 8, ages 11-13 years).
What does the study involve?
EM is delivered through in-class teaching during regular timetabled English lessons. Weekly departmental co-planning materials are provided to aid teachers in adapting the English Mastery lessons for their pupils. Teachers also receive training and support through induction, additional training for the KS3 lead, remote development sessions, biannual school coaching visits, Assessing for Mastery standardisation sessions each term and optional webinar workshops. All pupils receive the same dosage and study the same topics, but the foundation curriculum is designed to be accessible to lower attaining pupils (such as through the use of abridged texts).
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Pupils could benefit from higher attainment in English. The intervention is delivered in class and presents no conceivable additional risks.
Where is the study run from?
Sheffield Institute of Education (UK) is the independent evaluator. Ark Curriculum (UK) have designed the intervention and is responsible for the teacher training and ongoing support for schools.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2022 to January 2026
Who is funding the study?
Education Endowment Foundation (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Martin Culliney, m.culliney@shu.ac.uk
Contact information
Principal investigator
10101 Arundel Building
Sheffield
S1 1AY
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-7329-8675 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 1142256072 |
| m.culliney@shu.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Two-arm three-level cluster randomised controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Cluster randomised trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Evaluation of English mastery |
| Study objectives | The mastery approach to English leads to improved attainment among Key Stage 3 pupils as measured by the GL Assessment Progress Test in English |
| Ethics approval(s) | Approved 26/01/2022, Sheffield Hallam University ethics committee (no address provided; no telephone number provided; ethicssupport@shu.ac.uk), ref: ER40773698 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | English teaching in schools |
| Intervention | Current intervention as of 21/07/2022: The units of randomisation are schools. Those allocated to the intervention group send their Y7 and Y8 English teachers to training provided by Ark English Mastery. These teachers then teach the relevant cohort (all Y7 pupils in 2022/23 and all Y8 pupils in 2023/24 for cohort 1, or all Y7 pupils in 2023/24 and all Y8 pupils in 2024/25 for cohort 2) using the English Mastery approach. Control schools teach on a 'business-as-usual' basis during this period. Previous intervention: The units of randomisation are schools. Those allocated to the intervention group send their Y7 and Y8 English teachers to training provided by Ark English Mastery. These teachers then teach the relevant cohort (all Y7 pupils in 2022/23 and all Y8 pupils in 2023/24) using the English Mastery approach. Control schools teach on a 'business-as-usual' basis during this period. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Current primary outcome measure as of 21/07/2022: |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
Current secondary outcome measures as of 21/07/2022: |
| Completion date | 31/01/2026 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Other |
|---|---|
| Age group | Child |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 8640 |
| Key inclusion criteria | Current participant inclusion criteria as of 21/07/2022: 1. Non-academically selective, state secondary schools 2. In the East Midlands and Humber, North or West Midlands regions of England 3. Not delivered English Mastery previously 4. Has three or more hours of timetabled English lessons for Year 7 in 2022-23 and for Year 8 in 2023-24 (cohort 1), or for Year 7 in 2023-24 and for Year 8 in 2024-25 (cohort 2) Previous participant inclusion criteria: 1. Non-academically selective, state secondary schools 2. In the East Midlands and Humber, North or West Midlands regions of England 3. Not delivered English Mastery previously 4. Has three or more hours of timetabled English lessons for Year 7 in 2022-23 and for Year 8 in 2023-24 |
| Key exclusion criteria | Does not meet inclusion criteria |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/03/2022 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/09/2023 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centre
Sheffield
S1 1AY
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Stored in non-publicly available repository, Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | At the end of the project, data on all participating pupils will be submitted to the EEF’s Data Archive. At this point, EEF and DfE will be data controllers and contractors appointed to manage the Data Archive will be data processors. The evaluation data will also be linked with information about the students from the National Pupil Database (NPD), and shared with Department for Education, the EEF’s archive manager and, in an anonymised form, with the Office for National Statistics, the UK Data Archive, and potentially other approved researchers. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
| Protocol (other) | 19/10/2022 | No | No | ||
| Study website | Study website | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
19/07/2023: The recruitment end date was changed from 31/07/2023 to 30/09/2023.
19/10/2022: Protocol uploaded (not peer reviewed).
21/07/2022: The following changes have been made:
1. The intervention has been updated.
2. The primary outcome measure has been updated.
3. The secondary outcome measures have been updated.
4. The participant inclusion criteria have been updated.
5. The target number of participants has been changed from "8640 pupils across 120 schools" to "8640 pupils across 120 schools. 60 schools will be recruited in 2022 for cohort 1 and 60 schools will be recruited in 2023 for cohort 2.".
20/07/2022: The following changes have been made:
1. The recruitment end date has been changed from 31/07/2022 to 31/07/2023.
2. The overall trial end date has been changed from 31/01/2025 to 31/01/2026 and the plain English summary has been updated to reflect this change.
3. The intention to publish date has been changed from 01/07/2025 to 01/07/2026.
05/04/2022: Trial's existence confirmed by Education Endowment Foundation.
