One school is popping the champagne after being selected to form a key research hub.

Ashfield Junior School, Workington, has been selected to form the Cumbrian Research School, joining the Education Endowment Foundation’s (EEF) network of 27 Research Schools and 10 Associate Research Schools across England.

Its main objective will be to establish new partnerships with other Cumbrian schools, and provide effective guidance by promoting and exemplifying evidence-based practice.

The appointment of a new Research School will support an ambitious partnership with schools across the county, so that they are able to access training and support based on the best available evidence.

Ashfield School will receive funding until the end of the academic year 2022-23, consisting of a core annual grant of £40,000 to cover leadership time, staff development, and deployment for delivering training to support evidence-led practice in the region.

And deputy headteacher, Richard Bishop, is delighted with the news.

"It's huge news for us, and we are very pleased and privileged to be part of EEF's network of research school," he said.

"We all feel very honoured to be part of it, and are really forward to working with EEF and other schools across Cumbria."

He continued: "Through research and evidence-based learning, we will disseminate their message to other schools to provide support.

"It's a great opportunity, and we're all very excited about how we will be able to support other schools by being involved."

The newly designated Cumbrian Research School will be supported by Western Excellence in Learning and Leadership (WELL), an education project developed by Cumbria County Council and school system leaders, and funded by Sellafield Ltd and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

The school will provide effective guidance to others locally, promoting and exemplifying evidence-based teaching practice whilst also working towards WELL’s specific goals for educational improvement, centring around raising standards, closing the attainment gap for disadvantaged children, and improving pupil wellbeing.

The EEF will be accountable for the development, support and quality assurance of the work of the Research School.

The new Research School will also build on work in the region previously undertaken by Cumbria Associate Research School (CARS) – a collaboration between Cockermouth School and West Lakes Academy.

Professor Becky Francis, CEO of the Education Endowment Foundation, said:“It has never been more important to assist schools in engaging with evidence to inform their approaches to teaching and learning.

"The appointment of a new Research School will be a valuable source of support for others in the region, as they strive to meet the needs of their students in the wake of the pandemic.

“This latest addition to the EEF’s Research Schools Network constitutes an exciting opportunity for schools in Cumbria to establish new connections, through which they will be able to share expertise and access practical tools, with the view to raising the attainment of all of their pupils, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.”