Evaluating what works in the classroom: Best practice and future opportunities

Despite an increased interest and investment in gold standard interventions in education, the gap between the latest research on how we learn and teaching practice remains, as well as persistent attainment gaps for certain groups. This report summarises the presentations and discussion from a roundtable event that discussed challenges and solutions in relation to establishing what works in different contexts, including (1) who is involved and when; (2) a need for methodological innovation; (3) communication issues; and (4) understanding and use of evidence by educators and policymakers. We highlight best practice in relation to addressing these issues using national and international examples. Recommendations related to a research culture within the teaching profession, data sharing and communication and realistic evaluations are discussed as well as outstanding questions.