Evidence Champions

As part of the Effective Kent Programme delivered in partnership between Kent County Council and the Education Endowment Foundation (2020-2023), leaders in schools were offered training to become Evidence Champions.

From September 2023, the new Kent Education Evidence Hub will be continuing to train and support Evidence Champions to play an important role in growing a culture of evidence engagement in schools across the county.

The Evidence Champion Role

The role of an Evidence Champion is to lead the development of a culture of evidence-informed school development. Evidence Champions work with individuals and teams within the school to support engagement with evidence to develop practice. Read more about the role here.

Why do schools need an Evidence Champion?

One of the greatest challenges of school leadership is ensuring that we are focusing our time, energy and efforts into the school improvement priorities that will give our children the best possible chance of success. Using the research evidence ensures that the priorities we identify and the approaches we use are framed around​‘best bets’ – what the research evidence says is most likely to work. This matters because the education of the young people who come to our schools is too important to be left to chance. Using the research evidence to shape what we do gives us the best possible chance of being successful.

What will an Evidence Champion do?

An Evidence Champion will have access to and a good working knowledge of the best available research evidence. They would be supported with this through the EEF, Kent Associate Research school, Durrington Research school and a network of Evidence Champions from across the region. This will enable them to advise and guide the leaders in their school, so that decisions around improvement work are shaped by the best available research evidence

Evidence Champion Networks

Evidence Champions are supported through regular network meetings that enable them to share effective approaches to the role. Details of the network meetings are available here.

Become an Evidence Champion

If you, or a member of your staff would like to become an Evidence Champion, find out more