July 2015
Young researchers present their findings at UCB
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The region’s youngest researchers returned to UCB to discuss the results of their school research and share their results with other schoolchildren and their teachers.
After visiting UCB earlier this year to learn about research methods, more than 50 pupils aged 6-10 applied these techniques when conducting school projects and research plans to help make positive changes to their schools.
Chilcote Primary School examined their school’s reward scheme, drawing on their own research as well as consultations with other local schools and spoke to university lecturers on how to collect data and research ethics. They also looked at how their findings highlighted potential areas of further research in this field. They found that awards from the head teacher and class rewards were favoured, but the concept of house points and attendance awards were less popular.
Kings Heath Primary School investigated how useful a teacher’s marking is to school pupils. They looked at the amount of feedback teachers provided and how much students thought it helped them improve their work. To obtain this data, they used focus groups and online surveys to assess what students considered to be the most important element and how this varied depending on the age of the pupil.
"It was a privilege today to attend the Young Researchers conference. The children demonstrated advanced research skills and were able to reflect carefully on their chosen research methods, demonstrating reflexivity on the research process. The findings of their research were clearly presented and appropriate conclusions were drawn. The children have made recommendations to their schools, which I am sure will be adopted and will support school improvement. All of the children who presented today should be very proud of themselves."
After collecting their data, UCB education and community lecturers will analyse their findings and look to publish them in a future paper in partnership with Colmore Partnership Teaching School Alliance (CPTSA).
The visit was part of the Young Researchers Project, an initiative led by CPTSA, a group of 11 schools committed to making a positive impact on children’s life choices, creating opportunities for professional development and achieving excellence. The CPTSA was represented at UCB by teachers and pupils from Colmore Infant and Nursery School, Colmore Junior School, Chilcote Primary School, Queensbridge School, Kings Heath Primary, Rookery Primary, Lyndon Green Infant School, Turves Green Primary School and Woodthorpe Primary School.