High-quality educational research has long been a cornerstone of the Edge Foundation’s work, helping shape effective education policy and practice across the UK. While a solid evidence base is critical for impactful change, it remains profoundly underfunded. This is why Edge recently sponsored the 2nd International Practice Focused Research in Education Conference (IPFREC) at the University of Sunderland in July.
A vital platform for highlighting groundbreaking research across the vocational education and training (VET) sector, Edge’s bursary sponsorship allowed 18 delegates to present their work to an international audience of educators. With around 50 attendees from across Europe, IPFREC 2023 was a testament to the vibrant research community flourishing despite funding challenges. Here, we highlight the journeys of two PhD practitioner researchers, Tom Mudd from Barking & Dagenham College and Dr Beth Curtis from Exeter College.
Tom Mudd, Curriculum Manager for English at Barking & Dagenham College, has adopted the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons to help develop students’ basic English and maths skills. He is currently using the game in his GCSE English classroom, documenting his approach to evidence how it improves student outcomes and is nurturing confidence and social skills.
