The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) is probably best-known for commissioning independent evaluations of large-scale randomised controlled trials (RCTs). These are widely recognised as one of the best and least biased research methods for finding out what impact a specific programme or approach can have on attainment. Used in conjunction with information on implementation and cost, RCTs can give us powerful information about whether a programme is likely to work in a particular context.
One drawback is that large-scale RCTs take considerable time to deliver and evaluate. The typical EEF-funded RCT takes three to four years from commission to publication. Sometimes, we a quicker approach.
