Evidence matters - especially for our schools

How do we know if the Pupil Premium funding is closing the attainment gap between poorer children and their peers' Or how feasible it is for highly-selective universities to use reduced 'contextualised' offers for disadvantaged students' Or what is causing the shortage of teachers? These are some of the areas where our education experts can provide some answers. But the real question is how this evidence can be used to improve schools and our education system. For this to happen, researchers and politicians need to come together. Evidence matters We know that robust evidence matters and can be a powerful tool for change. However, policies and ways of working are sometimes based on poor, misrepresented or no evidence at all. This is why our education experts will be part of Evidence Week, starting on 24 June. This event, organised by Sense about Science, brings together MPs, peers, parliamentary services and people from all sectors to talk about why evidence matters.