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Camtree and DEFI, translational research centres at Hughes Hall, a college of the University of Cambridge, and Twinkl, the educational publisher, have announced a partnership to uncover new insights and approaches to teaching through practitioner-led research and improved professional development (PD).
The collaboration will begin with two initial projects – one exploring ways to drive better oracy outcomes through effective PD and practitioner research; with the other involving applied research focusing on how practitioners use inclusive and digital tools to support diverse learners, with an aim of identifying novel inclusive practices.
“Education in this country is undergoing significant reform – from curriculum updates and a Government inquiry into SEND standards, to increased focus on EdTech and teacher workload reduction,” commented Jonathan Seaton, co-founder and CEO, Twinkl. “Against this backdrop, the need for trusted, research-informed advice to help educators tackle key challenges – such as enhancing inclusion and oracy levels – has never been greater. This imperative is at the heart of the partnership being announced today.”
Exploring inclusive futures in education
For the SEND-focussed research, Twinkl will collaborate with Hughes Hall’s Digital Education Futures Initiative (DEFI) to review how existing accessibility and inclusion tools are used in primary school teaching and assessment – as well as anticipating how emerging technologies (e.g. AI, augmented reality, adaptive learning technologies) can shape more inclusive and equitable educational futures.
“We are delighted to collaborate with Twinkl to co-create evidence-based resources that empower teachers to use AI as a means to advance inclusion,” commented Dr Kevin Martin, Managing Director of DEFI.
By bridging research and practice, the project intends to develop a new framework for inclusive pedagogy and assessment that integrates evidence of current practice with discussions of future possibilities.
Leading education improvement through oracy-oriented inquiry
The DfE is expected to raise oracy as a national priority in and beyond schools, with anticipated changes in how oracy is taught and woven into school life.
Twinkl will work with the Cambridge Teacher Research Exchange (Camtree) to facilitate an oracy-focussed teacher professional development inquiry programme, supporting the understanding and embedding of advanced oracy methods in education.
“Oracy transforms people’s ability to communicate effectively, articulately and with impact. It enables us to think, reason and imagine – silently when alone and aloud when thinking together, developing knowledge, solving problems, or passionately persuading,” commented Dr Pete Dudley, CEO of Camtree. “Oracy is the missing link in our education system with proven potential to raise achievement for all, in all aspects of learning and life. But it also closes attainment gaps and creates confident, assured young people able to engage successfully with the world.”
Over a 12-month period, participants will be supported through a series of online ‘TeachMeets’ and an accompanying online oracy toolkit, to make and demonstrate change through an oracy-oriented inquiry. These sessions will seek to share innovative strategies that embed effective oracy practice with learners and colleagues, across settings and the wider education community.
The findings and examples that emerge from this programme of work will form the basis of a report to be jointly published by Camtree and Twinkl.
Call for participants
Schools are invited to apply to be a part of the two different project areas.
For the oracy PD programme, teachers will participate in TeachMeets and other online activities with the community during the 2025-26 academic year, gaining a certificate and accreditation for engagement with the initiative. As a core element of the programme, participating educators will conduct an oracy-focussed inquiry for peer-reviewed publication in the Camtree digital library.
For the Inclusion initiative, ethnographic research methods will be used to observe lessons, while teachers can also take part in virtual focus groups and online workshops.
Interested schools and educators can sign-up by registering on the Twinkl website: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/research-projects
