Research in education

Focusing on practical and policy-relevant issues to improve educational practices and outcomes.

The key strength of our research is our multidisciplinary approach to advancing the understanding and improvement of learning.

We are a dynamic and collegial community of educationists, linguists, psychologists and sociologists drawn from around the world. This puts us in a unique position to view educational issues from a wide and novel range of perspectives, ensuring we design and conduct world-leading research.

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Research and Impact Strategy 2025-2030

Educational research for public good

We produce excellent research which transforms understanding and improves learning, teaching and wellbeing, tackles societal challenges and positively impacts people across their life course, in and beyond educational contexts. Our work creates new disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge using diverse methods, in collaboration with partners from government, industry and civil society. We value place-based approaches and open access to the knowledge, evidence and applications we produce. Our work across research centres is used to impact public dialogue, social policy and educational practice.

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The Research Excellence Framework 2021

We’re ranked 5th in the UK for research according to the Times Higher Education’s ranking of the latest REF results (2021). And 100% of our research impact is rated at 4* - REF’s highest rating.

Learn more about the 2021 REF results

Research strengths

Our four research centres provide an environment for staff and students to generate and test ideas and share expertise. We also conduct cross-cutting studies in several areas, including equality of opportunity, educational evaluation and mental health and wellbeing.

Centre for Advanced Studies in Language and Education

Centre for Research on Education and Social Justice

Psychology in Education Research Centre

University of York Science Education Group

Impact and engagement

We aim to deliver high-quality research based on a good understanding of the perceptions and needs of those who have a stake in the processes and outcomes of education.

Our impact is underpinned by our long-standing networks and relationships as well as the drive to build new ones. Through these collaborative networks we have made a substantial contribution to policies and school-based practices involving science, language and literature education.

Highlights

Sharing our research

Education Researchers for Open Science (EROS)

We're raising awareness of the benefits of open science practices and applying this evidence to all educational approaches at different levels, in different ways. Explore EROS

Best Evidence Science Teaching

We’re making a real difference in the classroom by enabling teachers to access and implement the best principles emerging from today’s cutting-edge education research.

Best Evidence Science Teaching (BEST) is a set of free research evidence-informed resources for effective teaching of difficult ideas, embedded formative assessment and adaptive lesson planning in science for children aged 11-14 years (KS3).