A new high-level research commission involving some of the country’s best-known education leaders is launched today in a bid to gather timely national data on student engagement that can act as a predictive tool for teachers and leaders tackling attendance, wellbeing and attainment gaps.

The commission, set up by ImpactEd Group and including representatives from the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL),Confederation of School Trusts (CST), Challenge Partners and The REACHFoundation, will survey more than 100,000 children and young people at primary and secondary schools across the country over the next year. The exercise will be the first national study on student engagement ever conducted in England.

Commission Chair, Dame Sue John, “It is my hope that the findings of this project can help give our school leaders a better understanding of the role engagement plays in driving positive outcomes for schools and pupils, as well as the practical tools and actionable insights to support school improvement.”

The commission has never been more pressing as 750,000 children miss school on average every day – compared to just 395,000 pre-Covid.

Meet the commissioners

Dame Nicola Stephenson

Chief Executive Officer and Executive Headteacher Valour Multi Academy Trust

Children receive one education, it is the moral imperative of us all to ensure they meet their potential and that as a society we do all we can to engage pupils in that journey. Teachers are the original social influencers, and we need to harness that influence to engage pupils and their families.  

Andrew Young

Co-Director, Pathfinder Teaching School Hub

At Pathfinder Teaching School Hub we have engaged with hundreds of schools over the last 3 years to better distribute leadership of SEND and to support staff to be able to work more effectively in supporting their young people with additional needs. Time and again we see that those schools who leverage the level of belonging in their community and seek to include every child through a social rather than medical model of SEND are the ones who flourish.

This research commission will allow us to learn more about how data-driven decisions might be improved by more precise decision-driven data collection. By working differently, we have an opportunity to better support the life chances of those who too often sit on the fringes of education.  

Cara Ackroyd

Executive Principal, OGAT 

Outwood Family of Schools is excited to be involved with this commission which recognises the importance and potential impact of pupil voice on improving all aspects of school experience for the young people that we serve.  

Rob Hardcastle

CEO, Hatton Academies Trust

We all know that pupil engagement lies at the heart of pupil achievement. As a Trust, we need to take every possible step to ensure levels of pupil engagement are as high as they can be throughout their time with us. We need to be able to identify and respond early on when a pupil is not as engaged as they were previously. This project will undoubtedly help us to do that.  

Jo Coton

‍CEO, NET Academies Trust

I am delighted to be part of the Research Commission initiative looking at pupil engagement. I hope this will ultimately benefit educational outcomes for children and young people.  

Laura Lewis-Williams

Managing Director, Challenge Partners

At Challenge Partners, we are deeply committed to improving educational outcomes through collaboration and evidence-based practice. By participating in this Commission, we can contribute to building research that supports school and trust leaders in understanding and measuring engagement across all stakeholders - pupils, staff, families, and the wider community - asa powerful early indicator of educational outcomes. 

In the current educational landscape, with its numerous challenges, it is crucial to identify sustainable strategies that can be shared across the education system to drive school and trust improvement and maximise the life chances of all children.

Simon Corner

Director of Secondary Education, Aspire Hub – Wade Deacon

The research commission on engagement provides an invaluable opportunity to listen to the voice of young people and to learn how engagement can be more impactful in improving the achievement and success of young people.  Undoubtedly, the effectiveness of engagement in schools plays a key role in ensuring all children aspire to give their best and fulfil their potential. 

Reena Bhogal-Welsh
Director of Education and Inclusion, Liverpool LA

Being a member of the Research Commission on Engagement will demonstrate Liverpool City Council's council to prioritising children, young people and education. We are an innovative organisation and being able to be solution driven to the challenges the sector is facing will be pivotal to the city's strategic direction for Education and Inclusion. 

Margaret Mulholland

Executive, ASCL

Ofsted's announcement confirming their intention to a measure inclusion is timely. There is an urgency for this commission to present findings that can help provide a nuanced picture rather than define a blunt tool for capturing engagement and participation. A better understanding of what engagement for pupils who struggle to learn means has to be a focus.

Sarah Botchway - Director of London South Teaching School Hub

Karen Bramwell OBE - CEO One Academy Trust

Carol Dewhurst OBE - Chief Executive Officer, BDAT

Carley Holliman - Assistant Director Cambridgeshire County Council

Dame Nicola Stephenson DBE - Chief Executive Officer, Valour Multi Academy Trust

Tamsin Frances - Director of People, Ted Wragg Trust

Leora Cruddas CBE - Chief Executive and Founding CEO of Confederation of School Trusts and Visiting Professor at UCL Institute of Education

James Townsend - Executive Director, Reach Foundation

Dr Herminder Channa OBE - Regional Director, Oasis Community Learning

Kully Uppal - Deputy CEO, Summit Learning Trust

Dr Josephine Valentine OBE - CEO, Danes Educational Trust

Carol Dewhurst OBE - Chief Executive Officer, BDAT

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