secondary schools

Systematic literature review on the perceptions of ways in which teaching assistants work to support pupils’ social and academic engagement in secondary classrooms (1988–2005)

There is a widely held belief that teaching assistants (TAs) lighten teachers’ workloads, support learning and increase the level of pupil engagement, thus securing inclusion for pupils with special needs and raising standards. The National Agreement on workforce reform sets out plans to free teachers to focus on teaching and learning, and to develop the roles of TAs in schools; new teachers need to be prepared for working as part of a team. This requires information about the current roles of teaching assistants, and where they are most effective.

Systematic review of research evidence of the impact on students in secondary schools of self and peer assessment

The aim of the review was to fill this gap by addressing, through a systematic review, the research evidence of the impact on students in secondary schools of self and peer assessment. Evidence of how any impact depends on particular circumstances has been sought so that, where trustworthy evidence is found, implications for policy and practice can be identified.

Inequalities and the mental health of young people : a systematic review of secondary school-based cognitive behavioural interventions

The aim of this report is to increase what is known about promoting good mental health and mental health inequalities. It focuses on the role of interventions based on the techniques of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for preventing and reducing suicidality, depression and anxiety in young people. A further aim of the study is to use the systematic review as a case study to applying an ‘equity lens’ to a review topic, by building on work completed in an earlier systematic map and methodological review. This systematic review was published by EPPI-Centre in 2009.