evidence summary

Scoping review of the evidence relevant to life checks for young people aged 9 to 14 years

Life checks have been proposed by the English Department of Health as a personalised service providing support and advice at key stages throughout the lifespan to help people to maintain and improve their health. For young people, the proposed key stage for a life check is the transition between primary and secondary school sat ages 11 to 12 years. This review was a scoping exercise to identify the size and scope of the available research evidence relevant to the life check proposal for young people. This systematic review was published by EPPI-Centre in 2007.

Learning skills and the development of learning capabilities

The key aim of this review was to support current policy initiatives: specifically to support the development of personalised learning by identifying teaching and learning strategies which actively engage and challenge learners, which develop their ability to focus on their learning skills and their capability to take ownership of their own progress. A second aim was to identify evidence from research which helps teachers to understand not just what works in terms of specific teaching approaches in specific contexts but why different approaches are successful.

Accidental injury, risk-taking behaviour and the social circumstances in which young people (aged 12-24) live : a systematic review

This systematic review was published by EPPI-Centre in 2008. Systematic reviews aim to find as much as possible of the research relevant to the particular research questions, and use explicit methods to identify what can reliably be said on the basis of these studies.

What are the factors that promote high post-16 participation of many minority ethnic groups? : a focused review of the UK-based aspirations literature

The overall aim of this review was to determine the factors that drive high post-16 participation of many minority ethnic groups This systematic review was published by EPPI-Centre in 2008. Systematic reviews aim to find as much as possible of the research relevant to the particular research questions, and use explicit methods to identify what can reliably be said on the basis of these studies.

Targeted youth support : rapid evidence assessment of effective early interventions for youth at risk of future poor outcomes

Targeted Youth Support (TYS) is an initiative aimed at vulnerable young people and involves ensuring that agencies work together to meet young people’s needs. This report was commissioned by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) to explore what works for young people in relation to the outcomes prioritised by the TYS initiative.

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.

Systematic review of interventions aimed at improving the educational achievement of pupils identified as gifted and talented

The aim of the review was to find out the types of classroom-based interventions which improve the educational achievement of pupils identified as gifted and talented. This systematic review was published by EPPI-Centre in 2008. Systematic reviews aim to find as much as possible of the research relevant to the particular research questions, and use explicit methods to identify what can reliably be said on the basis of these studies.

Supporting people in accessing meaningful work : recovery approaches in community based adult mental health services [EPPI-Centre]

This knowledge review aims to synthesise research evidence on the process and impact of vocational and training interventions that are employing recovery approaches, in community-based adult mental health services. This systematic review was published by EPPI-Centre in 2011.Systematic reviews aim to find as much as possible of the research relevant to the particular research questions, and use explicit methods to identify what can reliably be said on the basis of these studies.

Social and environmental interventions to reduce childhood obesity : a systematic map of reviews

The aim of this piece of work is to locate and describe existing review-level evidence on the effectiveness of social and environmental interventions for the prevention or reduction of obesity and overweight. This systematic review was published by EPPI-Centre in 2008. Systematic reviews aim to find as much as possible of the research relevant to the particular research questions, and use explicit methods to identify what can reliably be said on the basis of these studies.

School-level actions to promote community cohesion : a scoping map

This review was commissioned by the Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre (EPPI-Centre), part of the Social Science Research Unit at the Institute of Education, University of London, on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). It is intended to inform the DCSF about the nature and extent of research literature on school actions to promote community cohesion. This systematic review was published by EPPI-Centre in 2008.