Change for Children Award Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Change for Children Award appropriate for our setting?
Yes. The Change for Children Award is appropriate to use in a range of educational settings in the primary and secondary phase of education (mainstream and special settings), including PRUs, FE and sixth form colleges.

What aspects of developing pupils as action researchers does the award cover?
The Change for Children Award offers a pupil/student-friendly evidence gathering process using a framework focused on six core thematic aspects of action research, which helps them to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to become confident researchers.  The six core themes are:

1. Responsibility
2. Motivation
3. Team work
4. Decision making
5. Achieving the change
6. Publicising the good practice

Each thematic aspect has a series of six good practice descriptors which enable pupils in the action research team to work together to collect the appropriate evidence.

What evidence will pupil researchers need to collect?
Pupil researchers will need to gather a range of relevant good quality documentary and multi-media evidence.  No more than two pieces of evidence are required for each good practice descriptor in each of the six core themes on the action research framework.  The evidence collected must highlight significant good practice and milestones in the action research journey and can include photographs, video clips, blogs, pod casts, signposting to school website resources, examples of research tools, charts and graphs of data gathered.  The action plan, the completed evidence grids, the final research report and the pupils self-review surveys are required to submit electronically to the external assessor, at least two weeks before the on-site assessment takes place.

How long does it take to work towards achieving the award?
There is no imposed timescale.  The pupil-led action research team in negotiation with the senior member of staff overseeing the award process agree on a timeframe for working towards achieving the award.  The entire award journey usually takes between nine to twelve months, but can be shorter or longer, according to the context of the school and the experience of the pupils as action researchers.

Will the award process involve extra work for the pupils and the member of staff overseeing the award process?
No.  Educational Consultancy & Management (ECM) Solutions has ensured that the self-review and evidence gathering process is manageable and built into existing everyday practice.  Paperwork is kept to the minimum for pupils by being required in an electronic and multi-media format.

Will the award contribute robust evidence for external accountability purposes?
Yes.  The Change for Children Award provides qualitative and quantitative ‘real’ telling evidence of the impact of pupil participation and ‘voice’ in enabling a significant change or improvement to happen within the educational setting, which benefits other pupils.  This high quality evidence will meet OFSTED, local authority and Educational Consultancy & Management (ECM) Solutions accountability requirements.

What support will an educational setting receive throughout the award process?
You will receive an initial visit to explain the award process to the head teacher and members of the senior leadership team, including the member of staff who will be overseeing the award process.
Educational settings have the option to purchase additional consultancy time to introduce pupils to the basic methods of research.  Email and telephone support is also available throughout the award journey to the senior member of staff overseeing the award process.
An interim visit to review the progress made by the pupil-led action research team is provided.
The publication entitled Effecting change through pupil-led action research. A practical guide provides the essential handbook.

Where can you obtain the necessary action research resources from for pupils to use?
All the necessary action research tools, framework and model templates are provided by Educational Consultancy & Management (ECM) Solutions, on receipt of the initial part-payment.
They will also be available in the handbook on publication.

What does the final external assessment entail?
The external assessment process comprises of an off-site assessment of the required electronic and multi-media evidence submitted to the external assessor from Educational Consultancy & Management (ECM) Solutions, at least two weeks before the on-site assessment takes place.
The on-site assessment entails the external assessor meeting with key stakeholders, including the members of the pupil-led action research team to hear about the research experience and view the outcomes and impact of the action research project first hand.

What will be the outcome following a successful external assessment?
When all six core thematic aspects on the action research framework have been fully met, a final written award report, a glass plaque, a framed certificate and a digital award logo will be presented to the pupil-led action research team, four weeks following the on-site assessment.

How long is the Change for Children Award valid for?
The Change for Children Award is valid for three years, and is renewable after this period for a further three years, following a reassessment of a new and different pupil-led action research team project.

How can an educational setting register their initial interest in the award?
If you wish to register for the Change for Children Award please go to the ‘Contact Us’ page on the website and use the secure online enquiry form.  Alternatively, you may wish to speak to a consultant direct on 07857 605645.

The recent high level of interest in this new award has resulted in places on the national scheme filling up very quickly.  Therefore, to avoid any disappointment, please register as soon as possible in order to ensure a consultant can be allocated to support you through the award journey.

Educational Consultancy & Management (ECM) Solutions looks forward to hearing from you and working with you in the near future.