Lab Classrooms
Lab Classrooms is a hands-on, reflective action research framework. It’s designed to allow educators to focus on specific areas of their teaching practice, test new strategies, and evaluate the impact. It’s simple and flexible enough for educators of all levels, whether you're a middle leader looking to enhance departmental collaboration or a seasoned teacher ready to dive deeper into classroom dynamics.
The process is about much more than just improving student outcomes — it’s also about your professional growth. Through Lab Classrooms, you’ll sharpen your skills in reflective practice, action research, and collaborative learning, which can be applied not only to pedagogy but also to broader areas such as improving attendance or fostering student well-being.
You can take part in Lab Classrooms via two pathways:
Self guided project
You can participate in a self-guided project using the supporting tools and resources on our Digital Network to choose a research question, conduct research, create an action plan, capture baseline date and trial something in your classroom. This is accessible to Network Members, as well as to participants of our Words for All and Early Years / SEND School Improvement programmes.
Supported programme
You can participate in our supported programme where you take part in a project alongside a cohort and are provided coaching support along the way. We usually run the programme from November through to the Summer Term. This is included as part of the Whole Education school membership, but can be provided to non-school members at an additional cost. In either instance get in touch with Shane Roberts (shane@wholeeducation.org) for more information on how you can get involved.
Our supported programme provides guided support on the following strands :
-
Enhancing student understanding through more meaningful and thoughtful learning experiences that go beyond surface-level engagement.
E.g. Does the use of models and critique enable children to produce higher quality writing?
-
Strengthening the way feedback is given and acted upon.
E.g. How can peer feedback support learners’ progress in Year 7 Arts (Art/Music/Drama) lessons?
-
Encouraging students to understand and reflect on their learning process.
E.g. How can metacognition and self-regulation improve the resilience of disadvantaged students?
-
How can we improve classroom communication, both spoken and written?
E.g. Does explicit teaching of oracy in maths improve mathematical reasoning?
-
Boosting literacy skills through targeted strategies.
-
Enabling students to take more control over their learning.
E.g. How can I use gamification to increase student agency in flipped learning?