A new national framework for improving the quality of educational research was welcomed yesterday by Adult Skills Minister, John Healey. The strategy will provide a national framework for improving the quality of educational research.

Proposals from the National Educational Research Forum’s (NERF) first strategy document published today include:

• a Funders’ Forum to ensure value for money in educational research;
  
• setting up a panel to predict future research needs;
  
• developing better ways of identifying research priorities; and
  
• more opportunities for researchers and teachers to refresh their training in research skills.
  

John Healey said, “I welcome the publication of the Forum’s first national research strategy. It will ensure a better planned approach to research which will make best use of our researchers. The strategy will also help improve access to research to those in government and in the education services.

“My department has invested more than £8 million in education and skills research this year, doubling the budget that was available in 1997. We are committed to working in partnership with the research community to improve the way in which educational research informs policy and practice.

“The National Educational Research Forum is providing leadership and vision about what research can do and how it can be effective in our drive to provide the best education services for all. I will be giving serious consideration to the proposals in this document and I urge others to do the same.”