Guidance

RISE attainment improvement

Updated 14 January 2026

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rise-support-for-improving-attainment-in-schools/rise-attainment-improvement

RISE attainment conferences

Improving attainment is a priority for the government and central to the Opportunity Mission. The government hosted 9 attainment conferences in October 2025 focused on sharing innovative and effective strategies schools used to raise attainment for disadvantaged pupils.

Professional development

Funding and grants are available for teacher training and professional development.

National professional qualification (NPQ) courses help teachers and leaders to develop their skills, progress their careers and improve school outcomes.

Subject-specific support

Subject hubs help to develop expertise in teaching specific subjects or disciplines:

Reading and writing

The writing framework outlines a common approach to teaching writing based on evidence and existing good practice. The Department for Education (DfE) hosted a webinar about the writing framework on 30 September 2025. Writing Framework Webinar for Leaders is a recording of this webinar.

Choosing a phonics teaching programme helps schools analyse and select validated programmes for teaching reading using systematic synthetic phonics.

Supporting all readers in secondary school is a short course for secondary school staff and leaders to develop techniques to support readers at all levels.

Maths

Five Big Ideas in Teaching for Mastery underpin all National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) and Maths Hubs work. This is informed by research evidence and classroom experience.

NCETM’s ‘In the classroom’ resources help teachers:

  • plan and teach great maths lessons
  • assess pupils’ knowledge and understanding

The Advanced Mathematics Support Programme provides:

  • advice and information about level 3 maths pathways
  • suggestions for increasing student participation
  • teacher CPD
  • guidance on offering advanced maths options

Science support

Subject Knowledge for Physics Teaching (SKPT) courses, delivered by The Ogden Trust in partnership with STEM Learning, provide free blended professional development for key stage 3 and key stage 4 teachers teaching physics without a physics specialism.

Improving school outcomes

Improving learning outcomes

The Education Endowment Foundation has developed: 

  • a teaching and learning toolkit helping teachers and school leaders make decisions about how to improve learning outcomes

  • a guide to implementing change offering:

    • a structured process for implementing change
    • behavioural and contextual factors that support success
    • templates and checklists for planning and monitoring
    • tools to help schools ‘do fewer things better’ for sustainable improvement

The National Foundation for Educational Research provides a suite of free and paid-for resources for assessment and improvement in schools, based on research and evidence.

Using your Pupil Premium

DfE and the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) publish guidance on how schools can use their pupil premium funding on evidence-based approaches to raise disadvantaged pupils’ attainment:

Data tools

Use online tools to compare your school’s performance against similar primary, secondary and special needs schools and colleges near you.

Research and other resources

Public First Inquiry is an investigation into White Working-Class Educational Outcomes commissioned by Star Academies with appointed education experts.

Curriculum and assessment review

The curriculum and assessment review is reviewing the existing national curriculum and statutory assessment system in England, to ensure they are fit for purpose and meeting the needs of children and young people.

Other organisations

The Research Schools Network is a collaboration of 33 schools across England, supported by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF). The 33 Research Schools work with schools, colleges, and early years settings in their regions to champion the use of evidence and improve teaching and learning, with a focus on socio-economically disadvantaged children and young people.

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