Investigate a focused question about participation or learning in an educational setting. Develop an ethical inquiry design, review relevant evidence and interpret findings cautiously. Bring the programme’s policy, teaching, communication and support work together in an evaluated improvement proposal.

Learning outcomes

  • Formulate a manageable inquiry question and justify a method.
  • Design accessible data-collection tools and ethical safeguards.
  • Analyse evidence without overstating what it demonstrates.
  • Integrate learning across the programme in an improvement proposal.
  • Present findings and limitations to a professional audience.

Main topics

  • Focused inquiry questions and literature review
  • Action research and case-study approaches
  • Observation, interviews and accessible feedback tools
  • Consent, assent, privacy and researcher power
  • Qualitative and quantitative analysis
  • Evaluating participation and learning
  • Professional reporting and implementation review

Practical task

Complete a supervised inquiry portfolio using a fictional case and supplied synthetic evidence, or an approved school-based project. Include a proposal, short evidence review, instruments, analysis, improvement plan and reflective account. Any work involving people requires prior institutional approval, consent and relevant safeguarding arrangements.

Assessment

Submit the integrated portfolio and deliver an individual oral presentation. Assessment considers methodological coherence, ethical judgement, quality of analysis, practical recommendations and acknowledgement of limitations.