About the International Learning and Research Centre

The International Learning and Research Centre is a self-funded, not for profit, innovation and development centre; it invests in school-based research and enquiry, through a research and development strategy which includes learning from international contexts. Innovation is promoted through local, regional, national and international projects which provide the focus for practitioner research and enquiry programmes. The research investigations undertaken support teachers and adult learners to reflect on, analyse and learn from their own practice and the practice of others. By so doing they are refreshed as professionals, take a lead in their own learning and increase the knowledge and understanding of how to improve the quality of teaching and transform practice in their schools. Through these research activities the Centre supports the development of research-engaged schools and enables teachers to be active, contributing members of a learning community.

Among the Centre’s major fields of work are languages and literacy, curriculum design and innovation, improving the quality of teaching and learning and all aspects of leadership.

The Centre provides training, coaching and mentoring for the teacher-researchers and other adult learners and has extensive experience in developing, sustaining and co-ordinating networks. Regional, national and international projects and research programmes are managed by the Centre and are undertaken on behalf of organisations and agencies such as the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), Local Authorities, Charitable Trusts, the European Commission and the Council of Europe.