Action research within east London post-compulsory provision

This is an attempt to disseminate the methodologies and outcomes of a piece of practitioner-based action research which was conducted at Newham Sixth Form College (‘NewVIc’) in the Plaistow area of east London. In order to best advance levels of teaching and learning, and to encourage innovation in the classroom, the college launched a peer-led coaching project. The action research initiative was established at the end of the 2004-05 academic year, and came to a close after a very successful two-year period. The project aimed to improve the quality of teaching and learning in a way directly transferable to practice inside classrooms, yet, philosophically, the project emphasized the cross-subject, general, transferable nature of good teaching and learning, leaving behind the mechanisms and cultural change needed for sustainable impact leading to future development work. It emphasized the value and role of collegiate professional dialogue in moving the culture of an institution forward.