Funding for the development and evaluation of high-potential teaching and learning approaches that aim to raise the attainment of children and young people from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
This funding round is focused on generating evidence for the following themes:
16-19: attendance and GCSE resists (with a specific focus on resits)
- Small, targeted grants, alongside dedicated EEF support, to support organisations to develop a programme based on one of the 16 – 19 priority areas set out in the guidance notes. These priorities have been selected in consultation with the sector. Programmes can be general or subject specific, across academic and technical qualifications, with the exception of apprenticeships, which sit outside of the EEF’s remit.
- Visit the theme overview page.
Early years: self-regulation and executive function
- Small, targeted grants, alongside dedicated EEF support, to support organisations to develop a programme based on one of the Early Years priority areas set out in the guidance notes. These priorities have been selected in consultation with the sector.
- Of particular interest are programmes that support 2 – 5‑year-old children and programmes that might benefit children from disadvantaged backgrounds. This includes professional development programmes provided to educators working in maintained nurseries; Private, Voluntary and Independent settings (PVIs); primary school Reception phases; and childminders.
- Visit the research agenda theme page.
School Leadership: supporting teacher recruitment, retention and pupil attainment funding
- This funding round aims to support and evaluate programmes that enable primary and secondary schools to establish leadership practices and a school culture and climate that supports teacher recruitment and retention as well as supporting pupil attainment.
- For this theme, programmes should be well-developed and ready to be tested through impact evaluation under best possible conditions.
- Visit the theme overview page.
- Funding to evaluate programmes or approaches that support school leaders in engaging with, making decisions and acting on research evidence to improve teaching practice in their schools.
- Of particular interest is how EEF Guidance Reports, one of the EEF’s primary vehicles for communicating research evidence on teaching and learning practice, can be mobilised to support school leaders to make and act on evidence-informed decisions.
- This funding round is seeking programmes and approaches that are developed and ready to be evaluated. EEF will appoint an independent evaluator for every project funded.
- This round is not funding ideas for new programmes or approaches, or those that have been delivered in only a single school. If successful, you will be funded to deliver your programme or approach to a minimum of 10 primary and/or secondary schools in England.
- See theme guidance notes at the bottom of this page for priority areas and sub-themes.
ELIGIBILITY
EEF only funds projects taking place in schools, nurseries and colleges in England.
VALUE AND DURATION
Applicants working in universities can apply for funding for all ‘directly incurred’ costs (e.g. salary costs of research assistants hired for the purpose of the grant funding) and, subject to certain conditions, ‘directly allocated’ costs (e.g. salary costs of existing staff where these are specifically needed for the project). But indirect university costs (e.g. estate costs of permanent university staff) are not covered.
KEY DATES
Webinar: 7 October 2025 (3pm)
Deadline: 5 November 2025 (11am)
More information, including FAQs, can be found on the opportunity webpage.