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An independent study of the impact of a writing exercise on the academic attainment of disadvantaged children in England

A randomised controlled trial to test the causal effect of writing about personal values on the academic attainment of Year 10 and Year 11 pupils (aged 14 to 16) in England

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ISRCTN
Registry ID
ISRCTN79754465
Enrollment
14000
Registered
2016-05-06
Start date
2015-11-23
Completion date
Unknown
Last updated
2022-08-22

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Attainment at GCSE and self-efficacy Not Applicable

Interventions

Current interventions as of 30/06/2016: All Year 10 and Year 11 pupils in the participating schools will be individually randomised to either treatment or control condition, stratifyin

Sponsors

Education Endowment Foundation (UK)
Lead Sponsor

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: All Year 10 and Year 11 pupils from 25 secondary schools in the South-East of England with above average EverFSM eligible pupils

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Primary schools 2. Secondary schools outside the South-East of England 3. Secondary schools with fewer than 10% of EverFSM-eligible pupils

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
1. Attainment 8 at GCSE for EverFSM pupils after 1 year of treatment 2. Attainment 8 at GCSE for EverFSM pupils 1 year after end of intervention

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
Current secondary outcome measures as of 30/06/2016: 1. Attainment 8 at GCSE for all pupils after 1 year of treatment 2. Attainment 8 at GCSE for all pupils 1 year after end of intervention 3. Self-efficacy: The self-efficacy survey will be first measured in September 2016, then again in June/July 2017 (Y10 only). It will be assessed via a paper and pencil survey distributed within tutor or form time within schools by form tutors. Previous secondary outcome measures: 1. Attainment 8 at GCSE for all pupils after 1 year of treatment 2. Attainment 8 at GCSE for all pupils 1 year after end of intervention 3. One non-attainment outcome measure one year after end of intervention to be confirmed and protocol updated by August 2016

Countries

England, United Kingdom

Contacts

Public ContactBeng Huat;Stephen See;Gorard

;

;s.a.c.gorard@durham.ac.uk;+44 (0)191 334 8419

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026