Establishing a Schools Research Network in Northwest London during a pandemic
Establishing a Schools Research Network in Northwest London during a pandemic
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The Covid-19 pandemic impacted us all collectively. The economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic is devastating. One of the hardest groups affected by the Covid-19 pandemic school closures and social distancing measures were children and young people.
The Covid-19 pandemic impacted us all collectively. The economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic is devastating. One of the hardest groups affected by the Covid-19 pandemic school closures and social distancing measures were children and young people.
The pandemic only emphasised the significant role that schools play in the health and welfare of young people as well as their education.
However, the research infrastructure to investigate the health impacts in the education sector was either missing or weak. Contrast this to vaccine development and the accompanying clinical research infrastructure which was mobilised effectively to answer important public health questions. A similar investment and infrastructure for schools would have helped answer more readily questions such as Should face masks be used in schools? What is the right size for classroom social distancing? What is the impact of school closures on physical and mental health and well-being?
What we did
What we did
Working in partnership with Imperial College London and Young Healthwatch/Listen to Act, an organisation focussed on providing community insights, we used the existing NIHR Clinical Research Network infrastructure in Northwest London (a population of 2.3 million) to develop a schools’ research network. Clinical Research Networks were established to provide the necessary health research infrastructure in local areas building on local relationships and collaborations.
The NIHR had begun to resource and acknowledge the importance of widening research to non-clinical settings. This meant we were able to leverage existing resources to invite all Northwest London schools to be a part of a research network. The overarching goal of the network was to create new knowledge, address research gaps, and share and apply knowledge across schools.
“Our teachers adjust well to students’ needs but some students struggle to bring up concerns, so I think the network can help us to address this.” - Student at one of our college collaborators
“Our teachers adjust well to students’ needs but some students struggle to bring up concerns, so I think the network can help us to address this.” - Student at one of our college collaborators
Although we were aware that there was a chance that schools may be overwhelmed by our request and potentially have little to no capacity to be involved in something new, 23 schools replied and agreed to be part of the network and be involved in research. Public perceptions of science during the pandemic had shifted to be more positive.
A member of staff at one of our secondary school collaborators stated "The research study you sent us sounds like just what we need" while a member of staff at one of our primary school collaborators "really liked the tools" we sent them.
A member of staff at one of our secondary school collaborators stated "The research study you sent us sounds like just what we need" while a member of staff at one of our primary school collaborators "really liked the tools" we sent them.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, catch-up teaching and exams, our first stakeholder workshop took place in June 2021. Teachers who attended identified mental health as their first, second and third key priority. This helped the Schools Research Network to actively identify research studies in this area and worked closely with our researchers at ARC Northwest London to implement them.
What is next?
What is next?
Eighteen months later, we have 58 schools with approximately 46,000 school children that have supported eleven research studies, with thirteen new schools signed up this year.
"We are really pleased to have such a high number of schools on our books. This is giving us the opportunity to listen to – and engage with – a huge number of young people, parents and staff from different areas and communities across the region which has been a real pleasure.
"We are really pleased to have such a high number of schools on our books. This is giving us the opportunity to listen to – and engage with – a huge number of young people, parents and staff from different areas and communities across the region which has been a real pleasure.
I have had some profoundly interesting conversations with some of our members and I look forward to more. We have some exciting plans for the new term to grow our network and to offer more of what our members need to strengthen the sense of community, and crucially, share learning across it." - Alex Weston, Stakeholder Engagement Lead for the Schools Research Network
I have had some profoundly interesting conversations with some of our members and I look forward to more. We have some exciting plans for the new term to grow our network and to offer more of what our members need to strengthen the sense of community, and crucially, share learning across it." - Alex Weston, Stakeholder Engagement Lead for the Schools Research Network
Moving forward, we aim to establish a steering group with representation from one school from each of the eight boroughs in Northwest London to help grow the network as well as encourage and support schools that may have less capacity to be part of the network. Our aim is to strike the balance of not overwhelming the schools and working at their pace. We hope that they will help shape and drive the health research agenda, with reciprocal opportunities for them to receive support by the research institutions and NIHR.
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