New Research Reveals Key to Unlocking Pupil Engagement - 10th Jan 2025
Recent research from education charity Ambition Institute highlights how meeting pupils' core psychological needs is essential for boosting motivation and engagement.
The comprehensive study emphasises that while schools have made significant progress in creating predictable learning environments, there's growing concern about declining pupil motivation, with persistent absence and classroom disruption on the rise.
"These findings are particularly significant for SEND provision," says Steve Farndon, author of the research. "The study demonstrates that meeting these core psychological needs is effective across all contexts and pupil groups, including those with additional needs."
Key findings reveal three fundamental needs that drive pupil engagement:
- Competence: pupils need to feel capable and experience success, especially through carefully calibrated challenges
- Relatedness: a sense of belonging within the school community is crucial for engagement
- Autonomy: pupils thrive when they feel ownership over their learning
The study shows that teachers can learn to better support pupils' psychological needs through focused professional development. This is particularly important for SEND provision, where understanding and meeting individual pupils’, needs is crucial for engagement and progress.
Read the full report from the Ambition Institute
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