Strategies that encourage direct linkage and exchange between researchers and practitioners are more likely to support changes in educational practice informed by research evidence. Nevertheless, significant challenges remain in linking effectiveness education research to real-world practice: addressing the knowing-doing gap. The paper describes…

This is the first article to analyse and evaluate Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) reports on attendance issues within local authorities. A full cohort of Ofsted reports on local education authorities (LEAs) undertaken in 2003 in England were read, evaluated and used in the preparation of this article. The reports show that most LEAs…