Werneth Primary School welcomes international delegation

Werneth Primary School hosted a delegation of international education leaders and teacher trainers, brought together through the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), as part of a global effort to strengthen the use of evidence in education.

Among the visitors was Leerpunt, an independent evidence centre established by the Flemish government in 2023.

Leerpunt plays a pivotal role in translating research into practical teaching strategies for schools across Flanders. Inspired by the EEF’s Teaching and Learning Toolkit and the Research Schools Network, Leerpunt has partnered with EEF to adapt resources for Flemish educators.

This collaboration is part of the wider Evidence for Education Network (EEN) - a group of ten international organisations committed to advancing educational equity through the effective use of evidence in Europe, Western Asia, Middle Africa, Oceania, and Latin America.

The visit to Werneth Primary was an opportunity for the Flemish delegation, including 20 representatives from initial teacher training organisations, to see first-hand how evidence is embedded in classroom practice and school culture.

Amy Faux, Senior International Manager at the EEF, said: “It was really fantastic to see Research School exemplification in action, particularly the school’s use of the SEN in mainstream education guidance.

"We appreciated so many classrooms opening their doors, allowing us to see the threads of improvement strategies from Early Years to Year 6.

"The delegation found the team, students, and community truly inspiring.”

Alida Pierards, Head of Primary Education at Hogeschool PXL, added: “We were able to see the school culture, evidence, and collaboration between teachers in every class we visited.

"It was a great visit. I return to Belgium with lots of inspiration to share.”

Louise Astbury, Director of Pinnacle Learning Research School, added: “We were absolutely delighted to welcome international education leaders and teacher trainers to our school.

"It was a privilege to showcase how we use evidence in practice, and I’m incredibly proud of our staff and pupils for the passion and professionalism they displayed.

"Our guests found the work truly inspirational - a real credit to our whole school community.”

Werneth Primary’s participation in this international exchange highlights its role as a leading example of how research evidence can directly support teaching, learning, and school improvement.

Jonathan Bell, Executive Principal welcomed this opportunity.

He said: “We were delighted to be asked to host visitors from Leerpunt and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to share our practice in exemplifying the EEF guidance.

"We are proud advocates of an evidence informed approach to meeting the needs of learners, combining our in-depth knowledge of our school context and community with what research tells us will support children and staff to succeed.

"It was great to work with international colleagues that shared this ethos and the delegates brought their knowledge and experience to our discussions about evidence, practice and effective implementation.”

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