If you have a question about getting a RIS teacher in your school, the answer might be detailed below. If you have any other questions, please email us at hello@researchersinschools.org
The programme is a three year undertaking, with the third year being optional for both the school and the participant. Over the course of the programme, participants complete the Research Leader in Education (RLE) Award, designed to ensure that participants are well equipped to deploy their knowledge and skills for the benefit of pupils and schools.
The Brilliant Club works in partnership with ITE providers in Year 1, enabling participants to achieve QTS through either the School Direct fee or salaried routes. In Years 2 and 3 participants are employed by their placement schools as NQTs. Throughout the programme participants have protected, off-timetable time to work towards the wider aims of the programme.
RIS Participants follow the ITE training and workload structure established at their placement school but, to allow them time to complete the RLE and have an enhanced impact on pupil outcomes and university progression in their schools, they have a guaranteed amount of protected time. This varies by year and is outlined below:
| Year | Teaching load | Protected time |
| 1 | Participants’ teaching load will increase in line with the ITE provider’s School Direct fee and salaried programmes.* | Minimum of equivalent of half a day per week protected time. Schools will decide in advance how to structure this to work best for them and the participant. RIS will suggested potential structures depending on factors such as the school’s context, the participant’s training route etc. |
| 2 | Participants will teach a typical first year NQT timetable pro rata over 4 days, completing the standard full-time induction programme at the placement school. | Minimum of 10% additional non-contact time on top of normal NQT allowance. |
| 3 | Participants will teach a typical second year NQT timetable pro rata over 4 days. | Minimum of 10% additional non-contact time on top of ECF Year 2 allowance. |
*In Year 1, participants increase their teaching load in line with their ITE provider’s guidance for their fee and salaried routes. For fee trainees, it is anticipated that this will be a supernumerary position with no unsupervised teaching for at least the first term. For salaried trainees it is anticipated that this will include significant independent teaching from the beginning of the year.
Participants may only be placed in non-selective state secondary schools, including academies and free schools. Participants can be placed in University Technical Colleges, and sixth form colleges that teach A-level courses providing they can get sufficient experience of another Key Stage in line with the ITE provider’s requirements. Participants cannot be placed in schools in special measures.
Participants on the School Direct Fee route:
The school will provide a place for the training year, with the expectation that they will then employ the participant for their NQT induction, from July of Year 1(2021). If the school is unable to commit to employing the participant for two years from the start of Year 2, they will need to notify their ITE provider by Easter of Year 1, so an alternative school can be found for the participant. The third year of the programme is optional for both candidate and school.
Participants on the School Direct Salaried route:
The third year of the programme is optional for both candidate and school, however, the school should aim to employ the participant for the full three years from the outset, subject to them achieving QTS, NQT status and meeting the professional requirements of their school. Supporting a participant for the three-year duration of the programme allows the school to develop an early career teacher and research leader who is aligned to the school ethos and has built relationships with pupils and colleagues.
Training Fees
In Year 1 the cost to schools is the same as for a typical School Direct fee or salaried trainee through the ITE provider*.
In Years 2 and 3 the school pays the participant as a full time NQT and RQT.
RIS Programme Fee
| Participant Subject | Annual, per-participant fee |
| Maths, Physics | £2,800 |
| Biology, Chemistry, Computing | £2,000 |
| Classics, Geography, MFL | £1,800 |
| English, History | £1,000 |
* There are some additional on-costs for maths and physics salaried participants as a result of DfE bonus payments.
The protected time enables participants to pursue the RIS aims and achieve the RLE award. You can read more on RLE activities and impact by clicking the links.