The Coalition for Evidence-based Education (CEBE) is developing an Education Media Centre - a new initiative that aims to make education research more accessible to the media and policy makers and so improve policy development, practice and public understanding of education. It will provide users with authoritative, independent and accessible insights from education research in response to current research and policy developments.

Read more on what the EMC will do....

  *Latest Updates*

EMC to go ahead!

A surge in interest from sponsors means the Education Media Centre, which will help journalists reach and use quality research evidence in their education coverage, will be launched later this year. With £240,000 pledged so far, a large proportion of the funding needed to start up and run the centre has been secured.  Sue Littlemore, former BBC correspondent, and Jonathan Sharples, of the Institute for Effective Education, have been appointed co-directors of the Centre.

An invitation event in January at the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation attracted a capacity crowd and enabled many potential funders and other interested parties to quiz the newly appointed co-directors, and led to several further sponsors stepping forward.

In a letter of thanks to sponsors, Baroness Estelle Morris, EMC Patron, said: “We are more convinced than ever there is a need for the EMC and that it will contribute to the quality of debate and decision-making throughout the education service.”

EMC Briefing Event

In December 2011 we held a briefing event in parliament on the proposals for the EMC.

There was widespread and enthusiastic support for the EMC at this event, from many different individuals and organisations – all with a commitment to improving the understanding of education.

 In case you missed it here is a video of the evening's presentations:

Education Media Centre - briefing event from Jonathan Sharples on Vimeo.

Individual speeches can be viewed at the following times:

Estelle Morris (EMC Patron) - 0m ; Sue Littlemore (Journalist) - 7m45s;  Fiona Fox (Director, Science Media Centre) - 14m30s; Jonathan Sharples (Institute for Effective Education) - 24m42s; Chris Jones (CEO, City & Guilds) - 32m10s 

Here are some endorsements by patrons of the EMC - Mike Baker (BBC), Lord Willis, Nick Pearce (IPPR) and John Dunford (Whole Education):

Endorsements by patrons of the EMC from Jonathan Sharples on Vimeo.

New EMC Business Plan

The development team has produced a full business plan that sets out many of the practical issues for the EMC - with details on initial services, governance, funding models, timeline etc.

We are pleased to say we have raised the majority of the funds needed to launch the centre in 2013, with generous support from 13 funders, including:

Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Learning and Skills Improvement Service, ESRC, Edge Foundation, Communications Management, Cambridge Assessment, Osiris Ltd, City and Guilds, Union Learn, National Science Learning Centre, Association of School and College Leaders.

Nevertheless, we still need further support to secure a long-term future.Please get in touch  with any ideas for individuals and organisations who would be interested in the aims of the EMC and might consider becoming a founding sponsor. There is a team of us who are more than happy to meet with interested parties face-to-face and discuss the EMC plans.