CONNECT with HAPPEN: Co-develOping the HAPPEN primary school Network to maximisE impaCT
During my PhD I developed and expanded HAPPEN, a primary school health and attainment network across Wales. HAPPEN aims to support primary schools with designing their new Curriculum for Wales due to be rolled out in 2022. Pupils aged 8-11 take part in an online survey that captures a range of information about their health and wellbeing. This is shared with schools as a school report to enable tailored curriculum design aligned to learners’ health and wellbeing needs.
As an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellow I will maximise and extend the impact of my PhD, whilst further developing HAPPEN as a national platform. I will be establishing partnerships with key regional and national stakeholders by developing a HAPPEN steering group to inform future network activities. Delivering an online workshop and a face-to-face conference for primary school staff will offer an opportunity to disseminate HAPPEN research findings, facilitate collaborations between schools and for schools to identify future research priorities. I will be producing academic publications including a population-level data linkage paper, using routine records in the SAIL (Secure Anonymised Information Linkage) Databank to examine factors associated with Key Stage 2 educational attainment. I aim to maximise impact by writing articles in The Conversation, producing Data Insights in collaboration with ADR (Administrative Data Research) Wales, sharing summary reports with Senedd Children, Young People and Education Committee and presenting at national and international conferences.
During this ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship, co-developing HAPPEN with stakeholders and primary schools aims to address the impacts of COVID-19 on schools. This can ensure the network can support schools not only in curriculum design, but also in the ‘education and wellbeing recovery’ of children align to identified priorities.
Twitter: @emily_marchant
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-emily-marchant