Education Endowment Foundation

The EEF supports projects that improve outcomes for children and young people aged 3–18, across England and Wales. Thematic priorities include attendance and GCSE resits in the 16–19 phase, self-regulation and executive function in the early years, teacher recruitment and retention through leadership programmes, and research evidence mobilisation. A recent funding round focused on improving attendance and reducing exclusions, with interest in anti-bullying programmes, classroom behaviour management, internal alternative provision, needs-led attendance interventions, and parent or carer communication interventions. The EEF funds the development, delivery, and independent evaluation of teaching interventions, professional development, and whole-school programmes. All projects must be scalable and typically involve multiple schools or settings.

A wide range of organisations can apply, including registered charities, not-for-profit organisations, individual schools, clusters of schools, teacher groups, universities, colleges, academy chains, mutuals, and co-operatives. Applicants must be based in England and Wales and deliver projects in those nations. The EEF prioritises projects that benefit socio-economically disadvantaged pupils aged 3–18. Organisations should be able to work at scale across multiple schools or settings, as the foundation seeks interventions with broad rollout potential.

The EEF does not fund core or unrestricted costs, single-school projects, or ideas that are not scalable. It also does not support projects outside England and Wales, or activities that do not aim to improve outcomes for children and young people aged 3–18.

The EEF funds projects through themed funding rounds. They welcome unsolicited applications that align with current priorities. Every grant includes a mandatory independent evaluation, and the foundation publishes all results openly, including null findings. Grants typically support the development, delivery, and evaluation of scalable interventions. They work with a range of partners, including schools, charities, and universities, to co-develop projects.