Research Mark Plus

The application process was rigorous, assessing our school’s approach against six key criteria – from how research shapes classroom practice and professional learning to how it informs leadership, collaboration, and long-term culture. We gathered evidence from across Ken Prep to show that research is part of our everyday life, shaping how teachers plan, reflect, and make decisions using evidence and pupil feedback.

Highlights include:

• A Strong Culture of Research Engagement (Research Mark 1):
  Research is a ‘living, breathing part of school life’ at Kensington Prep School. Staff are encouraged to act as practitioner-researchers, trialling new approaches and reflecting critically on their impact.
• Evidence-Informed Evaluation (Research Mark 2):
  School leaders use both internal and external evidence to guide decisions – from pupil voice and assessment data to global research sources like the Education Endowment Foundation and John Hattie.
• Research and Professional Learning (Research Mark 3):
  Our CPD programme is grounded in robust educational research, with staff exploring topics such as cognitive science and metacognition during INSETs, Phase Meetings, and our popular ‘Teasearch’ evenings.
• Critical Engagement with Research (Research Mark 4):
  Teachers build research literacy through collaborations like the GDST Junior Action Research Collaborative and apply findings directly to classroom and pastoral practice.
•  Collaboration and Dissemination (Research Mark 5):
  Ken Prep proudly contributes to the wider educational community, sharing insights through conferences and publications such as the Impact journal.
• Sustained and Embedded Practice (Research Mark 6 – Optional):
  Our application also demonstrated how research engagement is sustained over time, ensuring that it remains woven into the fabric of our school culture.

Our submission was reviewed by the Chartered College of Teaching, who were hugely impressed by how deeply research is woven into everything we do at Ken Prep – from classroom lessons to leadership decisions. On this basis, Kensington Prep School was not just awarded the Research Mark but the Research Mark Plus, which is only awarded to schools that show a long-term, genuine commitment to using research to make education even better… and we are proud to be one of them!

For Kensington Prep School, this recognition means a lot. It celebrates our teachers as lifelong learners, our pupils as curious thinkers, and our community as one that values innovation, reflection, and continual growth. We are proud of our pioneering heritage, particularly as the first school in the GDST, and this award demonstrates that we remain at the forefront of girls’ education.

But despite this exciting accreditation, our work doesn’t stop here. At Ken Prep, curiosity never stands still! We will continue exploring, questioning, and using research to make learning even more inspiring for everyone in our community.