The Linguistic Phonics project – Commissioned by the BELB and funded by the BRO this project sought to evaluate the impact of the Linguistic Phonics Approach on children's reading, writing and spelling ability. Completed in September 2006, findings suggest that, pupils taught in schools using the LPA will have significantly higher scores on reading and writing ability tests than pupils taught in schools using other approaches. A copy of the published report is available in PDF format.

– Principal investigator: Dr Colette Gray. Team members: Jim Ferguson, Denise Mitchell, Carol Dunbar & Jill Dunn. Dedicated research assistant – Sarah Behan

SMILE: Studies in Mobility & Lifelong Skills for Young Children with a Sight Loss. Funded by Guide Dogs for the Blind. This 18month project explores the extent of VI in young children in the UK , and focuses on the lifeskills training available for children in NI. - Principal investigator: Colette Gray. Dedicated research assistant – Jan McIlmoyle

GAP project – Funded by BELB this project evaluates the impact that single-sex classes in a co-educational school have on educational achievement. - Principal investigator: Colette Gray. Dedicated research assistant – Joanne Wilson.

The Role of Special Needs in Preservice Training – funding through ESCALATE. Principal investigators: Eileen Winters GSoE, Colette Gray & Donna Magee Richmond of the University of Alberta , Canada .

Special educational needs in ITT – Scotens 1 paper written and accepted. On-going. Principal investigator: Hugh Kearns & Michael Shevelin (Trinity College )

Teacher continuing professional development in the universities of Ireland - On-going. Principal investigator: Hugh Kearns & Paul Conway ( University of Limerick ). Team members: Regina Murphy (Drumcondra) & Mary McAteer ( Edgehill College , Lancashire ).

Ulster-Scots Curriculum Development Unit. –

Funded by The Ulster-Scots Agency. Director

Hilary Avery :

Four Projects:

Ulster- Scots in the Primary School 2002-05 – Project Manager: Andrea Gilbert and Senior Project Officer: Jim Millar

Ulster-Scots in the Secondary School 2003-06 – Senior Project Officers Carol Baraniuk and Linda Hagan

Adult Language Courses: 2003-06 Senior Project Officer: Jim Millar and Andrea Gilbert

Research Project 2004-07 to support staff research and schools trailing in the above curriculum areas. Dedicated Research Officer: Emma Fitzgerald.

Research underpinning academic content, curriculum development and educational methodology has been presented to conferences nationally and internationally and publications from this project have been accepted by national and international journals. Schools trailing of Primary Project materials has taken place and results are being analysed for publication. Primary materials will be published in the Spring of 2005 for roll-out to schools in Summer term 2005.

Sustained Peace Educational efforts for Social Cohesion and Co-existence in International Conflict and Post-Conflict Societies - This project is a collaboration between Dr Claire McGlynn & Dr Zvi Bekerman of the Hebrew University , Jerusalem . It aims to bring together international researchers looking at long term peace education efforts in countries that have suffered or are suffering from protracted societal conflict. Funds have been secured from the Alan B. Slivka Foundation in New York that will enable a conference to be held in the Hebrew University 6-9th June 2005. Papers are currently being reviewed for this conference and discussions are underway with an international publishing house with regards to producing an edited volume.

IT & ADHD – Funded by the DE. This project explores how IT can be used as a method for improving the attention spans of children with ADHD. Principal investigator: Chris Read & Jim Ferguson.

Early Years Thinking – This project aims to develop a measure to evaluate thinking skills in young children. Funded by CCEA this study begins in 2005. Principal investigator: Glenda Walsh with Carol Dunbar. P/T Researcher to be appointed.

Recently completed Projects

VIPEC project – Funded by the Esmée Fairburn Foundation/ SEELB & DHSS this 2 year project examines visual impairment in the young child. Due for completion in December, publications from this project have been accepted by national and international journals. - Principal investigator: Colette Gray.

EPPNI – This is a longitudinal study which investigates the attainment and development of children between the ages of 3 to 7 years. Due for completion in December the project has produced 10 technical papers with other publications in the pipeline. Research director: Ted Melhuish Birkbeck College, University of London with partners from Oxford University . Joint research co-ordinators: Louise Quinn. & Karen Hanna

CAME 11 - Cognitive acceleration in mathematics education – This project builds on CAME 1 and reports a pilot evaluation of a BELB project that trialled Cognitive acceleration in mathematics education in post-primary schools. Funded by BELB, due for completion Easter 2005. Principal investigators: Patricia Eaton & Irene Bell.

Diversity – Scotens completed, with the report launched last week. Principal investigator: Louise Quinn. Team members - Sheelagh Carville, Barbara McConnell and Norman Richardson. Dedicated researcher assistant P/T – Helen McLaughlin

TIPPS – Funded by DE this completed project examined teacher recruitment patterns in post-primary schools in NI. The report is due for publication. Principal investigator: Colette Gray. Team members Julian Greenwood, Patricia Eaton, Irene Bell, John McCullagh & Brian Cummins. Dedicated research assistant - Sarah Behan.

MPLD – Scotens complete, reported last week. Principal investigator: Colette Gray & Jean Ware from Drumcondra. Team member - Sean MacBlain. Dedicated research assistant - Sarah Behan.

Unlocking creativity in the classroom –Funded by BELB. Principal investigator: Jim Ferguson. Team members: Colm Donaghy, Michael McCurley, Colette Gray & Sarah Behan.

CAME 1 - Cognitive acceleration in mathematics education – Funded by BELB this project was a pilot evaluation of a BELB project that trialled Cognitive acceleration in mathematics education in post-primary schools. Principal investigators: Patricia Eaton & Irene Bell.

Early Years Language Project : this completed project was funded by DE. Principal investigator: Sheelagh Carville. Research Team – Les Caul, Bev Hutchinson, Louise Quinn & Colette Gray. Dedicated research assistants – Helen McLaughlin & Paula Wright.

Voices of children – research complete, report forwarded to DHSS. Principal investigator: Glenda Walsh. Team members: Jill Dunn, Mary McAllister & Denise Mitchell. Dedicated research assistant – Julie Cunningham.