Huge milestone reached in schools research project
We’ve now involved 2,385 students in health research in their North West London schools.
By building relationships with schools we are able to give more students the opportunity to share their mental health priorities.
In collaboration with NIHR Clinical Research network (CRN) North West London, Imperial College London and NIHR Applied Research collaboration (ARC) Northwest London, Listen to Act (LTA) has a key strategic and operational role in creating, managing and growing a network of schools across Northwest London.
The focus is to improve the health and wellbeing of pupils through relevant and inclusive health research where staff and students can take part, influence, and explore this research together.
What the network has achieved so far
Together, we have:
Supported the recruitment of 60 schools from across eight boroughs to take part in the network.
Facilitated the involvement of 2,385 students in research.
Attended three community events across the region to promote the network and to capture more insights of local people and their health priorities.
Lead on the creation of network newsletters and digital content.
Created a steering group for the network to bring students and staff together. The group provides opportunities for participants to influence future research, discuss the feasibility of current research, and to gather a strategic steer on what the barriers are for involvement. Two meetings have been held so far.
Watch one of our young steering group members talk about how young people take the lead in her school to support their peers.
Exciting new research is regularly added to the portfolio covering all kinds of health topics. There is a focus on upskilling and training staff and students to support them.
Join the Schools Research Network
For information about new studies, training and opportunities for teaching staff, pupils and parents click here.
Steering Group: first meeting highights
We captured short highlights from our first Steering Group meeting. A young member of the group spoke about an initiative she and her peers introduced to help students manage their mental health and specific challenges like exam stress. We also heard about barriers and previous experiences of delivering research in schools.
We held our second steering group meeting on 25th September to further strengthen the identity of the group, introduce a new 'member spotlight' feature, discussed the current studies on the network's portfolio and the challenges of the new academic year.
What’s next?
Research careers event
We have designed a research careers event for secondary schools which we will be offering throughout the Autumn term.
The idea is to give young people a flavour of the different types of careers and roles available within research, which they wouldn't normally think of. Many people are under the misapprehension that research means you need to be a doctor or an academic.
New studies open to expressions of interest
SCAMP and Research Challenge
Selected Year 12 students will collaborate with researchers from Imperial College London to plan and deliver a real data collection session at their school and put forward their very own research proposal.
The Diet and Eating Behaviours across Early Adult Transitions (DEBEAT) study
The DEBEAT study is investigating the drivers of changes in diet and eating behaviours through early adulthood, focussing on the transition out of secondary school to understand how changes in social environments, local food environments, and economic factors that impact diet and eating behaviours over this period.
DEBEAT will recruit 1,500 adolescents in the last year of a participating sixth form or college (aged 17-18, Year 13).
Find out more about the studies
Words from the team
“I am pleased with how we are progressing - it has been such a privilege to work with the schools. I am excited to grow this collaboration further through close collaboration with our members, individually and collectively.”
“Despite the pressures on schools, we are delighted that so many have engaged in research and so many young people have participated in research studies that were relevant to them. We look forward to growing on this success in the new year.”