EEF STEER Pilot: STEER Tracking to support 16+ Transition, Attendance and Retention
We are delighted to announce that, due to high demand, ALL PLACES ARE NOW TAKEN for sixth forms and sixth form colleges on this fully funded EEF pilot.
Missed out on this pilot? Register here for early information on the next, larger STEER EEF trial for 16+ settings.
Project opportunity:
EEF are funding a pilot into the ability of STEER Tracking to support 16+ Transition, Attendance and Retention.
What is STEER Tracking?
STEER Tracking is a whole-class, socioemotional programme that aims to reduce the risks of disengagement and absenteeism by giving school-based sixth forms and colleges early-warning data on learner wellbeing.
The project will be delivered to learners transitioning from Year 11 to Year 12. Pastoral tutors are trained to identify vulnerable learners early and provide proactive, personalised support during everyday interactions.
Who is leading this project?
This project is led by STEER Education, an organisation that has been working with schools and colleges across the UK for over 10 years. STEER Education provide school-base sixth forms and colleges with termly online learner assessment, tutor dashboard and action-planning toolkit to support data-driven, proactive, and targeted pastoral care.
What will this project look like in your setting?
If allocated to the pilot study, each school or college will appoint an internal STEER Lead to oversee delivery of the programme. The STEER Lead will be trained, coached and supported by a dedicated STEER School Manager, who will work closely with the STEER Lead and pastoral tutors to embed the programme effectively within the setting.
Pastoral tutors will complete STEER’s online training, consisting of six short modules (90 minutes in total) delivered via video conferencing. Following each termly assessment, pastoral tutors will take part in three 60-minute action-planning workshops, supported by the STEER School Manager, to reflect on insights from the learner data and plan targeted pastoral responses.
Learners transitioning from Year 11 to 16+ will complete a 10-minute online wellbeing assessment each term (September, January, May) during their pastoral lessons. The assessment measures how learners are navigating key factors that underpin learning, relationships and mental health. After each assessment, learners and their pastoral tutors receive personalised feedback, enabling them to work together to address risks early, before they impact attendance, engagement and wellbeing.
As this is a research evaluation, participating schools and colleges will be asked to support some evaluation activities. The STEER Lead will act as the main point of contact, working with IFF Research to facilitate the evaluation process and support both staff and learner participation in activities such as surveys, interviews or learner assessments. Full details of the evaluation requirements will be shared with schools or colleges that express an interest in taking part.
Who can take part?
To participate, schools and colleges must meet the following criteria:
- Be a state-maintained school-based sixth form, or sixth form college;
- Be based in England;
- Have pastoral tutors who meet with their learners during regular form time, with responsibility for tracking their learners’ engagement, attendance and wellbeing, and tailoring proactive pastoral support when needed.
- Not participate in the following EEFs Vocabulary Mastery for GCSE English resits Programme
- Meet the readiness criteria requirements to implement the programme, such as a need to improve attendance and engagement, strategic leadership alignment, core professional development (CPD) capacity, technical/digital resources. For further information see [insert readiness criteria hyperlink].
How can you register your interest?
Settings can express interest by completing this Expression of Interest Form on the EEF website.
You will be asked to:
- Provide key information about your school or college;
- Indicate your readiness to participate in the pilot study of STEER Tracking;
- Indicate your availability to join an introductory webinar providing detailed information on what the programme will entail;
- Agree to be contacted by a member of the STEER delivery team to follow up your interest.
Why are EEF funding it?
The transition from Year 11 into 16+ education is a key stage in learners’ educational journeys. STEER Tracking focuses on this transition by supporting schools and colleges to identify wellbeing-related factors that may influence engagement, attendance, and retention. The EEF’s Teaching and Learning Toolkit highlights the importance of embedding metacognition and self-regulation strategies within everyday teaching practices rather than delivering them as discrete interventions. STEER Tracking aims to support this approach by enabling staff to identifying risks early and take practical, preventative actions through routine teacher–learner interactions
There is emerging evidence to suggest that STEER Tracking shows promise. In 2024, ImpactEd Group conducted a matched-pairs study involving 10 intervention schools and 10 control schools (85% of which were state schools, spanning Years 1–13). Schools using STEER Tracking, alongside the associated professional development, termly assessments and pupil
action planning, reported largely positive outcomes These included improved attendance, fewer mental health incidents, and increased staff confidence in addressing mental health concerns and prioritising pastoral care without increasing workload.
How are EEF evaluating it?
This programme will be evaluated by IFF research using a pilot study. The pilot will evaluate the potential of STEER Tracking to support 16+ learners’ transition, attendance and retention. All participating settings will be included in the evaluation of the pilot which will involve pastoral tutor and learner surveys, interviews and mini focus groups, as well as analysis of anonymised programme data.
What is the timeline for this project?
Delivery is taking place in the 2026/2027 academic year, and the evaluation report will be published in Spring 2028.
Settings should express interest now- between February 23rd and April 10th
Settings can express interest by completing this Expression of Interest Form on the EEF website
Other project information
