Research on the design, delivery and impact of teacher professional development and initial teacher training.
Lizarraga, L., Sims, S., & Woulfin, S. (2025) Teacher Professional Development: Costs, Benefits and Policy. AEFP Live Handbook of Education Policy Research.
Handbook chapter here
Banks, B., Sims, S., Curran, J., Meliss, S., Chowdhury, N., Altunbas, H.G., Alexandri, N., MacTavish, L., & Instone, I. (2024). Decomposition and recomposition: effects on novice teachers’ enactment and transfer of behaviour management practices. Ambition Institute.
Journal paper here / Working paper here / Non-technical summary here / blogs here and here / thread here
Sims, S., Fletcher-Wood, H., O’Mara-Eves, A., Cottingham, S., Stansfield, C., Goodrich, J., Van Herwegen, J., Anders, J. (2024). Effective teacher professional development: new theory and a meta-analytic test. Review of Educational Research.
Journal paper here / Working paper here / Longer EEF Paper here / Summary here / Podcast here / Guidance/resources here / Ofsted survey (Figure 9) here / Cited in the governments’ ITT/ECF framework here / Cited by Ofsted in their new framework here
Sims, S., Fletcher-Wood, H., Godfrey-Fausset, T., Mccrea, P. & Meliss, S. (2023). Modelling evidence-based practice in initial teacher training: causal effects on teachers’ skills, knowledge and self-efficacy. Instructional Science.
Paper here / Working paper here / Summary for educators here / Blog here / Thread here
Hobbiss, M., Sims, S., & Allen, B. (2021). Habit formation limits growth in teacher effectiveness: A review of converging evidence from neuroscience and social science. Review of Education.
Journal paper here / Seminar recording here / Coverage here / Cited in govt’s ITT Market Review here
Sims, S., & Fletcher-Wood, H. (2021). Identifying the characteristics of effective teacher professional development: a critical review. School Effectiveness and School Improvement.
Journal paper here / Working paper here / Coverage here / Blog here
Sims, S. (2021). Making good on the ITT Market Review. Gatsby.
Sims, S., & Fletcher-Wood, H. (2019). Identifying evidence-based professional development: programmes, forms and mechanisms. In Scutt, C., & Harrison, S., (Eds.) Teacher CPD: International trends, opportunities and challenges. John Catt Educational.
Paper here (p78)
Sam Sims Quantitative Education Research 