The inaugural BERA Teacher Network Conference is dedicated to teachers and teacher – researchers and will spotlight the transformative power of educational research in educational practice. The conference aims to highlight the interconnected nature between educational research and classroom practice, celebrating innovative ideas and evidence-based approaches to enhance teaching and learning. Attendees will explore how research is at the heart of educational improvement and will get introduced to research that is practice-based. They will also hear success stories from across education phases and settings and engage in discussions on the role of research in addressing pressing classroom challenges. Join us as we bring together educational researchers, teachers from primary, secondary, and further education, teacher-researchers, and leaders to empower classrooms and educational contexts with meaningful, impactful insights.

Call for Proposals

We invite 500-word proposals to be presented at the conference.

This inaugural BERA and BERA Teacher Network Conference will connect teachers, doctoral students, and scholars across all education sectors in the UK. The network is an inclusive community of educators from early years, primary, and secondary schools, as well as further, adult, and vocational education.

To ensure inclusivity, we welcome all teachers and educators to participate in our inaugural conference, which will explore the broad theme of how research makes an authentic difference in classrooms and learning spaces. We will examine what ‘evidence-informed,’ ‘evidence-engaged,’ ‘close-to-practice,’ and ‘practitioner-led’ research look like, how teachers and students experience them, and their impact on what, where, and how we teach.

Our aim is to bridge educational research and practice, supporting educators to access research and develop research leadership skills. This in-person event will foster a research-rich culture and offers a platform to share ideas, research, and best practices.

We recognise the pressures of being a teacher-researcher and the complexities of shifting professional identities. Whether research is integral to your role, part of doctoral studies, or both, the conference will provide space to explore these challenges and opportunities.

To this end, we are offering a variety of topic areas for submissions from different education sectors. We accept abstracts that are individual or collaborative and that share reflections or research aligned with the theme of making a real difference in classrooms and learning spaces.

We welcome proposals from:

• Teachers and educators from all education phases
• Teachers on EdD and PhD programmes
• Teacher-researchers
• Scholars engaged with teachers or educators in their research
• Educational researchers, students, and professionals at various career stages

Suggested Presentation Topics:

We encourage diverse presentations and workshops. The following list is a prompt, not a restriction:

• Teachers’ doctoral research
• Collaborative research between schools, colleges, and universities
• School/college research culture
• Case studies of impactful classroom research
• Research on teaching, learning, or curriculum
• The growing impact of AI in education
• Research methods in education settings
• Teachers sharing their research journeys
• Reflections on becoming a teacher-researcher
• Well-being in education
• Professional learning and CPD

We also welcome proposals for presentations that have positively impacted teaching and learning, even if not listed above.

Presentation Formats:

• 15-minute presentation (12 minutes for presentation + 3 minutes for Q&A)
• 25-minute participatory workshop
• 3-minute thesis session

Key Dates:

• Abstract submission deadline: 21 October 2025
• Decisions confirmed: 11 November 2025
• Registration deadline for presenters: 12 January 2026