Bill Tagg Bursary

What is the Bill Tagg Bursary?

This Naace bursary was set up in memory of the first Professional Officer of Naace, Dr Bill Tagg. Bill had an abiding passion for the use of ICT and its impact on teaching and learning. The Bursary supports Naace Members or their nominees allowing them to engage in short periods of clearly focussed research activity. The results of this research, reports and/or materials are disseminated to the membership and to the wider community where appropriate.

Who is eligible to apply?

Anyone within the Naace membership is entitled to apply for the Bill Tagg research bursary. Members are also encouraged to support applications from colleagues in schools or other institutions. We particularly seek to encourage the collection of evidence that shows how the use of a variety of ICT solutions impacts upon teaching and learning in its broadest sense, and how this in turn contributes to raising standards.

What is the value of the grant?

The Bursary is awarded to three candidates per year. A maximum sum of £3250 will be made available to cover:

• travel costs, for meetings with supervisors at Nottingham Trent University, or elsewhere as required (allow for at least four meetings);
• a stipend to cover release time at a daily rate; and
• materials and consumables (paid on submission of itemised receipts).

Selection Process

The annual cycle of the bursary programme is 15 months with a call for applicants each New Year.

Applications for 2008 will be welcome from January onwards

A shortlist is drawn up early in early April when selected candidates are invited to present their plans to a panel representing the Naace Board of Management, the family of Bill Tagg, bursary sponsor and Nottingham Trent University. Successful applicants are informed by mid-May when they may start their research. In Spring the following year, researchers may present at the Naace Annual Conference. Publication and dissemination of results from the research is expected from September onwards in the year following the award.

Support from Nottingham Trent University

The Bill Tagg research bursary recipients are registered as students at Nottingham Trent University. A supervisor, appointed by the University supports each Naace researcher. Bill Tagg Bursary researchers may attend the Research Methods module at the University. Successful completion of the project may entitle the researcher to be accredited towards an award. Each research project should be completed, evaluated and documented within the annual cycle.
The nature of the report will be discussed and agreed with the successful applicant before the research period commences. Interim reports may also be required at intervals.

Applications

The application process is not onerous. Interested Naace Members should submit a proposal that sets out:

• the theme and purpose of the investigation (no more than a paragraph) which suggests a possible title for the project;
• how the research would support and inform the applicant’s own role in the education service (no more than a paragraph including the applicant’s background and current role);
• a description of the proposed methodology and data collection techniques (a simple statement or annotated list);
• intended outcomes, including arrangements for dissemination (a simple statement or list of possibilities which may include a Naace Conference, website, CPD events, Sponsoring Partners’ days etc.);
• a statement reflecting the personal and professional learning that the applicant hopes to achieve and how this may be measured (no more than a paragraph);
  arrangements for evaluating the outcomes (no more than a paragraph);
• an outline of the proposed timescale, including trigger points for submission of invoices;
  an itemised estimate of costs;
• a signed statement from their employer, if relevant, indicating that the application is supported and that release will be approved if successful.

Where the applicant is not a Member of Naace, the submission must also include a signed statement from a Naace Member indicating that the application is supported by them.

Proposals are accepted until mid-January each year

Please submit enquiries and your proposals to:
office@naace.co.uk