Summary of the impact

Two successive ESRC studies by Myhill and Jones have shaped national policy and practice in the teaching of writing in the UK and internationally, by establishing an appropriately evidenced rationale for grammar in a pedagogy for writing. Rapporteur A (Study 2) noted that `the grant-holders should be congratulated for their activities in ensuring that relevant policy-makers are aware of and take in to consideration appropriate empirical evidence that they have gathered' and Rapporteur B believed that the research `has had more impact than any other UK educational project'. Specifically the two studies have had an impact by:

• shaping national and international policy on grammar and the teaching of writing;
• developing teachers' understanding of, and practice in, the teaching of grammar and writing;
• influencing the work of a commercial organisation, Pearson Education, developing new materials & CPD;
• stimulating practitioner and public debate about grammar and writing.

Summary of the impact

Wastes management represents a major global environmental challenge. In the early 2000s Defra recognised that the UK's emphasis needed to change from managing waste to preventing it arising, and that Local Authorities must be equipped to produce cost-effective waste reduction plans. To this end, WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) financed a major Local Authority training programme involving the Centre for Sustainable Wastes Management (CSWM) due to its track record of research expertise. Evaluation of this training demonstrated that over 90% of 204 delegates (from 33% of Local Authorities) developed a deeper understanding of waste prevention and 41% consequently upgraded their plans, embedding sustainable practice into their organisations and reducing arisings. The ultimate impact of this has been to save Local Authorities money and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

Summary of the impact

Dr Ian Cawood's work on the political heritage of late Victorian and early Edwardian Britain has had an impact on society:

• By preserving and interpreting the contribution of the Liberal Unionist party to the development of Conservative, Ulster Unionist and Liberal political traditions in UK.
• By raising public and political awareness of the historical tradition of coalition governments.
• By informing and influencing the secondary and higher education British political history curriculum.

The impact has been achieved by engagement with policy makers, especially politicians and political parties, through media coverage, engagement with the history groups of national political parties, the organisation of a series of national conferences and production of a major policy paper and opinion piece for a leading history-briefing organisation.