This brief looks at how research can shape better education policy—when it’s shared in the right way, with the right people. It explains how evidence products like systematic reviews, toolkits, and evidence gap maps help turn complex research into practical guidance. It also outlines how to track whether evidence is making a difference, why stakeholder engagement matters, and how Policy Influence Plans can help ensure findings reach decision-makers. Finally, it introduces Policy Labs as a hands-on way to test and scale solutions, bringing research and policy together in real-world settings.

This brief is part of a series of five brief guides produced by the Queen Rania Foundation, based on materials developed by Prof. Howard White (presenting  the Research and Evaluation Center (REC)) for the training course titled “Impact Evaluation: Methods, Advocacy, and Scalability”. The training was funded by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), the BHP Foundation, and the Queen Rania Foundation.