Top NFER research reports to read over the summer
From exploring the challenging issue of teacher retention and turnover to a closer look at Regional Schools Commissioner areas, we’ve put together the most popular NFER research reports and guides based on downloads from our website in the last six months.
View reports | 21 July
Changing the subject? How EBacc is changing school timetables
Following Justine Greening’s announcement that the 90% EBacc target has been pushed back 5 years, we look at how EBacc is changing school timetables
Blog post | 20 July 2017
Capacity for collaboration? Analysis of School-to-School Support Capacity in England
Schools could turn to one another for support in time of budget constraints, according to new analysis.
Press release | Research report | 19 July 2017
Increasing pupil numbers create challenges for secondary schools
In our latest blog, Suzanne Straw takes a look at the implications of DfE’s national pupil projections released today.
Blog post | 13 July 2017
If you want to learn, ask a teacher
The third and final part of our evidence-informed policymaking blog series looks at the importance of stakeholders.
Blog post | 10 July 2017
NFER appointed to carry out new OECD International Early Learning and Child Well-being Study
NFER has been appointed by the Department for Education to carry out a new OECD study to improve children’s early development in England.
News release | 6 July 2017
Festival of Education and Festival of Skills
NFER experts presented four sessions at these festivals: Is there a crisis in teacher retention?; PISA – Hero or villain of the education world?; Are UTCs working?; Opportunities and challenges for employer engagement
Read more | 30 June 2017
Teacher retention and turnover research: Research update 2
Being part of Multi-Academy Trusts may help schools in challenging areas to recruit and retain teachers.
Press release | Research report | 27 June 2017
More teachers are joining than leaving the profession, but will it be enough to meet demand?
Following today’s release of the School Workforce Census, Sarah Lynch and Jack Worth review the current state of the teacher labour market.
Blog post | 22 June 2017
University Technical Colleges: Beneath the Headlines - NFER Contextual Analysis
New research published today compares the characteristics and outcomes of University Technical College (UTC) students with similar students at the schools they attended during Key Stage 3 prior to joining the UTC.
Press release | Research report |22 June 2017
NFER response to government consultation on primary assessment in England
NFER has published its submission to the government consultation on primary assessment in England.
Press release | Response to consultation | 21 June 2017
Keeping up with the Jönses: European mechanisms for evidence-informed policymaking
Sigrid Boyd and Claudia Sumner look at the way research evidence informs education policy in other European countries.
Blog post | 20 June 2017
NFER Trustee recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours list
Ian Bauckham, has been appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen’s 2017 Birthday Honours List for services to education.
News release | 20 June 2017
Importance of evidence in a post-truth world
In the first of a three-part blog series on evidence-informed policymaking, Julie Nelson and Claudia Sumner address how our politicians can use evidence to inform policy.
Blog post | 16 June 2017
Situations vacant
Following one of the most remarkable election results Britain has ever seen, Geoff Gee and Karen Wespieser take a look at the future for education.
Blog post| 9 June 2017
Devolution at a crossroads?
NFER’s Cymru research team explore the education policies in the main political parties’ tailored manifestos for Wales.
Blog post | 7 June 2017
What you don’t find out about England’s educational performance in the PISA league table
The last in our series of election factsheets explains what the PISA league tables can and can't tell us.
Fact sheet| 6 June 2017
School funding – summary of evidence
School funding has been central to the education election debate. This note provides a summary of the key pledges from the main parties’ manifestos and asks if the evidence available supports their claims on this topic.
Read the pledges here | 6 June 2017
Are free schools good for my child?
In our latest election factsheet, we explore the topic of free schools.
Factsheet | 2 June 2017
School funding: Why we must not lose focus on addressing disadvantage
Continuing on the theme of education funding in the run up to the general election, our latest blog post by Caroline Sharp and Maire Williams puts the spotlight on protecting pupil premium.
Blog post | 1 June 2017
Academies and maintained schools: what do we know? This is the second factsheet published just prior to the 2017 United Kingdom General Election.
Factsheet | 31 May 2017
Education funding – time for more than just talkingKaren Wespieser and Maire Williams look at one of the key education issues on top of the political agenda.
Blog post | 30 May 2017
When I saw the opportunity to take the prime minister to task over grammar schools, I had to take it
In our latest election blog, read what happened when Head of Impact Karen Wespieser challenged the prime minister about grammar schools at a Duck Day fete.
Blog post | 26 May 2017
Getting the facts straight on education
Following the first televised election debate, NFER’s Karen Wespieser looks at the facts behind the policies in our latest blog post
Blog post | 19 May 2017
Teacher retention and turnover research: Research update 1
Leaving rates are ‘particularly high’ for early-career teachers in EBacc subjects, new analysis published today reveals.
Press release | Research report | 16 May 2017
The young people who don't fall NEET-ly into the picture
Claudia Sumner and Tami McCrone discuss one of the top education issues the main parties should be talking about ahead of the 2017 General Election.
Blog post | 10 May 2017
Key insights podcast: election special
Karen Wespieser, Head of Impact joined The Key insights panel to discuss what the 2017 General Election will mean for education. Listen to the full discussion here.
Podcast | 9 May 2017
Putting evidence at the heart of policymaking
In our latest Election 2017 blog post, NFER CEO Carole Willis looks at the importance of embedding evidence into policymaking.
Blog post | 8 May 2017
Randomised Controlled Trial and Process Evaluation of Code Clubs
Report detailing randomised controlled trial and process evaluation of Code Clubs between June 2015 and September 2016.
Research report | 4 May 2017
NFER comments on Education Committee’s Primary Assessment Report
NFER welcomes Education Committee’s view that assessment provides beneficial information and insight for learning, as well as for continuous improvement and accountability.
News release | 3 May 2017
General Election 2017
Now live, our dedicated pages of blogs, factsheets and educational evidence can be found here.
Go to page | 3 May 2017
Keeping Your Head: NFER Analysis of Headteacher Retention
New research published today shows that headteacher retention rates have fallen since 2012, giving cause for concern.
Press release | Research report | 28 April 2017
NFER appoints new Chair of Board of Trustees
NFER is delighted to announce the appointment of Lorna Cocking as Chair of the NFER Board of Trustees.
Press release | 24 April 2017
A tale of eight regions Part 2: Challenge and Support Across the Regional School Commissioner AreasNew analysis reveals dramatic differences in the challenges facing Regional Schools Commissioners.
Press release | Research report | 20 April 2017
Evidence for the Frontline
NFER evaluated the pilot of Evidence for the Frontline (E4F) (2015–2016) – an online brokerage service which supports more effective use of research evidence by schools.
Research report | 31 March 2017
Inaugural NFER sponsored E-Assessment Research Award goes to University of Wolverhampton
Award acknowledged the contribution made by an individual or team for innovative research that has, or has the potential to have, a significant impact on e-assessment.
News release
Educational organisations provide an approach to developing a whole school assessment that supports each and every learner
A new resource - Refocusing Assessment - has been jointly published by three educational organisations.
Press release | Blog post | Access the resource
Retaining teachers in Wales - what do we know?
Jack Worth and Jennifer Garry discuss statistics relating to teacher recruitment and retention in Wales.
Blog post
Executive headship – practical guidance for leadership teams
A new practical guide for schools on Executive Headship has been published today by NFER and Leadership Matters, based on research conducted by NFER, Ambition School Leadership and the National Governors’ Association.
News release
No academic benefit to attending partially selective schoolsAnalysis by NFER compares the results of pupils at partially selective schools with comparable pupils at similar, non-selective schools.
Press release | Research report
Life as an NFER apprentice
For National Apprenticeship Week 2017, our apprentice Harminder Hundal discusses her experience juggling various roles at NFER.
Blog post
Welsh government consultation on workforce data collection: NFER response
NFER response to the Welsh government consultation on proposed changes to the collection of individual-level information on the school workforce in Wales.
Response to consultation
NFER undertaking major new analysis to improve understanding of teacher retention and workforce turnover
Major education research grant from the Nuffield Foundation is funding a new research project on teacher retention.
Press release
Edge Foundation and NFER launch online tool to support schools and colleges in their engagement with employers
A free, interactive online tool for senior leaders and teachers in schools and colleges has been launched by the Edge Foundation in partnership with NFER.
News release
NFER Tests Suite 2 shortlisted for Education Resources Award 2017
The tests have been shortlisted for the category ‘Primary Resource or Equipment – Tools for leadership, management and assessment including ICT’.
News release
Conclusions of the Education Committee’s report on multi-academy trusts (MATs) echo key points from NFER’s submission
Report on MATs, published on Tuesday 28 February 2017, picked up on some key points from NFER’s submission to the Committee’s inquiry in April 2016.
News release
NFER welcomes Education Select Committee report
Foundation reaction to report on the recruitment and retention of teachers published on Tuesday 21 February 2017.News release
Could teacher retention be improving?The Education Select Committee has released a report arguing that the Government should place greater emphasis on improving teacher retention. Here’s why NFER agrees also.Blog post
Schools that work for everyone: Tackling disadvantageJoana Andrade’s third post on schools that work for everyone explores the term ‘disadvantage’.Blog post
New report on evidence-based policy-making in education
Eurydice Unit at NFER provides information on the picture in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for new European Commission report.
News release | Research report
Are secondary schools making enough progress in closing the attainment gap?Research Director Caroline Sharp says secondary schools have a long way to go in closing the attainment gap in state-funded schools.Blog post
The use of R&D in schools inches forwardAn analysis of responses from practitioners in teaching schools found that they would welcome support from the research community in addressing challenges faced in delivering research and development.Blog post
NFER is the national centre to deliver PISA 2018 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
NFER commissioned to form the National Centre for the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
News release | More on PISA 2018
NFER gives evidence to Education Committee on primary assessment
18 January 2017: Research Director Catherine Kirkup gives evidence to the House of Commons Education Select Committee following NFER's written submission on primary assessment in October 2016.
Response to consultation
Call for research evidence to be made more accessible to practitionersOne of a number of findings that emerged from an analysis of 83 teaching schools and a comparison group of 80 outstanding schools.News release | Research report
Hot topics from 2016Karen Wespieser, Head of Impact takes a look back at the top NFER reports and blogs of 2016.Blog post
Schools that work for everyone: Response to DfE consultation On the 12 December 2016, NFER submitted its response to the Department for Education’s consultation 'Schools that work for everyone'. We have produced a summary of our online submission.Response to consultation
Is mathematics education in England working for everyone? NFER analysis of the PISA performance of disadvantaged pupilsThis report analyses new data from PISA and TIMSS 2015 looking at the impact of disadvantage on pupils in England from an international perspective.Press release | Research report
PISA 2015 briefing papers
NFER has published two briefing papers on the PISA 2015 results:
Key insights from PISA 2015 (UK nations) and Key insights from PISA 2015 (Scotland)
Schools that work for everyone: What is disadvantage?In the first of a three-part series, our new blog on schools that work for everyone asks ‘what is disadvantage?Blog post
If we build it, they may not come: implementing effective education programs and policyIn a guest blog for the World Bank, Ben Durbin writes about lessons to keep in mind while delivering developmental education programs.Blog post
A Tale of Eight Regions: Part 1 - A snapshot of the evolving school system across the Regional Schools Commissioner areasNew research published today explores the evolving schools’ landscape since Regional Schools Commissioners were introduced in 2014. Among other features, it examines how regions have changed in terms of the number of academies and free schools across the RSCs’ areas.Press release | Research report