Why trust NFER Tests

With her specialism in Primary maths assessment, Parveen has been involved in maths and numeracy item writing development for clients including The Standards and Testing Agency and The Australian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (ACARA). She has also been involved in a range of international projects, including TIMMS and the Girls’ Education Challenge. Parveen also led the development of NFER’s Year 6 maths autumn and spring assessments.

Prior to joining NFER, Parveen worked for 9 years as a Primary School teacher, primarily focused in key stage 2 and specialising in Primary Maths and EAL. Parveen has completed a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from UCL and a Masters in Education (MEd) from the University of Cambridge, from which she has gained a wide range of both quantitative and qualitative research experience.

Louise works in the Centre for Assessment on the development of primary level reading and mathematics assessment products, including national clients and NFER’s own set of reading assessment products for key stages 1 and 2. Louise has experience across the primary age range, having worked as an Early Years teacher, overseas EFL teacher and an english and maths tutor. Louise has a particular interest in vocabulary and reading skills acquisition, which was the subject of her MA dissertation (finalist in the British Council MA dissertation award 2017).

Liz heads up Assessment Research and Product Development and co-leads a team of over 30 assessment specialists and test designers. Her team develop NFER’s highly successful assessment products and undertake leading-edge assessment research. Between 2001 and 2013 she was the National Research Coordinator for the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) and worked on the development of the 2016 and 2021 studies.
Liz’s other international work includes providing advice on formative assessment in China, assessment development in Botswana and the evaluation of a benchmarking method across a range of countries to assist reporting for SDG 4.1.1.

With over 25 years’ experience in assessment development and research, Liz managed the development of English tests taken by all 11-year-olds in England and the development of non-statutory tests used nationally in key stages 2 and 3 (11- and 14-year-olds) from 1997-2012. She also managed the development of the national reading and numeracy tests in Wales. Liz was previously deputy head of a combined school, having taught primary and lower secondary students.                                                                                                                                                         

Dr. Frances Brill is a literacy assessment specialist with a background in educational linguistics and primary teaching. Over her 20-year career at the NFER, she has managed and directed national and international assessment projects, with a focus on the areas of writing composition, phonics, technical English, oracy, reading comprehension and 21st century competencies.

Frances has authored suites of literacy assessment materials for classroom use, including support materials for teachers. She has also written literacy competency assessments for teachers. Her international work includes the development of life skills assessments for use in Australia, and in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa). Frances is the joint editor of NFER’s peer-review international journal, Educational Research, published by Routledge Taylor and Francis.

Frances holds a PGCE (primary), an MA in general linguistics and a PhD in educational linguistics.

Specialising in reading test development, Jemma has managed a range of projects, including the development of NFER’s suite of standardised reading assessments for key stage 1 and 2, as well as items for the Standards and Testing Agency and the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).

Prior to joining NFER, Jemma worked with pupils on the autistic spectrum in both mainstream and special needs schools. She completed a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Warwick and an MSc in Developmental Disorders from the University of Lancaster. During her degrees, she was involved in various projects researching language and literacy development.

Emily has been with NFER since 2001 and has worked on a wide range of projects developing test materials in science and mathematics, including for the key stage 1 and 2 statutory tests in England and the Australian statutory NAP test.

Emily is responsible for overseeing the development of NFER Tests, working particularly closely on mathematics. She is also a consultant member of the TIMSS 2019 Science and Maths Item Review Committee and in recent years has contributed to the development of their new practical science e-assessment tasks, as well as developing and trialling the standard science questions. Prior to working at NFER Emily was a Year 6 class teacher with responsibility in science and music.

David joined NFER’s Centre for Assessment in November 2015, after a several years of study and experience working in education. David specialises in reading and grammar assessments, working on question writing, tests trialling, marking, and other aspects of test development. He has worked on assessment contracts for the governments of England, Wales and Australia, as well as Ofqual and Unesco. He is also involved in the development of NFER’s own suite of key stage 2 standardised tests for reading, grammar and spelling.

Following his graduation from the University of Oxford in 2012, David trained as a secondary English teacher, completing a PGCE two years later. He also has experience teaching English as an additional language in Spain and China.