Information for Parents and Carers
What is TIMSS and why does it matter?
TIMSS is an international study that helps us understand how well pupils in England are learning maths and science compared to pupils in other countries. The results help improve teaching methods and resources in schools across England.
Will my child need to study or prepare?
No. TIMSS assesses what pupils have learned in their regular classroom teaching. There is no need for any special preparation.
Will TIMSS affect my child’s school work?
Taking part in TIMSS will support the work your child is doing in maths and science. The computer-based questions are designed to be engaging and are appropriate for children of their age. Taking part in TIMSS has no effect on your child’s school results. NFER will not share any individual answers to questions or named results with the school.
What will happen on the study day?
Your child will complete an online assessment containing maths and science questions followed by a questionnaire about themselves and their school.
A trained TIMSS administrator will visit your child’s school to conduct the study.
If you child is in Year 5, we will ask you to complete a questionnaire about your child’s learning experiences at home.
How will NFER look after my child’s data?
NFER takes data protection very seriously and complies with the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. Any personal information we collect will be held securely. The information NFER collects is used to compare how well pupils around the world learn.
No-one will see your or your child’s answers except the researchers involved in the study. Names and other data which can be used to identify an individual or school is not shared with the international study centre or included in any reports.
Please view the TIMSS 2027 privacy notice for further details about the information we collect and how we use it.
Who will carry out the study?
TIMSS will be delivered in England by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) on behalf of the Department for Education.
The study is coordinated internationally by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA).
See FAQs for parents for more information.