Today, we are sharing the news that Lorna Cocking MBE (pictured right) has stepped down as Chair of NFER’s Board of Trustees, after more than a decade of valued contribution to our organisation. Our Board of Trustees and everyone at NFER owe her a huge debt of gratitude and wish to pay tribute to everything she has done to support the organisation during her time as Trustee and Chair.
Lorna joined NFER as a Trustee in 2015 before becoming Chair of the Board in May 2017. During her time as Chair, she has played an important role in guiding the organisation and helping NFER remain true to its mission to improve education and outcomes for children and young people.
Known for her calm and considered approach, Lorna has helped keep the Board focused on NFER’s strategic priorities and the opportunities ahead, while providing valued guidance, support and constructive challenge.
Her insights and contributions were particularly important during the Covid-19 pandemic, when her calm and steady approach helped steer NFER through some unprecedented challenges.
During her tenure, Lorna has overseen a number of important developments. These have included championing investment in the organisation’s digital capabilities and supporting the development of our new digital assessments for primary schools.
Her contribution is just one part of a much wider commitment to education that has spanned her impressive career. Indeed, in recognition of her services to education, she was awarded an MBE in 2024.
She spent the first 17 years of her career as a classroom teacher, working internationally in Norway, Canada, Finland and England. She later moved into education publishing and development, holding senior positions including Publishing Director at The Open College and Director of Learning Development Services at the University of Sunderland.
She has also shared her experience and expertise through a wide range of governance roles across education, including serving as Chair of the Council of the Girls’ Day School Trust and Chair of the Board of Middlesex University.
A new NFER Chair will be announced in due course.
NFER Chief Executive, Carole Willis, said:
“Lorna has been an inspirational Chair of NFER’s Trustees over the last nine years and we will miss her wisdom, insights and support enormously. She commands respect from everyone at NFER, as well as in the wider education sector, and has overseen a transformation in how NFER conducts its work and the impact it has on policy and practice.
“She has kept us focused on our mission – to improve education and outcomes for children and young people – and enabled us to develop and evolve our strategy to achieve this mission.
“We are incredibly grateful to all our Trustees for their commitment, insights, constructive challenge and support. We wish Lorna the very best for the future.”