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Click on a job title to find out more about the people in the following roles:
I joined NFER in 2014 and have worked on a range of secondary assessment projects since then. I have really enjoyed the interesting breadth of work we do here and have been able to apply my previous research skills and educational knowledge, while developing new skills around managing teams and working with clients.
There are diverse departments at NFER, but we all work closely together on projects and it is a very supportive, cooperative environment. When things do get busy, NFER is very flexible in supporting a positive work-life balance and the well-being of its staff. Having beautiful grounds to the building and a park next door also means that the environment is calm and relaxing and a good place to unwind. It is also particularly interesting for a curious biologist to explore.
I see educational research as my third career. I came at it, rather logically perhaps, via previous careers in research and education. After graduating with a degree in Biology, I initially worked in science research gaining a PhD in cancer studies from the University of Birmingham. As well as contributing (in a very small way) to the understanding of the cell and molecular biology of cancers, I learned the importance of only ever coming to a conclusion once you have fully evaluated all of the evidence. Of course, this evidence-based approach is a central principle of all of the research work we do here at NFER.
After a decade in research, I changed career to become a secondary school biology teacher, working in a large comprehensive school. I really enjoyed teaching my subject and the challenges of working across a wide range of ages and abilities. As a head of subject I got to learn in detail about curriculum and assessment and I got to see the positives and the challenges of the education sector. I took an interest in teacher training and professional development, particularly in areas of formative assessment and evidence-informed practice, and this brought me into contact with the work of NFER.
Since I was little I wanted to either become a scientist or a teacher (as a ten-year-old I even set up my own ‘inline-skating school’ and taught all children in my neighbourhood). After finishing my A-levels in my home country of Germany, I came to England and completed a BSc, MSc and PhD in one go, funded by the Economics and Social Research Council. The natural consequence then was to pursue a career in academia. I had a few fun years conducting interesting and rigorous research in the UK and abroad. I learned the hard way how to get my paper through 100 rounds of peer-review before publication, but the flexibility meant I could also simultaneously work as a psychological practitioner. However, sadly even I had to acknowledge that, unsecure funding, short-term employment contracts and pressure to publish meant that academia wasn’t going to work for me in the long-run.
The solution: find a not-for-profit organisation that offers rigorous research methodology, hands-on data collection in schools, highly qualified colleagues and a great support system, as well as permanent yet flexible working patterns.
I joined NFER in January 2018 and almost every day has been different so far. Although not quite the traditional research role as I know it, my current position includes many different tasks, such as collecting and analysing data, learning about new statistical models, and also project management or liaisingwith clients or stakeholders. Just to name a few, I would work on projects developing assessments for non-cognitive skills in low-income countries, create reading or Maths assessments or investigate the success of reading interventions. We also have regular research meetings where we discuss research designs or interesting journal publications and are encouraged to attend national and international conferences. Fitting all this in means naturally some days will be busier than others, but a nice office atmosphere, a non-stop supply of cakes and regular social events make up for this. And I even have time for my hobbies such as windsurfing or some online-teaching after work
After working as a teacher in primary schools and in Early Years settings, I found that I wanted to look for something a bit different. I already had an interest in educational research and had completed a Masters in Child Development before going into teaching in 2016, so I was keen to develop these skills further and explore their application to real-world research.
I joined NFER in 2019 and have had the opportunity to work across different projects which cover everything from analysing qualitative research to developing innovative questions to assess children’s learning and misconceptions. NFER values the experience and insight which teachers, psychologists and other practitioners bring to their roles, and use this to inform their approach to evidence-based research. I have used my practical knowledge from teaching Key Stage 1 and Reception to support my work on projects in these areas, whilst also gaining a new perspective on my previous experience. I also enjoy the collaborative nature of my role and the opportunity to work with other members of staff from a range of backgrounds, from economics to statistics.
Working as a researcher in the Centre for Assessment has also enabled me to develop my research skills, and NFER as a whole maintains a strong focus on professional development. I particularly enjoyed the induction process which introduces new members of staff to the departments within NFER and the projects they work on, as well as guiding and supporting you with initial project work. We have regular seminars, research meetings and well-being days covering a variety of interesting topics and current work across NFER. At the heart of it, improving outcomes for children is what took me into teaching and is also what brought me to NFER.
My time at NFER started 20 years ago when I spent a placement year here as an Assistant Research Officer while studying for my degree in Sociology at the University of Surrey. Not wanting to leave, I then worked here during the summer holidays after finishing my degree, carrying out telephone interviews with employers. I was then offered a permanent role and have been here ever since! I have worked my way ‘up the ranks’ and am now a Senior Research Manager. I have a range of qualitative and quantitative skills, so often work on mixed-methods projects. I am also a member of NFER’s Trials Unit, which carries out randomised controlled trials. I have had a number of subject interests over the years, including health education and social mobility, and more recently school workforce and teacher retention.
NFER is a friendly, supportive and flexible place to work. A few years ago I took some time off to start a family and came back part-time. I am very lucky to still be able to do an interesting, varied and challenging job on a part-time basis at the same time as being a mum.
Personally, I have always been interested in law and criminology, I love a good true crime book! I’ve wondered in the past whether my career should have taken me down that path instead, but I have always enjoyed the work I do at NFER, and the fact that having an impact on children’s education is at the centre of it all has meant that I have wanted to stay.
I originally joined NFER way back in 1998 initially as an administrator in our then international information team. I was keen to develop my career in information services while using the language skills from my first career in the airline industry. I was lucky enough to be promoted within a few months to an information role and began studying part-time for an MSc Econ in Information and Library Services. It was sometimes a hard slog combining full-time work with study (and then parenthood!) but it was a brilliant way to apply my learning immediately and I am still very grateful for NFER’s support. When my family grew I left NFER in 2007 and for the next five years combined raising my three children with freelance information consultancy work, for NFER and other clients, and being a school governor. In 2012 I re-joined NFER, initially to cover a colleague’s maternity leave but was delighted to become a permanent employee again working firstly on the Eurydice (the information network on education in Europe project) before promotions to Senior Information and Reviews Librarian and then to my current role leading our Policy, Library and Reviews team.
My work focuses on ensuring that NFER colleagues have access to the policy and research information they need in a fast-paced and changing environment where information overload is a daily challenge. I also work on literature review projects for internal and external clients. To thrive in my role I think you need to be service driven, see the bigger picture as well as the finer details, and be naturally nosey and inquisitive to dig out the golden nuggets of information from the noise.
NFER is a stimulating place to work with interesting colleagues from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds who care about the part we play in improving education for children and young people. Our Slough address may not sound all that glamourous but in fact our offices are in leafy grounds adjoining a beautiful park with views across to Windsor Castle. When I’m not at work my big passions in life, in no particular order, are body combat, reading (currently Freud!), red wine (Malbec) and walking in beautiful places at home and abroad.
I joined NFER in 2004. As a researcher, I have had the opportunity to work on a wide range of interesting research projects, spanning early years education right through to further and higher education. I have particular expertise in professional development, school improvement and STEM research, but have also worked on projects focusing on edtech, phonics, health and character education. No two projects are quite the same, and this variety of work means that I am constantly challenged to learn about new areas of educational practice.
As a Research Manager, I am involved in all aspects of the research process, including writing proposals, ‘pitching’ our proposals to clients, leading the delivery of research projects, and sharing/disseminating the findings. Indeed, NFER has provided me with lots of great opportunities, including developing and delivering training, secondments to other roles, and some overseas travel.
I can’t say that I always wanted to be a researcher – as a child, I first wanted to be a farmer and then a pilot! However, after completing a Master of Research Degree at Lancaster University and a gap year teaching English in China, I knew I was interested in education and research, and NFER has provided me with an opportunity to bring these two interests together.
It is great to work with such talented, driven colleagues, both here in York, and in NFER’s Slough and Llanelli offices. This is just one of the many great reasons to work for NFER, as well as the generous holidays and flexible working hours.