Educational Research Graduate Programme

Educational Research Graduate Programme

Welcome to NFER Thank you for picking up our graduate brochure, introducing our new Educational Research Graduate Programme. The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) is the leading independent provider of educational research and assessment in the UK. We believe in the power of research evidence to contribute to an excellent education for all learners, and we think deeply about how our expertise and the research insights we create are transformed into real impact for the children and young people at the heart of our education system. Our team of creative, skilled and committed staff take pride in the positive impact we have on children and young people s education. We offer the opportunity for an exciting and challenging career. Recently we have: z produced guidance for schools and policy makers to help them improve the attainment of children from disadvantaged backgrounds z created a new test that will check whether standards at GCSE are changing z worked with schools to make research more accessible z helped teachers support pupils at risk of becoming NEET (not in employment, education or training). Our new graduate programme will recruit and develop the next generation of insightful and talented educational researchers. This two-year programme is designed to give varied experience of our areas of work, and will be tailored to meet your strengths and development needs. On successful completion you will have developed your skills in a wide range of areas relevant to social research and your knowledge of education. This will launch your career at NFER. If you do not meet the deadline for this year s programme, please do check our website for other opportunities to work with us. We recruit throughout the year in response to demand, including at graduate entry level, across a wide range of different functions. I hope you will take the opportunity to find out more about us both through this brochure and our website: www.nfer.ac.uk Carole Willis Chief Executive 2

About the programme A unique opportunity to develop a career in educational research and learn about the whole research process, from tender through to project delivery. We are looking for two outstanding individuals to join our two-year programme, this coming September. You will have the opportunity to learn about every aspect of the research process, with a focus on quantitative research and analysis. You will apply your learning to key policy and practice issues in education, helping us to make a difference to outcomes for children and young people. You will be offered a clear development path with tailored experience. Professional development will be identified and agreed with you throughout the programme. You will have the support of a mentor and will receive a high level of professional support from colleagues. Programme content z The programme will be structured to allow you to learn about the whole research process from responding to tenders to delivering project outputs. z The two-year programme will start in your base department. You will move between two departments: Research, and Research and Product Operations, spending up to six months in different areas. z You will learn about using statistics and quantitative analysis, and running research projects in schools to find out about education. z You will be provided with specific training relevant to each placement and you will be a contributing member of teams working on ongoing projects. Below are some of the big questions you could be involved in looking at: z identifying how the government and schools tackle teacher recruitment at a time when pupil numbers are soaring z evaluating the impact of government reforms to education, including policies such as academisation z quantitative analysis of the effectiveness of educational programmes in schools, including randomised controlled trials z case studies to identify how young people can be supported to move from education to employment z international comparisons between the English education system and those of other countries. If you have any additional questions about the programme, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our HR team at hr@nfer.ac.uk Every day can be completely different, from informal trialling in schools on one day to analysing statistics another day. You really get the sense that you are valued as an individual, your thoughts are valued and if you have interests or areas of expertise people work hard to ensure these are nurtured. Lucy, Researcher 3

Who should apply Recent graduates interested in using social research to improve education for all children and young people. You must have a good degree or equivalent, with a demonstrable interest in or aptitude for statistics, economics or psychology, or a qualification with a strong quantitative component. You will be accustomed to working with and presenting data, and must have an eye for detail. The methods and procedures are mainly computerised and familiarity with Word and Excel are essential, as is experience or aptitude to learn to use different software and databases. Experience of using SPSS syntax would be desirable, but training will be provided in this and other particular analysis packages used, if necessary. Experience in the interpretation and reporting of statistical data would be a considerable advantage. You will have good written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to work effectively across a number of different teams. You will be able to demonstrate organisational flair and an awareness of the importance of accurate and meticulous working methods. As most of our work involves schools, a general knowledge of the educational system would be an advantage. As a former teacher, I wanted to continue to make a difference in the field of education. I was well aware of the positive impact that NFER has made in the field and felt that this was the ideal organisation to enable me to continue making a difference to the lives of learners. Sofia, Researcher How to apply To find out more about NFER, please go to our website: www.nfer.ac.uk For further details of this opportunity and an application form: z visit www.nfer.ac.uk/about-nfer/careers z or email hr@nfer.ac.uk Applications for our graduate scheme open in May and close in June. For precise dates, please see our website. Applicants for this post should note that it is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act ; further details of NFER s Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checking procedure are available on the website. NFER is an equal opportunity employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community, and a registered charity (No. 313392). Conditions of an offer of a place on the programme Progress will be reviewed at the end of the first year and provided you have achieved the required standard of performance you will continue into the second year of the programme, after which you will be given a permanent contract of employment. Permanent contracts of employment will be offered in expectation that the trainee will stay with NFER for at least two further years on completion of the programme. 4

Programme benefits Salary On entering the programme you will receive a competitive starting salary, which will be reviewed at the end of the first year, subject to good progress. On successful completion and the award of a permanent contract of employment, the salary will be reviewed again. Support, mentoring and professional development You will be allocated a line manager for the duration of the programme who will supervise your training and development and act as a mentor. You will also be allocated a buddy in your base department. Supervision on a day to day basis will be provided by managers in the teams between which you rotate. All necessary and appropriate professional development will be identified and agreed with you at regular intervals throughout the programme. Much of this will be provided on the job. Holiday You will be entitled to a very competitive holiday allowance, including 30 days annual leave, eight bank holidays and additional days offered at the Chief Executive s discretion. Pension scheme NFER belongs to a federated pension scheme in which both employers and employees contribute. Location Our Slough offices are located in lovely grounds a mile from the centre of town. Communications by road and rail are excellent and there is plenty of free car parking and space for bikes. Other benefits z Frequent social events organised by our Social Committee z Regular optional seminars on developments in the education landscape z Season ticket loans: these are available with payment made by cheque direct to the provider and the loan being deducted monthly from salary z A childcare voucher scheme, which enables staff to purchase vouchers through their salary. I ve been able to continue to develop my computing skills and pursue studies in Psychometrics (the study of latent abilities and attitudes). Working with real data presents the type of challenges that won t be encountered in a prescribed course and so my problem solving skills have continued to develop as well. Adam, Researcher 5

About NFER As the leading independent provider of educational research and assessment, we aim to provide evidence that helps to create an excellent education for all children and young people. What we do We research all aspects of education from early years to higher education, and share the results with a wide range of organisations and individuals. We increasingly use our expertise to identify and develop practical solutions to bring about improvements for children and young people, working in collaboration with partners. We strongly believe that changes to education should be informed by evidence and the effects evaluated so that policy makers, leaders and practitioners can see whether their actions are really making a difference. Our Research and Product Operations team is highly skilled in developing and managing large scale and complex data collection, and research and assessment projects across education. We work with a wide range of organisations, from government agencies and departments to charities, private and public companies and sector associations. Research and assessment NFER is well known for research, test development and assessment work. We have a reputation for being professional, authoritative, trusted and rigorous. Our evidence is cited in government reports, academic journals and the wider media, and successive governments have used it to inform policy thinking. Our team of qualified researchers, assessment experts, statisticians and economists offers extensive and well recognised experience in a wide range of research methods, combined with deep subject knowledge. This allows us to: z Develop robust evidence to help decision makers and guide action. We synthesise research findings, and use randomised controlled trials, economic and statistical analysis and in depth qualitative investigation to find out which policies and actions make a difference to how children and young people learn. z Create rigorous assessments to provide teachers, parents and government agencies with robust performance data to help monitor children s progress, diagnose areas for learning development and allow comparative analyses. Products and services NFER s research expertise has informed the design and development of our growing range of products and services for primary and secondary schools. This includes assessments such as NFER Tests, an analysis and marking service, practical guides for Key Stage 2, school surveys and our Research in Schools support. z Provide fast paced identification of key and emerging issues in national and international education policy, helping our clients to anticipate and prepare for the future. z Provide expert advice and guidance, helping clients use data and evidence to look critically at their own services and systems and find answers to challenging questions. 6

In the last year... 55% of schools in England engaged with NFER research and products We published more than 100 research reports and other outputs Making an impact Impact is at the heart of everything we do and all our activities have an impact on education and learning, at classroom, institution or system level. We continue to forge closer relationships with policy makers and stakeholders while internally helping to develop the policy and impact perspectives of our research work. We engaged with more than 7,000 schools in testing and providing assessments 40,000 more children and young people benefited from a more evidence-informed school culture Areas of expertise z Assessment and qualifications z Curriculum English, mathematics and science z Developing the education workforce z Encouraging engagement with research and school enquiry z Ensuring evidence is at the heart of education policy z Improving science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education z Improving support and outcomes for vulnerable groups z International assessment and analysis of education systems z Listening to the views of teachers, young people and parents z Promoting the engagement and employability of young people z Qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation z Randomised controlled trials in education z Reducing attainment gaps z Supporting education and providers of children s services z Test development z Wider and social aspects of the curriculum. 7

NFER provides evidence for excellence through its independence and insights, the breadth of its work, its connections, and a focus on outcomes. National Foundation for Educational Research The Mere, Upton Park Slough, Berks SL1 2DQ T: 01753 574123 F: 01753 691632 E: enquiries@nfer.ac.uk @TheNFER www.nfer.ac.uk