The latest edition of NFER Direct brings together our recent research and analysis on falling pupil numbers, school attendance and belonging, teacher supply and wider school workforce pressures. Read more 👇 r1.ddlnk.net/t/cr/AQiltBU...

What support helps pupils experiencing persistent absence return to school and thrive? Our latest blog explores the importance of consistent, empathetic and tailored support and why pupils’ social and academic reintegration must also be considered. Read more 👉 www.nfer.ac.uk/blogs/tackli...

Pupil numbers in England are forecast to fall further and faster than previously expected. Our Senior Economist, Michael Scott, explains what the new projections could mean for primary and secondary schools. Read our response 👉 www.nfer.ac.uk/press-releas...

What difference can early language support make? Our evaluation of NELI Preschool found that children taking part made an average of two additional months’ progress in their oral language skills. Read our findings 👉 www.nfer.ac.uk/publications...

Teachers’ and school leaders’ experiences will be at the heart of the next Working Lives of Teachers and Leaders study, working alongside @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social @jackworth.bsky.social will be the study’s Policy & Analysis Lead 👇 www.nfer.ac.uk/press-releas...

We're delighted to be leading a major new @nuffieldfoundation.org funded study, which will provide an updated and expanded analysis of ethnic diversity across England's education workforce. [1/2]

A huge thank you to everyone we met at the #FestivalOfEducation this week! 🎪💜 It was great to share some of our latest research, hear your perspectives and have so many thoughtful conversations about the opportunities and challenges facing education.

📍 We're at the Festival of Education 2026! Hear our Senior Research Manager, Matthew Walker present our latest SEND research (Thursday 2 July, 4–4:45pm), then visit the NFER stand to chat with our team and learn more about our research and NFER Assessments. 💜 #FestivalofEducation #NFER

Our Co-Head of Policy and Practice, Jude Hillary, has responded to today's proposals from Andy Burnham MP on education and youth employment. Read the full statement 👉 www.nfer.ac.uk/press-releas...

Stay informed with the latest education research, insights and resources. 📩 Our latest newsletter has information on pupil wellbeing and attendance, teacher workforce trends, international research and more. Read the June roundup and subscribe for future updates 👇 r1.ddlnk.net/t/cr/AQiltBU...

Our Co-Head of Policy and Practice, Dr Ben Styles, will be presenting on ways AI can streamline planning, administration and assessment at the Westminster Insight Conference today. He will be drawing on research from our research into ChatGPT in lesson preparation: www.nfer.ac.uk/publications...

"We should not underestimate the significance of such rigorous evidence in the EdTech space." Dr Ben Styles, our head of Teaching and Learning research, responds to our new research into the @mathswhizz.bsky.social Intelligent Tutoring Programme, involving 63 schools and 10,369 pupils. [1/2]

🗣️ If actions aren't taken now, it's our most vulnerable pupils that will be most impacted. Any strategy put in-place needs to consider the impact on those groups. Jenna gives her final key recommendation to today's Public Services Committee at the @houseoflords.parliament.uk. 👇

Our research shows that an increasing amount of primary schools are setting-up mixed age classes as a way of responding to falling pupil numbers. There is currently a lack of specific research supporting schools with mixed age classes, despite the fact that 1 in 4 schools are already doing this. 👇

🗣️: Decisions to make on small rural primary schools (where pupil numbers are dropping) is a political decision rather than a financial, when considering the impact that closing these could have on communities. 👇

Jenna outlines how DfE funding works currently to support schools with falling rolls, but explains why she feels this is too limited. 🗣️👇 She explains why and how support should be expanded as part of a wider strategy to respond to falling numbers. www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

Jenna outlines how falling pupil numbers isn't impacting all schools equally, with more disadvantaged schools disproportionately affected. 👇 Our research launched today discusses this in further detail 👉 www.nfer.ac.uk/blogs/the-wi...

Our Researcher Geeta Gambhir is presenting at the British Educational Research Association (BERA) Annual International Conference on equity and inclusion in education, sharing insights from our work with Education Out Loud (EOL). 📅 26 June 📍 Leeds Beckett University www.nfer.ac.uk/events/briti...

Our new research has examined the relationships between life satisfaction, school belonging and absence rates among 15-year-olds in England. The report calls on the Government to take the four steps outlined below 👇 [1/2]

🗣️ “Focusing on sense of belonging alone is unlikely to fully solve the attendance crisis." Senior Research Manager Dr Emma Moore has commented on our new research, which looks to help inform solutions for tackling the attendance crisis. 👇 [1/2]

We will be releasing new research tomorrow, which aims to better understand the potential relationships between pupil wellbeing, sense of school belonging and school absences to help inform solutions for tackling the attendance crisis. [2/2]

Despite considerable efforts from schools and the Government to get pupils back to school, absence rates in England remain above pre-pandemic levels. The issue is especially apparent in secondary schools where the average absence rate was 8.4% in 2024-25 compared with 5.5% in 2018-19. [1/2]

Our new research shows that increasing proportions of pupils with SEND are becoming concentrated in a small number of mainstream schools in England, placing growing pressure on those schools and raising questions about fairness across the system. We call on policymakers and system leaders to:

Increasing proportions of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are becoming concentrated in a small number of schools in England, according to our new research funded by @nuffieldfoundation.org. [1/2]

🗣️ “If we want a genuinely inclusive system, responsibility for SEND cannot rest with a few schools. It has to be something every school is expected – and supported – to do.” Matt Walker responds to our new research on the distribution of and provision for SEND pupils in mainstream schools. 👇[1/2]

Tomorrow, we will be publishing a final report on this research, funded by @nuffieldfoundation.org, which will examine how and why this is happening, and what it means for schools, pupils and families. Look out for updates on our website and social media channels. [3/3]

Our latest research on the further education sector has found that young people’s access to post-16 subjects in England is limited by where they live. The research shows many students are unable to study their preferred subjects due to gaps in local provision. Find out more 👉 bit.ly/4tzaM0Z

Our Chief Executive, Carole Willis, has given her reaction to the announcement of SEND system reforms in today's King's Speech. Read the full response 👉 bit.ly/4fkheW1

🗣️ "Sometimes, a young person’s choices at 16 are shaped not just by their interests or ambitions, but by what happens to be available locally." Research Director, Luke Bocock, has shared his thoughts on our new research into competition & cooperation in the FE sector. 👇 Learn more 👉 bit.ly/4tzaM0Z

🆕 Post-16 subject choice in England restricted by postcode as fragmented education system limits opportunities for students. Learn more about our new research with @aoc-info.bsky.social, which explores subject choice & delivery efficiency in post-16 education. 👇 https://bit.ly/4tzaM0Z