Department for Education Hiring for Assessment Researcher Job at Coventry, England Full Time

174871

£41,989

National £41,989; London £ 45,245

Permanent

DFE – Early Years and Schools Group

Analytical

Operational Research
Social Research
Statistics

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

1

Coventry, West Midlands (region), CV1 2WT : Darlington, North East (region), DL1 5QE : Manchester, North West (region), M1 2WD : Nottingham, East Midlands (region), NG1 6HJ : Sheffield, Yorkshire and the Humber (region), S1 2FJ : City of Westminster, London (region), SW1P 3BT

This role presents an exciting opportunity for a high-performing educational researcher to support the development of national assessments. Carrying out both qualitative and quantitative research you will contribute to the optimising of fairness, reliability and validity.

This SPTO role requires well-developed skills in a variety of methodical and analytical techniques. You will need to be able to design, develop, manage and deliver research projects to monitor and improve the quality of tests in line with international best practice.

If you have a desire to work on one of the Department for Education’s key priorities for ensuring all children achieve their potential, and ensure a positive experience for schools, this could be the role for you.

The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) is the part of the Department for Education responsible for the development and delivery of statutory assessments for pupils up to the age of 14 and for school-based assessment policy.

In addition to policy development and implementation, the STA’s main functions are to:

• develop high quality and rigorous National Curriculum Assessments (NCAs) in line with Ministerial policy.
• deliver the assessments (including printing, distribution, marking and data capture)
• support schools in carrying out the assessments.

The role presents interesting and challenging opportunities to deliver key ministerial priorities. The post-holder will work closely both with internal colleagues across STA and the wider department, and with external partners and suppliers. We are looking for a creative, proactive and motivated individual who is excited by the opportunity to make a positive impact and deliver on a high-profile policy area.

At DfE we have a strong culture of inclusion and diversity and are committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We aim to develop all our staff to enable them to make a full contribution to meeting the Department’s objectives, and to fulfil their own potential. We promote and support the use of a range of flexible working patterns to help staff to balance home and work responsibilities and we treat people fairly irrespective of their working arrangements.

This culture is supported and built upon by our 10 staff networks, ranging from the BAME and LGBT networks to the Carers and EU/EEA Nationals networks. We are proud to be recognised by leading diversity organisations as actively promoting diversity in the workplace. We are also on the Stonewall Index and a member of the business disability forum, as well as achieving Level 2 Disability Confident employer in 2017.

We hope to attract a diverse group of candidates. It’s important to us that our organisation is more diverse, so we encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and identities. We’re especially keen to hear from candidates from BAME communities, who are currently under-represented.

Responsibilities

The post holder will report to the Head of Assessment Research, Data and Psychometrics.

Your main responsibilities will be to:

• Devise, design and deliver research projects to monitor and improve the quality of tests in line with international best practice and to support policy officials in the development of new assessment policies.
• Support the development of digital and paper-based assessments through the generation of new evidence alongside an understanding of existing research literature.
• Analyse, interpret and synthesise qualitative and quantitative data sources to provide evidence of reliability, fairness and validity.
• Build and manage positive relationships across teams, including contractors (e.g. digital partners or trialling agencies).
• Communicate complex information clearly and concisely, with an excellent attention to detail.
• Apply appropriate project management techniques to ensure that all projects are delivered to time, cost and quality.

Key skills and experience requirements

• Strong background in educational research and/or research focused on assessment
• Applied quantitative analytical experience
• Experience with analytical tools.

Desirable skills and experience requirements:

• A strong background in the theories and techniques of pupil assessment.
• Knowledge of a range of qualitative research methods

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.

As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the Queen’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours. As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.