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thenfer.bsky.social
National Foundation for Educational Research
@thenfer.bsky.social
Global independent provider of research, assessment and information services for education. Follow @nferclassroom.bsky.social too if you're working in schools.

https://linktr.ee/thenfer
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πŸ†• | New research, funded by Gatsby Education, has highlighted that disadvantaged apprentices are significantly more likely to withdraw from their apprenticeship programmes.

Find out more πŸ‘‰ www.nfer.ac.uk/press...
We are co-hosting a free webinar tomorrow, which will look into research from our recent #Skills2035 Programme & discuss how the tertiary education system can best prepare young people for the future of work.

πŸ“† 11 February
⏰ 16:00 - 17:00

Find out more and register πŸ‘‰ www.nfer.ac.uk/events/the-t...
February 10, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Reposted by National Foundation for Educational Research
Just over two weeks to go until our webinar with @thenfer.bsky.social! πŸ“Ί

This webinar on Tuesday 24 February will present research from NFER's #Skills2035 programme to consider how the adult skills system can better meet the needs of people in at-risk occupations.

Register now. ⬇️
Turning risk into opportunity: Reskilling workers in a changing economy - Learning and Work Institute
This webinar will present research fromΒ NFER’sΒ The Skills Imperative 2035Β programme and consider how the adult skills system can be reinvigorated to better meet the needs of people in at-risk occupati...
learningandwork.org.uk
February 9, 2026 at 2:07 PM
We recently conducted research exploring the factors associated with apprenticeship withdrawal, which has fallen over the past two academic years, but is still higher than the start of the 2010s.

Find out more πŸ‘‰ bit.ly/4qc6BGJ

#NAW2026 [2/2]
Securing success from start to finish – investigating factors associated with apprenticeship withdrawal
This report, funded by The Gatsby Foundation, provides new quantitative evidence into the factors associated with apprenticeship withdrawal.
bit.ly
February 9, 2026 at 11:10 AM
This week is #NationalApprenticeshipWeek, highlighting once again its importance as a key training route for young people.

Learn more at naw.appawards.co.uk/

#NAW2026 [1/2]
February 9, 2026 at 11:10 AM
You can now watch the recording of this free #Skills2035 webinar back on our website πŸ‘‰ www.nfer.ac.uk/events/what-...
We are co-hosting a free webinar, which will look into our recent #Skills2035 Programme and discuss practical approaches, models & tools schools can use to prepare students with essential employment skills.

πŸ“† 4th February
⏰ 16:30 - 17:30

Find out more and register πŸ‘‰ www.nfer.ac.uk/events/what-...
February 6, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Taking place very shortly! πŸ‘‡
We are co-hosting a free webinar, which will look into our recent #Skills2035 Programme and discuss practical approaches, models & tools schools can use to prepare students with essential employment skills.

πŸ“† 4th February
⏰ 16:30 - 17:30

Find out more and register πŸ‘‰ www.nfer.ac.uk/events/what-...
February 4, 2026 at 4:01 PM
We are co-hosting a free webinar, which will look into our recent #Skills2035 Programme and discuss practical approaches, models & tools schools can use to prepare students with essential employment skills.

πŸ“† 4th February
⏰ 16:30 - 17:30

Find out more and register πŸ‘‰ www.nfer.ac.uk/events/what-...
February 2, 2026 at 5:06 PM
We are co-hosting a free webinar, which will look into research from our recent #Skills2035 Programme and discuss how the tertiary education system can best prepare young people for the future of work.

πŸ“† 11 February
⏰ 16:00 - 17:00

Find out more and register πŸ‘‰ www.nfer.ac.uk/events/the-t...
January 30, 2026 at 4:52 PM
πŸ“« The first edition of NFER Direct for 2026 has now been sent to subscribers.

For the latest news and commentary from our research experts, plus details of upcoming work and our international work, visit bit.ly/2MyAIsP to subscribe.
January 30, 2026 at 10:49 AM
The new research, funded by @gatsbyed.bsky.social, provides new quantitative evidence into the factors associated with apprenticeship withdrawal.

Find out more πŸ‘‰ bit.ly/4qc6BGJ

[2/2]
Securing success from start to finish – investigating factors associated with apprenticeship withdrawal
This report, funded by The Gatsby Foundation, provides new quantitative evidence into the factors associated with apprenticeship withdrawal.
bit.ly
January 29, 2026 at 9:38 AM
πŸ—£οΈ β€œYoung people who already face the greatest barriers in education & employment, such as those from disadvantaged backgrounds, are most likely to struggle to complete apprenticeships.”

Our Co-Head of Policy & Practice, Jude Hillary, reacts to our new apprenticeship withdrawals research.

[1/2]
January 29, 2026 at 9:38 AM
πŸ†• | Our latest research (funded by @gatsbyed.bsky.social) has showcased the switch from apprenticeship frameworks to standards is a key factor in explaining the substantial decline in the apprenticeship achievement rate over the last decade. πŸ‘‡

Find out more πŸ‘‰ nfer.ac.uk/publications...
January 28, 2026 at 12:55 PM
πŸ“© The first edition of our NFER Direct newsletter for 2026 will be published later this week.

For a summary of the latest news and commentary from our research experts, plus details of upcoming events, visit bit.ly/2MyAIsP to subscribe.
January 28, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Find out more about this and our latest research, funded by @gatsbyed.bsky.social, looking at apprenticeship withdrawals πŸ‘‰ www.nfer.ac.uk/publications... [3/3]
January 27, 2026 at 6:10 PM
This remains a long way short of the start of the 2010s, when over 70% of apprentices typically completed within the scheduled timeframe. [2/3]
January 27, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Our new research shows that 61% of apprentices who were scheduled to achieve their apprenticeship in the 2023/24 academic year did so, an increase of 6% from the previous year. 🧡 [1/3]
January 27, 2026 at 6:08 PM
πŸ†• | New research, funded by Gatsby Education, has highlighted that disadvantaged apprentices are significantly more likely to withdraw from their apprenticeship programmes.

Find out more πŸ‘‰ www.nfer.ac.uk/press...
January 27, 2026 at 7:01 AM
We will be launching new research tomorrow, funded by @gatsbyed.bsky.social, which investigates factors associated with apprenticeship withdrawal.

Stay tuned to our social media channels and website for updates. πŸ”œ
January 26, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by National Foundation for Educational Research
The pipeline of new secondary school teachers will shrink after next year, following a short-term gain in numbers, @thenfer.bsky.social analysis suggests
The supply of secondary teachers β€˜will fall after next year’
The pipeline of new secondary teachers will increase in the short term but drop off in 2027-28 and beyond, NFER analysis suggests
www.tes.com
January 23, 2026 at 2:35 PM
✍️ | In a new blog, @jackworth.bsky.social uses insights from our redeveloped teacher supply forecast and simulation model to look at what the implications of different STRB recommendations might be for teacher recruitment and retention trends.

Read more πŸ‘‰ www.nfer.ac.uk/blogs/what-s...
January 23, 2026 at 1:25 PM
πŸ‘‹ Calling all Teachers and School leaders! πŸ’»

Tomorrow (21 Jan) is our first free NFER Online Assessments (NOA) Demonstration webinar of 2026. 🐼

The short session will provide an introduction to the NOA platform, and much more.

⏰ 10:00am

Find out more and sign up πŸ‘‰ www.nfer.ac.uk/events/nfer-...
January 20, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Reposted by National Foundation for Educational Research
Statutory year 8 English & maths tests will be part of the #curriculum reforms, but should it screen or diagnose? David Simcock – @thenfer.bsky.social – on why diagnostic assessment matters, plus practical insights on CATs & reporting: buff.ly/AKf5gjx #schools #education #teaching #edusky
Year 8 diagnostic tests: Making them worthwhile - SecEd
The DfE is planning diagnostic statutory year 8 English and maths tests. Explore the challenges of effective assessment
buff.ly
January 18, 2026 at 10:04 AM
In our latest blog post, first published in @teachsecondary.bsky.social and @headteacherupdate.bsky.social, Assessment Expert, David Simcock discusses the forthcoming diagnostic Maths and English tests in Year 8 and what they might look like.

Read the post πŸ‘‰ bit.ly/4a0zVLk
January 19, 2026 at 11:50 AM
The @theeef.bsky.social have today published our review of seven studies that tracked pupil attainment during and after Covid-19, including recommendations for future research during wide-spread prolonged educational disruptions.

Find out more πŸ‘‰ bit.ly/49WUpVm
January 15, 2026 at 10:41 AM
Current policy could result in high numbers of physics teachers being recruited up to 2028/29, but this is still set to be below DfE targets.

Our new teacher supply forecast and simulation model has analysed the impact of four different policy scenarios.

Learn more πŸ‘‰ bit.ly/4qQIb6o
January 14, 2026 at 11:07 AM