Education
Across the Social Research Institute, we undertake a range of education-related research using various methodological approaches.

Academics within SRI have particular expertise in the analysis of Large Scale International Assessments, most notably the OECD Programme for International Assessment and Teaching and Learning International Study. This includes drafting numerous academic papers using these data published in world-leading economics, education and sociology journals, producing national reports for the government, and offering training courses in this area. The work SRI has conducted using these data has also had a substantial policy impact, leading to the academics involved winning national awards.
Staff also regularly undertake education-related policy evaluation. This includes leading evaluations commissioned by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), such as Maths Mastery, Chess in Schools and Learning About Culture. Academics within the department have also been involved with high-profile quasi-experimental evaluations of major government initiatives, such as the Education Maintenance Allowance.
There is a wide-ranging interest of staff members surrounding higher education. Recent projects in this area include investigations of indicators used for contextual admissions to universities, such as being the first in the family to enter higher education. Other high-profile work conducted in this area includes ongoing research into student loans, with our work influencing how they are being reformed in countries across the world. There is also a long-standing interest of staff in understanding the financial returns to higher education, including how the economic value of degrees varies across subjects and institutions.
Methodologically, SRI has particular knowledge and expertise in the use of administrative data for education research. This has largely focused on the National Pupil Database, tracking children’s educational trajectories from school entry to completion. More recently, this has extended into research using administrative health data to explore education-related issues, such as the educational outcomes of children suffering from particular health conditions, and how the mental health of children varies during their time at school.