Higher Technical Qualifcations Blog
28 July 2025

New blog post: Why Higher Technical Qualifications have a strong foundation to build on

Research Director Suzanne Straw discusses the findings of a survey which asked learners about their level 4/5 courses, and what this means for the new Higher Technical Qualifications.
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Physics Teacher Recruitment Blog
22 July 2025

New blog post: A widespread lack of specialist physics teachers persists due to recruitment and retention challenges

Education Workforce Lead, Jack Worth, shares new insights on how the persistent under-supply of physics teaching is affecting secondary schools in England.
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DFE Pupil Projections 2024 2
17 July 2025

NFER response to DfE's pupil number projections data

NFER Senior Economist Michael Scott has responded to the latest DfE pupil projections data, which forecast a substantial decline in the number of pupils in state funded schools.
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Fifteen Years Of Free Schools
16 July 2025

Blog post: Fifteen years of free schools – and better outcomes for pupils?

Andrew Smith discusses new research with the Manchester Metropolitan University on the effectiveness of free schools.
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Do Free Schools Increase Opportunities 2
10 July 2025

New research suggests secondary free schools have had a positive impact on pupil outcomes

A new report suggests the free schools programme in England has generally had positive impacts on pupil outcomes at secondary, including GCSE and A-Level attainment, secondary school absence and university enrolment.
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PAC Secondary Teacher Numbers Report 1
09 July 2025

NFER responds to report on teacher numbers in secondary and further education

Education Workforce Lead, Jack Worth, has given his reaction to a new House of Commons Public Accounts Committee report on teacher numbers in secondary and further education.
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