Natalie Perera
@natalieperera.bsky.social
Chief External Affairs and. Communications Officer, AQA Charity Trustee and former civil servant.
Details of one of the best roles in the sector below. 100% recommend and happy to have a chat with interested (and serious!) candidates.
Education Policy Institute@edupolicyinst.bsky.social · 8mo agoEPI is searching for our next CEO 📣 Are you an experienced leader with a passion for education and social justice? Help EPI make the case for better outcomes by continuing to deliver world-class research and influence policy at the highest levels. Find out more: epi.org.uk/jobs/chief-e...
I've received so many warm messages from across the sector today, thank you to everyone who's been in touch. Establishing & leading EPI has been a huge privilege and I couldn't have done it without an incredibly talented team. I'm sad to leave my beloved EPI, but excited for this next phase!
Schools Week@schoolsweek.bsky.social · 9mo ago📝 The boss and co-founder of the Education Policy Institute will leave her role at the think tank for a senior job at the country’s largest exam board Read more 🔽
Very pleased to see the DfE adopt our measure of the disadvantage gap. Calculating it each year, for each phase, is a labour of love but it has been game-changing in improving focus and understanding of the gap.
Education Policy Institute@edupolicyinst.bsky.social · 9mo agoIt's great to see the Government adopt EPI's 'months of learning' disadvantage gap measure for the first time in its CAR response. It's a key recognition of a measure that is intuitive, clear, and having a real impact across education, media, and policy.
In sunny Bournemouth to speak on a @nasuwt-official.bsky.social panel on education funding. @edupolicyinst.bsky.social events kick off from 11.30 tomorrow!
And so it begins. We're kicking off the 2025 Party Conference this weekend at #LDConf in Bournemouth. I'm doing a panel on Sunday with @nasuwt-official.bsky.social. We've then got a great line up of EPI events with our partners on Monday. Join us if you can!
Education Policy Institute@edupolicyinst.bsky.social · 11mo agoHeading to @conference.libdems.org.uk over the weekend? Join EPI on Monday 22nd September as we dig into the big questions shaping education policy. We’ll be running events throughout the day. Find out more here: epi.org.uk/events/ #LDConf
I love this article. We're all wobbly sometimes schoolsweek.co.uk/how-can-main...
The @edupolicyinst.bsky.social was up bright and early today to bring you everything you need to know about Level 3 results day today 👇
Education Policy Institute@edupolicyinst.bsky.social · 12mo agoFollowing today’s publication of Level 3 results across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, EPI has released its analysis of this year’s key trends — here are the headline takeaways 📈
The Education Policy Institute’s Chief Executive @natalieperera.bsky.social responds to the Government's spending review. Read the full statement: epi.org.uk/comments/epi...
![Graphic from the Education Policy Institute. On the far left is a large teal opening quotation mark. Beneath it is a black-and-white head-and-shoulders photo of Natalie Perera outlined with a teal circle; her name and title, “Chief Executive,” appear in bold black and teal text below the photo.
To the right, in large black font, are four paragraphs of her quotation:
“Today’s announcement signals a significant cash increase in school funding. However, given that the overall budget is rising by £4.7 bn in cash terms only by 2028-29, once inflation is considered, this increase leaves less flexibility for schools than they might have hoped.”
“[…] The government must consider how funding is targeted, ensuring it reaches the schools and pupils who need it most.”
“The most pressing challenge is the crisis in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision and today’s settlement doesn’t appear to leave adequate funding to deliver the much-needed reforms in this area […]”
“[…] The Government must prioritise publishing a child-poverty strategy and this should include funded commitments, including removing the two-child benefit cap, that will genuinely lift children out of poverty.”
A dark navy vertical bar runs down the right edge; at its top is the Education Policy Institute logo, and at the bottom is an oversized white closing quotation mark.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:t2ylcyj4rfbzxutepimowxkl/bafkreid6vbq2eje5o7ofgkloiesgjbhtxsygzjb4ivophyi5d5kklhopri)
EPI's Director for SEND and Additional Needs @johutchinson.bsky.social gave evidence to the Education Select Committee inquiry “Solving the SEND Crisis” this morning. Watch the full session: committees.parliament.uk/work/8684/so...
Solving the SEND Crisis - Committees - UK Parliament
A number of recent reports have set out in detail the extent of the crisis in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system, which is letting down children and their families, creating ...
committees.parliament.uk
The EPI's director of SEND Jo Hutchinson said we are having problems with inclusion in mainstream and this is seen through high and increasing numbers of pupils having unexplained school moves or exits from the school system and attendance problems driving wider disadvantage gaps.
Thoughtful piece here by Diana Sutton on the importance of ESOL funding and provision, in the wake of Labour's immigration plans feweek.co.uk/why-labours-...
ICYMI last week, we published a thoughtful analysis on the gender gap and why we need to be worried about both boys AND girls. As ever, it poses a number of questions we need t explore around safety and belonging.
Education Policy Institute@edupolicyinst.bsky.social · last yr.There’s been growing concern about boys falling behind in school. We previously reported that the GCSE gender gap is narrowing, but new data paints a more complex picture. In this thread, we explore what’s behind the shift—and why it may be too soon to celebrate. 🧵
And this report from @ippr.bsky.social and @ambitioninstitute.bsky.social sets out recommendations for improving and scaling professional development.
Institute for Public Policy Research@ippr.org · last yr.🧑🏫 | NEW REPORT: Schools face a workforce crisis. The attainment gap is the widest in a decade. The solution? Invest in teachers. Our report with @ambitioninstitute.bsky.social sets out a smart, scalable plan to reach 290,000 teachers and improve outcomes for pupils. www.ippr.org/articles/a-s...
Our latest report highlights the stark and growing gaps in the experience, expertise and stability of teaching between disadvantaged and more affluent schools. In order to make progress in closing the gap, govt needs to turbo charge financial incentives & access to professional development.
Education Policy Institute@edupolicyinst.bsky.social · last yr.📊 New report: Disadvantage gaps in the teaching workforce We examined three critical aspects of workforce characteristics: experience, subject expertise, and stability (including both turnover & staff absences), comparing the most & least affluent school quintiles (by free school meal eligibility).
The Perera / Laws era has come to an end after nearly a decade at EPI and over 13 years in total. But we are extremely privileged and excited to have Professor Sir Chris Husbands as our new Chair!
Education Policy Institute@edupolicyinst.bsky.social · last yr.EPI announces new Chair. epi.org.uk/comments/epi...
And, 5 years on from lockdown, @mrjpandrews.bsky.social speaks to More or Less about the impact on learning and inequalities.
Education Policy Institute@edupolicyinst.bsky.social · last yr.Our Head of Analysis @mrjpandrews.bsky.social speaks on BBC More or Less about the impact of lockdown on pupils, the attainment gap, and regional variations across England. You can listen the full interview 👇 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Our Chief Executive, @natalieperera.bsky.social speaks on BBC Breakfast today about findings from our latest report on the disadvantage gap, highlighting that absence is a leading cause of the performance gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.
Today, @edupolicyinst.bsky.social published a groundbreaking report on the impact of school absences on the disadvantage gap. I was pleased to talk to the Today Programme about some of these issues and challenges.
Education Policy Institute@edupolicyinst.bsky.social · last yr.📻On BBC Radio 4 Today, our Chief Executive @natalieperera.bsky.social discusses the findings from our latest report on rising levels of school absence and the widening disadvantage gap for pupils. You can listen the full interview here at 44.30👇 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
So excited to share the cover of my talented cousin's new children's book - out on 5th June and absolutely stunning. 🤩🤩
Truly Johnston@trulyjwrites.bsky.social · last yr.🐚🎉🐚🎉 COVER REVEAL! So delighted to be able to share this with you! This is my debut middle grade childrens novel, due out on 5th June 2025. A magical seaside read with themes of family, environment and heritage. Thanks to @trindles_ for the beautiful cover art. bit.ly/43KMcRr #childrensbooks
I'm at #ASCL2025 where @tomrees.bsky.social cites @edupolicyinst.bsky.social research on the variation of SEND identification as he sets out the challenges facing the SEND system
Happy International Women's Day, especially to the amazing team of women in @edupolicyinst.bsky.social. Thank you for your passion and your power 🤩🤩
Lovely to be in Durham today, partnering with Durham University and the North East Combined Authority to talk about how we can better understand and tackle regional educational inequalities. And the sun has come out!
We're recruiting! A great opportunity to work in our lovely charity, helping with our events and fundraising efforts, as well as with my diary!
Education Policy Institute@edupolicyinst.bsky.social · last yr.💼JOB OPPORTUNITY: Executive and Events Officer We’re looking for a talented and motivated candidate to join our Communications, Events and Partnerships team as an Executive and Events Officer. More information on the role and how to apply👇 epi.org.uk/jobs/executi...
🗣️Comment: Latest Ofsted inspections and report card proposals Our Chief Executive @natalieperera.bsky.social responds to the latest announcements.
For anyone looking for education policy people on Bluesky (and if you're missing let me know!) go.bsky.app/PHBkF8y
While early intervention is key, there also needs to be a safety net for older children, we agree that the govt should extend the Pupil Premium to 16-19 year olds epi.org.uk/publications...
Closing the Forgotten Gap: Implementing a 16-19 Student Premium - Education Policy Institute
Our new report, supported by Unbound Philanthropy, calls for a 16-19 student premium to tackle the sizeable attainment gap facing disadvantaged 16–19-year-olds. Building on recent research by EPI whic...
epi.org.uk
Gráinne Hallahan@heymrshallahan.bsky.social · 2y agoIt would be one way we could make it slightly easier for those who want to stay in education to be able to do so. Lots of support for an extension of FSM to include children up to age 19. @teachertapp.bsky.social results onelink.to/teachertapp
I got a little kitty but he's in hiding under my bookcase. A toy, a ball and dreamies have all failed to lure him out. What next?? Just wait??
Played it so cool today when we spotted Idris Elba on the way to the pub 😍😍. Photo courtesy of @mrjpandrews.bsky.social
