From September to December 2025, I had the opportunity to spend three months working with the Evidence Synthesis Team at the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF). The EEF are an independent charity, whose work supports educational settings with the aim of breaking links between family income and educational achievement.
My motivation to apply for this placement was that it presented a chance to support influential work that was the perfect confluence of my research interests and teaching experience. My DPhil research, which explores the protective factors that support cognitive development for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, fit well with the priorities of the EEF, and I wanted to experience working within an organisation that was focused on improving outcomes for disadvantaged children – a shared aim within my own research.
Gaining hands on experience in educational research and policy development was a particularly important element of the placement. My role within the evidence synthesis team consisted of supporting various stages of the review process and internal projects based on education topics. I developed skills in evidence synthesis, including coding, analysis, report writing, and synthesising complex information into accessible formats for stakeholders.
The internship also provided significant networking opportunities. Whilst I developed strong working relationships with the Evidence Synthesis team within which I was based, I also built valuable professional relationships with colleagues from the wider organisation, which may open doors for future collaborations or opportunities. The experience also helped to give me an insight into the various career paths within educational research that I could go on to in the future. I hope to stay in touch with the team to explore opportunities for continued involvement, especially within their initiatives that align so closely with my DPhil research.
For other researchers looking to set up a similar collaboration, I think the most important thing is to seek out an organisation that aligns with your values and research priorities. In my case, the EEF’s aims of reducing the disadvantage gap in education made the collaboration much more meaningful. This works both ways, working with an organisation whose mission aligns with your own interests ensures that both you and the organisation are passionate and invested in each other’s success.
Placements Showcase
