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Marian Sainsbury
BA Cert Ed MA (Ed) PhD
Head of Literacy Assessment Research
m.sainsbury@nfer.ac.uk
+44(0)1753 637141

Marian is Head of Literacy Assessment Research in the Department for Research in Assessment and Measurement and is currently leading NFER’s research into formative uses of e-assessment. She is also director of projects developing assessments of communication skills for Wales and optional national tests in England and is international reading co-ordinator for PIRLS .


Previous projects at NFER have included development research for national tests in English since their inception in 1989 and for many other tests and assessments, especially for primary aged pupils and in literacy; also research into children's attitudes to reading, formative assessment of literacy, the use of verbal protocol analysis with young children and investigation of the construct of reading.


Assessment, e-assessment, Early childhood, Literacy, National Curriculum, Primary education.

Manager of research projects with a particular interest in staff development of researchers. Higher degrees in philosophy of education.
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Sainsbury, M., Harrison, C. and Watts, A. (Eds) (2006). Assessing Reading from Theories to Classrooms: an International Multi-disciplinary Investigation of the Theory of Reading Assessment and its Practical Implications at the Beginning of the 21st Century. Slough: NFER. [Report details]

Hodgson, C., Twist, L. and Sainsbury, M. (2006). Assessment for Learning: Literacy - Practical Resources for the Classroom. Resource Pack 8-9. London: nferNelson.[Report details]

Mullis, I.V.S., Kennedy, A.M., Martin, M.O. and Sainsbury, M. (2006). PIRLS 2006: Assessment Framework and Specifications. 2nd Edition. Chestnut Hill, MA: Boston College, TIMSS and PIRLS, International Study Center, Lynch School of Education.

Reed, M., Twist, L. and Sainsbury, M. (2006). Assessment for Learning: Literacy - Practical Resources for the Classroom. Resource Pack 7-8. London: nferNelson. [Report details]

Sizmur, J., Twist, L. and Sainsbury, M. (2006). Assessment for Learning: Literacy - Practical Resources for the Classroom. Resource Pack 9-10. London: nferNelson. [Report details]

Twist, L. and Sainsbury, M. (2006). Assessment for Learning: Literacy - Practical Resources for the Classroom. Resource Pack 10-11. London: nferNelson. [Report details]

Sainsbury, M. (2005). ‘New relationships with students: assessment for learning.’ Paper presented at the NFER/Confed/LGA, Annual Conference, Jury’s Hotel, London, 18 November [online].

Sainsbury, M. (2004). ‘Children's attitudes to reading’, Education Review, 17, 2, 49-54.

Sainsbury, M. (2004). ‘Children’s attitudes to reading’, Literacy Today, 38, 16-17.

Sainsbury, M. (2004). ‘Children's attitudes to reading’, Education Journal, 79, 15.

Sainsbury, M. and Schagen, I. (2004). ‘Attitudes to reading at ages nine and eleven’, Journal of Research in Reading, 27, 4, 373-86.

Kirkup, C., Morris, J. and Sainsbury, M. (2003). ‘The Foundation Stage Profile’, TOPIC, Issue 30, Item 10.

Kirkup, C., Sainsbury, M., Huddy, D., Adams, E., Burge, B. and Pyle, K. (2003). The Introduction of the Foundation Stage Profile: a Research Study Investigating Reactions to the Foundation Stage Profile in the Spring Term of 2003 in Six LEAs with Different Assessment Traditions [online].

Sainsbury, M. (2003). ‘Thinking aloud: children’s interactions with text’, Reading, 37, 3, 131-5.

Sainsbury, M. and Twist, L. (2003). ‘Libraries and reading around the world ’, Library + Information Update, 3, 1, 27-9.

Twist, L. and Sainsbury, M. (2003). ‘World readers’, Junior Education, June, 12-13.

Twist, L., Sainsbury, M., Woodthorpe, A. and Whetton, C. (2003). ‘New evidence on reading standards’, Education Journal, 69, 28-31.

Twist, L., Sainsbury, M., Woodthorpe, A. and Whetton, C. (2003). Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS): Research Summary. Slough: NFER.

Twist, L., Sainsbury, M., Woodthorpe, A. and Whetton, C. (2003). Reading All Over the World: Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). National Report for England. Slough: NFER. [online]