Linda Sturman

BA, PGCE, PG Cert, MA
Senior Research Officer
l.sturman@nfer.ac.uk
+44 (0)1753 637144

Linda is a Senior Research Officer in the Department for Research in Assessment and Measurement. She has a wide range of assessment expertise with a particular focus on science and mathematics assessment and international assessment.

Prior experience and professional background

Linda has developed tests and teacher assessment materials, including materials to support teachers in assessing speaking and listening skills, and electronic assessment materials in science for i-nfer. She has worked on several international surveys of teaching and achievement, including TIMSS (maths and science), PISA (literacy in reading, maths and science), and ICCS (understanding of citizenship). She was the National Research Coordinator for TIMSS 2007 in England and Scotland, and lead author of the TIMSS 2007 national report in England.

Linda has also undertaken a variety of evaluations and surveys, for clients including the GTC, DCSF, and QCA. Themes explored include the quality of working life and views of teachers in England, schools’ use of data, the use of special arrangements, the views of external markers and the electronic marking of tests. She led the team which produced the 2007 NFER series Getting to Grips with Assessment, which provides guidance on assessment issues for primary teachers and relevant stakeholders.

Linda is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors (CIEA) and a Practitioner of the Association for Educational Assessment (AEA-Europe).

Prior to joining the NFER, Linda was a primary teacher and subsequently a Further Education lecturer.

Main research interests

Assessment, measurement, and research methods; maths and science, international education.

Other research interests

Evaluations, surveys

Selected publications

International assessment

Sturman, L. and Ruddock, G. (2009). ‘International success in maths and science’, Impact, 1, 6–7.

Sturman, L. and Ruddock, G. (2009). 'Mathematics and science education - how is England doing?' Education Journal, 116, 42–45.

Sturman, L., Ruddock, G., Burge, B., Styles, B., Lin, Y. and Vappula, H. (2008). England's Achievement in TIMSS 2007: National Report for England. Slough: NFER. [Available online].

Sturman, L., Ruddock, G., Burge, B., Styles, B., Yin, L. and Vappula, H. (2008). England's Achievement in TIMSS 2007 (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) (DCSF Research Brief RBX-19-8). London: DCSF. [Available online].

Sturman, L. (2008). 'Maths, science and gender: messages from TIMSS', practical research for education, 40, 68–75.

Sturman, L. (2008). 'Scotland.' In: Mullis, I.V.S., Martin, M.O., Olson, J.F., Berger, D.R., Milne, D. and Stanco, G.M. (Eds) TIMSS 2007 Encyclopedia: a Guide to Mathematics and Science Education Around the World. Volume 2: M-Z and Benchmarking Participants. Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study. Chestnut Hill, MA: Boston College, Lynch School of Education, TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center. [Available online].

Bradshaw, J., Sturman, L., Vappula, H., Ager, R. and Wheater, R. (2007). Achievement of 15-year-olds in England: PISA 2006 National Report (OECD Programme for International Student Assessment). Slough: NFER. [Available online].

Bradshaw, J., Sturman, L., Vappula, H., Ager, R. and Wheater, R. (2007). Student Achievement in Northern Ireland: Results in Science, Mathematics and Reading among 15-year-olds from the OECD PISA 2006 Study (OECD Programme for International Student Assessment). Slough: NFER. [Available online].

Bradshaw, J., Sturman, L., Vappula, H., Ager, R. and Wheater, R. (2007). Achievement of 15-year-olds in Wales: PISA 2006 National Report (OECD Programme for International Student Assessment). Slough: NFER. [Available online].

Ruddock, G., Sturman, L., Schagen, I., Styles, B., Gnaldi, M. and Vappula, H. (2004). Where England Stands in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2003: National Report for England [Available online].

Surveys, evaluations and other

Sturman, L. and Taggart, G. (2007). 'The professional voice: comparing questionnaire and telephone methods in a national survey of teachers' perceptions', British Educational Research Journal, 34, 1, 117–134.

Sturman, L., Lewis, K., Morrison, J., Scott, E., Smith, P., Styles, B., Taggart, G. and Woodthorpe, A. (2005). General Teaching Council Survey of Teachers 2005: Final Report. Slough: NFER.

Sturman, L., Lewis, K., Morrison, J., Scott, E., Smith, P., Styles, B., Taggart, G. and Woodthorpe, A. (2005). General Teaching Council Survey of Teachers 2005: Appendices to Final Report. Slough: NFER.

Sturman, L., Lewis, K., Morrison, J., Scott, E., Smith, P., Styles, B., Taggart, G. and Woodthorpe, A. (2005). General Teaching Council Survey of Teachers 2005 (Research Summary). Slough: NFER.

Kirkup, C., Sizmur, J., Sturman, L. and Lewis, K. (2005). Schools’ Use of Data in Teaching and Learning (DfES Research Report 671). London: DfES.

Brill, F., Hodgson, C. and Sturman, L. (2004). Interact: Assessing Speaking and Listening through Drama 10 and 11. London: nferNelson.

Sturman, L., Taggart, G. and Woodthorpe, A. (2004). General Teaching Council Survey of Teachers 2004: Final Report. Slough: NFER.

Sturman, L. (2003). 'Teaching to the test: science or intuition', Educational Research, 45, 3, 261–273.

Sturman, L. (2003). ‘Ready for anything? Preparing for the tests’, Primary Science Review, 79, 26-9.

Sturman, L. (2002). Contented and Committed? A Survey of Quality of Working Life Amongst Teachers. Slough: NFER.