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 single level tests for reading in England and is international reading co-ordinator for PIRLS.

Prior experience and professional background

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. Marian is a Fellow of AEA-Europe and a Fellow of CIEA.

Main research interests

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

Other research interests

Manager of research projects with a particular interest in staff development of researchers. Higher degrees in philosophy of education.

Selected publications

Sainsbury, M. (2009). 'Developing writing in a high-stakes environment.' In: Beard, R., Myhill, D., Riley, J. and Nystrand, M. (eds), The SAGE Handbook of Writing Development. London: Sage Publications.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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 .

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.

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.

Ashby, J. and Sainsbury, M. (2001). How Do Schools Use National Curriculum Test Results? A Survey of the Use of National Curriculum Test Results in the Management and Planning of the Curriculum at Key Stages 1 and 2. Slough: NFER.

Campbell, J.R., Kelly, D.L., Mullis, I.V.S., Martin, M.O. and Sainsbury, M. (2001). Framework and Specifications for PIRLS Assessment 2001. Second edn. Chestnut Hill, MA: Boston College, PIRLS International Study Center.

Sainsbury, M. (2001). ‘Test development research: a short guide’, TOPIC, Issue 25, Item 9.

Sainsbury, M., Caspall, L., McDonald, A., Ravenscroft, L. and Schagen, I. (1999). Evaluation of the 1998 Summer Schools Programme: Full Report. Slough: NFER.

Sainsbury, M., Schagen, I., Whetton, C. and Caspall, L. (1999). ‘An investigation of hierarchical relationships in children’s literacy attainments at baseline’, Journal of Research in Reading, 22, 1, 45-54.

Schagen, I., Sainsbury, M. and Strand, S. (1999). ‘Statistical aspects of baseline assessment and its relationship to end of key stage one assessment’, Oxford Review of Education, 25, 3, 359-67.

Sainsbury, M. (1998). ‘Baseline assessment: preparing for the national framework’, TOPIC, Issue 19, Item 3.

Sainsbury, M. (1998). Literacy Hours: a Survey of the National Picture in the Spring Term of 1998. Slough: NFER.

Sainsbury, M., Caspall, L., MacDonald, A. and Ravenscroft, L. (1998). The Evaluation of the 1998 Summer School Programme: Summary Report. Slough: NFER.

Sainsbury, M., Schagen, I. and Whetton, C. with Hagues, N. and Minnis, M. (1998). Evaluation of the National Literacy Project: Cohort 1, 1996-1998. Slough: NFER.

Sainsbury, M. and Sizmur, S. (1998). ‘Level descriptions in the National Curriculum: what kind of criterion referencing is this?’ Oxford Review of Education, 24, 2, 181-93.

Sainsbury, M., Whetton, C., Mason, K. and Schagen, I. (1998). ‘Fallback in attainment on transfer at age 11: evidence from the Summer Literacy Schools evaluation’, Educational Research, 40, 1, 73-81.

Sainsbury, M. (1997). ‘Baseline assessment: how well did SCAA’s three schemes work?’ British Journal of Curriculum & Assessment, 7, 2, 14-19.

Sainsbury, M. (1997). ‘Test group slips under the baseline’, Times Educ. Suppl., 4206, 7 February, 13.

Sainsbury, M., Mason, K., Whetton, C. and Schagen, I. (1997). Evaluation of Summer Literacy Schools. London: QCA.

Sizmur, S. and Sainsbury, M. (1997). ‘Criterion referencing and the meaning of National Curriculum assessment’, British Journal of Educational Studies, 45, 2, 123-40.

Sainsbury, M. (Ed) (1996). SATs the Inside Story: the Development of the First National Assessments for Seven-year-olds, 1989-1995. Slough: NFER.

Sainsbury, M. (1996). Tracking Significant Achievement in Primary English. London: Hodder & Stoughton.

Schagen, I. and Sainsbury, M. (1996). ‘Multilevel analysis of the key stage 1 National Curriculum assessment data in 1995’, Oxford Review of Education, 22, 3, 265-72.

Sizmur, S. and Sainsbury, M. (1996). ‘Criterion-referencing and level descriptions in National Curriculum assessment’, British Journal of Curriculum & Assessment, 7, 1, 9-11.

Sainsbury, M., Schagen, I. and Whetton, C. (1995). ‘Issues in the evaluation of Standard Assessment Tasks and the reliability of National Curriculum assessment’, British Educational Research Journal, 21, 2, 237-40.

Christophers, U., Sainsbury, M., Whetton, C., Ashby, J., Fletcher-Campbell, F. and Hopkins, S. (1992). National Curriculum Assessment at Key Stage 1 in the Core Subjects 1992 Evaluation: Children with Statements of Special Educational Needs. Report by the NFER-BGC Consortium. London: SEAC.

Sainsbury, M., Whetton, C., Ashby, J., Schagen, I. and Sizmur, S. (1992). National Curriculum Assessment at Key Stage 1 in the Core Subjects 1992 Evaluation. A Report by the NFER-BGC Consortium. London: SEAC.

Whetton, C., Hopkins, S., Christophers, U., Heath, M., Mason, K., Schagen, I., Sainsbury, M., Ashby, J., Clarke, J., Jones, G., Puncher, J. and Wilson, J. (1991). An Evaluation of the 1991 National Curriculum Assessment. Report 4: the Working of the Standard Assessment Task. London: SEAC.

Whetton, C., Ruddock, G. and Hopkins, S. with Ashby, J., Christophers, U., Clarke, J., Heath, M., Jones, G., Puncher, J., Sainsbury, M., Schagen, I., Wilson, J. and Powell, R. (1991). A Report on the Pilot Study of Standard Assessment Tasks for Key Stage 1. Part 1: Main Text and Comparability Studies. London: SEAC.

Whetton, C., Sainsbury, M., Ashby, J., Christophers, U., Jones, G. and Schagen, I. (1991). An Evaluation of the 1991 National Curriculum Assessment. Report 2: Initial Evaluation of Teacher Assessment. Slough: NFER.

Whetton, C., Sainsbury, M., Hopkins, S., Ashby, J., Christophers, U., Clarke, J., Heath, M., Jones, G., Puncher, J., Schagen, I. and Wilson, J. (1991). A Report on Teacher Assessment. London: SEAC.