Sharon O'Donnell

BSc, MA
Head of Eurydice at NFER
s.odonnell@nfer.ac.uk
+44 (0)1753 637189

Sharon is a Principal Information Officer and Head of the International Information Unit at the NFER. She leads two major projects: Eurydice at NFER, the Eurydice Unit for England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the Eurydice information network on education in Europe (www.nfer.ac.uk/eurydice), and the International Review of Curriculum and Assessment Frameworks Internet Archive (INCA - www.inca.org.uk). Under the EU Lifelong Learning Programme, the Eurydice Network provides information to support the policy making process in education, whilst the INCA website provides regularly updated descriptions of government policy on education in 20 countries, focussing on the curriculum, assessment and initial teacher training frameworks in place.

Prior experience and professional background

Sharon joined the NFER in November 1993 and has been Head of the Unit since 1 January 2005. She has a first degree in modern languages (French and German) and a masters degree in Electronic Communication and Publishing.

Main research interests

Educational policy, international research, curriculum management and assessment.

Other research interests

Sharon is also involved in a anumber of other NFER projects with a cross-national dimension.

Selected publications

Sargent, C. Andrews, C. and Brown, R. with O'Donnell, S. (2006). International Review of Curriculum and Assessment Frameworks Internet Archive: Comparative Tables. London: Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. [online] http://www.inca.org.uk/comparative_tables.html

Whitby, K. and Lord, P. with O'Donnell, S. and Grayson, H. (2006). Dips in performance and Motivation: a Purely English Perception? London: Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. [online] http://www.inca.org.uk/pdf/Final_Dip_Report.pdf

Whitby, K. and Walker, M. with O'Donnell, S. (2006). International Review of Curriculum and Assessment Frameworks: Thematic Probe. The Teaching and Learning of Skills in Primary and Secondary Education [online].

Lord, P. and O'Donnell, S. with Brown, R. and Grayson, H. (2005). International Review of Curriculum and Assessment Frameworks. Thematic Probe: Learner Motivation 3-19. An International Perspective [online].
O'Donnell, S. (2005). 'The teaching of citizenship in other countries', NFER News, Winter, 18. [online]

O'Donnell, S., Andrews, C., Brown, R., and Sargent, C. (2005). INCA: The International Review of Curriculum and Assessment Frameworks Internet Archive. London: Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. [online] http://www.inca.org.uk

Whitby, K. and Filmer-Sankey, C. with O'Donnell, S. (2005). The International Review of Curriculum and Assessment Frameworks: Thematic Probe. The Teaching of Skills in Lower Secondary Education [online].

O'Donnell, S. (2002). International Review of Curriculum and Assessment Frameworks. Thematic Probe. Primary Education: an International Perspective. London: Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. [online] http://www.inca.org.uk

O'Donnell, S.(2001). International Review of Curriculum and Assessment Frameworks: Thematic Probe. Curriculum Review: an International Perspective. London: Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. [online] http://www.inca.org.uk/thematic2.asp

O'Donnell, S.(2001).International Review of Curriculum and Assessment Frameworks Thematic Probe. Early Years Education. London: Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. [online] http://www.inca.org.uk/thematic2.asp

O'Donnell, S. and Micklethwaite, C. (2000). International Review of Curriculum and Assessment Frameworks: Thematic Probe. Science for the 21st Century, Queensland (Australia), Ontario (Canada), France, the Netherlands and Sweden. London: Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. [online]
http://www.inca.org.uk/thematic2.asp

Holt, G., Boyd, S., Dickinson, B., Loose, J. and O'Donnell, S. (1999). Education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: a Guide to the System. Slough: NFER.

O'Donnell, S. and Micklethwaite, C. (1999). International Review of Curriculum and Assessment Frameworks: Thematic Probe. Arts and Creativity in Education: an International Perspective. London: Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. [online] http://www.inca.org.uk/thematic2.asp