Natalie Perera
@natalieperera.bsky.social
CEO, Education Policy Institute
Charity Trustee and former civil servant.
Charity Trustee and former civil servant.
Details of one of the best roles in the sector below. 100% recommend and happy to have a chat with interested (and serious!) candidates.
EPI is searching for our next CEO 📣
Are you an experienced leader with a passion for education and social justice? Help EPI make the case for better outcomes by continuing to deliver world-class research and influence policy at the highest levels.
Find out more: epi.org.uk/jobs/chief-e...
Are you an experienced leader with a passion for education and social justice? Help EPI make the case for better outcomes by continuing to deliver world-class research and influence policy at the highest levels.
Find out more: epi.org.uk/jobs/chief-e...
November 25, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Details of one of the best roles in the sector below. 100% recommend and happy to have a chat with interested (and serious!) candidates.
I've received so many warm messages from across the sector today, thank you to everyone who's been in touch. Establishing & leading EPI has been a huge privilege and I couldn't have done it without an incredibly talented team. I'm sad to leave my beloved EPI, but excited for this next phase!
📝 The boss and co-founder of the Education Policy Institute will leave her role at the think tank for a senior job at the country’s largest exam board
Read more 🔽
Read more 🔽
EPI CEO Natalie Perera to leave think tank for AQA role
She co-founded the charity and has led it since 2015
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 9:23 PM
I've received so many warm messages from across the sector today, thank you to everyone who's been in touch. Establishing & leading EPI has been a huge privilege and I couldn't have done it without an incredibly talented team. I'm sad to leave my beloved EPI, but excited for this next phase!
Very pleased to see the DfE adopt our measure of the disadvantage gap. Calculating it each year, for each phase, is a labour of love but it has been game-changing in improving focus and understanding of the gap.
It's great to see the Government adopt EPI's 'months of learning' disadvantage gap measure for the first time in its CAR response. It's a key recognition of a measure that is intuitive, clear, and having a real impact across education, media, and policy.
November 5, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Very pleased to see the DfE adopt our measure of the disadvantage gap. Calculating it each year, for each phase, is a labour of love but it has been game-changing in improving focus and understanding of the gap.
In sunny Bournemouth to speak on a @nasuwt-official.bsky.social panel on education funding. @edupolicyinst.bsky.social events kick off from 11.30 tomorrow!
September 21, 2025 at 10:16 AM
In sunny Bournemouth to speak on a @nasuwt-official.bsky.social panel on education funding. @edupolicyinst.bsky.social events kick off from 11.30 tomorrow!
And so it begins. We're kicking off the 2025 Party Conference this weekend at #LDConf in Bournemouth. I'm doing a panel on Sunday with @nasuwt-official.bsky.social. We've then got a great line up of EPI events with our partners on Monday. Join us if you can!
Heading to @conference.libdems.org.uk over the weekend? Join EPI on Monday 22nd September as we dig into the big questions shaping education policy. We’ll be running events throughout the day. Find out more here: epi.org.uk/events/
#LDConf
#LDConf
September 17, 2025 at 10:12 AM
And so it begins. We're kicking off the 2025 Party Conference this weekend at #LDConf in Bournemouth. I'm doing a panel on Sunday with @nasuwt-official.bsky.social. We've then got a great line up of EPI events with our partners on Monday. Join us if you can!
I love this article. We're all wobbly sometimes schoolsweek.co.uk/how-can-main...
August 14, 2025 at 10:11 AM
I love this article. We're all wobbly sometimes schoolsweek.co.uk/how-can-main...
The @edupolicyinst.bsky.social was up bright and early today to bring you everything you need to know about Level 3 results day today 👇
Following today’s publication of Level 3 results across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, EPI has released its analysis of this year’s key trends — here are the headline takeaways 📈
August 14, 2025 at 9:51 AM
The @edupolicyinst.bsky.social was up bright and early today to bring you everything you need to know about Level 3 results day today 👇
Reposted by Natalie Perera
The Education Policy Institute’s Chief Executive @natalieperera.bsky.social responds to the Government's spending review. Read the full statement: epi.org.uk/comments/epi...
![Graphic from the Education Policy Institute. On the far left is a large teal opening quotation mark. Beneath it is a black-and-white head-and-shoulders photo of Natalie Perera outlined with a teal circle; her name and title, “Chief Executive,” appear in bold black and teal text below the photo.
To the right, in large black font, are four paragraphs of her quotation:
“Today’s announcement signals a significant cash increase in school funding. However, given that the overall budget is rising by £4.7 bn in cash terms only by 2028-29, once inflation is considered, this increase leaves less flexibility for schools than they might have hoped.”
“[…] The government must consider how funding is targeted, ensuring it reaches the schools and pupils who need it most.”
“The most pressing challenge is the crisis in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision and today’s settlement doesn’t appear to leave adequate funding to deliver the much-needed reforms in this area […]”
“[…] The Government must prioritise publishing a child-poverty strategy and this should include funded commitments, including removing the two-child benefit cap, that will genuinely lift children out of poverty.”
A dark navy vertical bar runs down the right edge; at its top is the Education Policy Institute logo, and at the bottom is an oversized white closing quotation mark.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:t2ylcyj4rfbzxutepimowxkl/bafkreid6vbq2eje5o7ofgkloiesgjbhtxsygzjb4ivophyi5d5kklhopri@jpeg)
June 11, 2025 at 12:59 PM
The Education Policy Institute’s Chief Executive @natalieperera.bsky.social responds to the Government's spending review. Read the full statement: epi.org.uk/comments/epi...
Reposted by Natalie Perera
EPI's Director for SEND and Additional Needs @johutchinson.bsky.social gave evidence to the Education Select Committee inquiry “Solving the SEND Crisis” this morning. Watch the full session: committees.parliament.uk/work/8684/so...
Solving the SEND Crisis - Committees - UK Parliament
A number of recent reports have set out in detail the extent of the crisis in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system, which is letting down children and their families, creating ...
committees.parliament.uk
June 10, 2025 at 10:38 AM
EPI's Director for SEND and Additional Needs @johutchinson.bsky.social gave evidence to the Education Select Committee inquiry “Solving the SEND Crisis” this morning. Watch the full session: committees.parliament.uk/work/8684/so...
Reposted by Natalie Perera
The EPI's director of SEND Jo Hutchinson said we are having problems with inclusion in mainstream and this is seen through high and increasing numbers of pupils having unexplained school moves or exits from the school system and attendance problems driving wider disadvantage gaps.
June 10, 2025 at 9:10 AM
The EPI's director of SEND Jo Hutchinson said we are having problems with inclusion in mainstream and this is seen through high and increasing numbers of pupils having unexplained school moves or exits from the school system and attendance problems driving wider disadvantage gaps.
Reposted by Natalie Perera
🔊Comment: EPI's CEO @natalieperera.bsky.social
responds to the 2025/26 teachers' pay award.
responds to the 2025/26 teachers' pay award.
May 22, 2025 at 1:14 PM
🔊Comment: EPI's CEO @natalieperera.bsky.social
responds to the 2025/26 teachers' pay award.
responds to the 2025/26 teachers' pay award.
Thoughtful piece here by Diana Sutton on the importance of ESOL funding and provision, in the wake of Labour's immigration plans feweek.co.uk/why-labours-...
May 18, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Thoughtful piece here by Diana Sutton on the importance of ESOL funding and provision, in the wake of Labour's immigration plans feweek.co.uk/why-labours-...
ICYMI last week, we published a thoughtful analysis on the gender gap and why we need to be worried about both boys AND girls. As ever, it poses a number of questions we need t explore around safety and belonging.
There’s been growing concern about boys falling behind in school. We previously reported that the GCSE gender gap is narrowing, but new data paints a more complex picture.
In this thread, we explore what’s behind the shift—and why it may be too soon to celebrate.
🧵
In this thread, we explore what’s behind the shift—and why it may be too soon to celebrate.
🧵
May 13, 2025 at 8:42 AM
ICYMI last week, we published a thoughtful analysis on the gender gap and why we need to be worried about both boys AND girls. As ever, it poses a number of questions we need t explore around safety and belonging.
And this report from @ippr.bsky.social and @ambitioninstitute.bsky.social sets out recommendations for improving and scaling professional development.
🧑🏫 | NEW REPORT: Schools face a workforce crisis. The attainment gap is the widest in a decade. The solution? Invest in teachers.
Our report with @ambitioninstitute.bsky.social sets out a smart, scalable plan to reach 290,000 teachers and improve outcomes for pupils.
www.ippr.org/articles/a-s...
Our report with @ambitioninstitute.bsky.social sets out a smart, scalable plan to reach 290,000 teachers and improve outcomes for pupils.
www.ippr.org/articles/a-s...
April 29, 2025 at 8:59 AM
And this report from @ippr.bsky.social and @ambitioninstitute.bsky.social sets out recommendations for improving and scaling professional development.
Our latest report highlights the stark and growing gaps in the experience, expertise and stability of teaching between disadvantaged and more affluent schools. In order to make progress in closing the gap, govt needs to turbo charge financial incentives & access to professional development.
📊 New report: Disadvantage gaps in the teaching workforce
We examined three critical aspects of workforce characteristics: experience, subject expertise, and stability (including both turnover & staff absences), comparing the most & least affluent school quintiles (by free school meal eligibility).
We examined three critical aspects of workforce characteristics: experience, subject expertise, and stability (including both turnover & staff absences), comparing the most & least affluent school quintiles (by free school meal eligibility).
April 29, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Our latest report highlights the stark and growing gaps in the experience, expertise and stability of teaching between disadvantaged and more affluent schools. In order to make progress in closing the gap, govt needs to turbo charge financial incentives & access to professional development.
The Perera / Laws era has come to an end after nearly a decade at EPI and over 13 years in total. But we are extremely privileged and excited to have Professor Sir Chris Husbands as our new Chair!
March 19, 2025 at 6:17 PM
The Perera / Laws era has come to an end after nearly a decade at EPI and over 13 years in total. But we are extremely privileged and excited to have Professor Sir Chris Husbands as our new Chair!
And, 5 years on from lockdown, @mrjpandrews.bsky.social speaks to More or Less about the impact on learning and inequalities.
Our Head of Analysis @mrjpandrews.bsky.social speaks on BBC More or Less about the impact of lockdown on pupils, the attainment gap, and regional variations across England.
You can listen the full interview 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
You can listen the full interview 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
More or Less - How did lockdown impact children? - BBC Sounds
Five years on, Tim Harford looks at the data on the effect of lockdown.
www.bbc.co.uk
March 17, 2025 at 1:16 PM
And, 5 years on from lockdown, @mrjpandrews.bsky.social speaks to More or Less about the impact on learning and inequalities.
Reposted by Natalie Perera
Our Chief Executive, @natalieperera.bsky.social speaks on BBC Breakfast today about findings from our latest report on the disadvantage gap, highlighting that absence is a leading cause of the performance gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.
March 17, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Our Chief Executive, @natalieperera.bsky.social speaks on BBC Breakfast today about findings from our latest report on the disadvantage gap, highlighting that absence is a leading cause of the performance gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.
Today, @edupolicyinst.bsky.social published a groundbreaking report on the impact of school absences on the disadvantage gap. I was pleased to talk to the Today Programme about some of these issues and challenges.
📻On BBC Radio 4 Today, our Chief Executive @natalieperera.bsky.social discusses the findings from our latest report on rising levels of school absence and the widening disadvantage gap for pupils.
You can listen the full interview here at 44.30👇
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
You can listen the full interview here at 44.30👇
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Today - 17/03/2025 - BBC Sounds
News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
www.bbc.co.uk
March 17, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Today, @edupolicyinst.bsky.social published a groundbreaking report on the impact of school absences on the disadvantage gap. I was pleased to talk to the Today Programme about some of these issues and challenges.
So excited to share the cover of my talented cousin's new children's book - out on 5th June and absolutely stunning. 🤩🤩
🐚🎉🐚🎉 COVER REVEAL!
So delighted to be able to share this with you! This is my debut middle grade childrens novel, due out on 5th June 2025.
A magical seaside read with themes of family, environment and heritage. Thanks to @trindles_ for the beautiful cover art.
bit.ly/43KMcRr
#childrensbooks
So delighted to be able to share this with you! This is my debut middle grade childrens novel, due out on 5th June 2025.
A magical seaside read with themes of family, environment and heritage. Thanks to @trindles_ for the beautiful cover art.
bit.ly/43KMcRr
#childrensbooks
March 15, 2025 at 3:21 PM
So excited to share the cover of my talented cousin's new children's book - out on 5th June and absolutely stunning. 🤩🤩
I'm at #ASCL2025 where @tomrees.bsky.social cites @edupolicyinst.bsky.social research on the variation of SEND identification as he sets out the challenges facing the SEND system
March 15, 2025 at 10:39 AM
I'm at #ASCL2025 where @tomrees.bsky.social cites @edupolicyinst.bsky.social research on the variation of SEND identification as he sets out the challenges facing the SEND system
Happy International Women's Day, especially to the amazing team of women in @edupolicyinst.bsky.social. Thank you for your passion and your power 🤩🤩
March 8, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Happy International Women's Day, especially to the amazing team of women in @edupolicyinst.bsky.social. Thank you for your passion and your power 🤩🤩
Lovely to be in Durham today, partnering with Durham University and the North East Combined Authority to talk about how we can better understand and tackle regional educational inequalities. And the sun has come out!
February 27, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Lovely to be in Durham today, partnering with Durham University and the North East Combined Authority to talk about how we can better understand and tackle regional educational inequalities. And the sun has come out!
We're recruiting! A great opportunity to work in our lovely charity, helping with our events and fundraising efforts, as well as with my diary!
💼JOB OPPORTUNITY: Executive and Events Officer
We’re looking for a talented and motivated candidate to join our Communications, Events and Partnerships team as an Executive and Events Officer.
More information on the role and how to apply👇
epi.org.uk/jobs/executi...
We’re looking for a talented and motivated candidate to join our Communications, Events and Partnerships team as an Executive and Events Officer.
More information on the role and how to apply👇
epi.org.uk/jobs/executi...
Executive and Events Officer - Education Policy Institute
The Education Policy Institute (EPI) is a leading independent public policy research institute. We produce influential, authoritative, data-driven research that is both timely and influential to poli...
epi.org.uk
February 26, 2025 at 5:18 PM
We're recruiting! A great opportunity to work in our lovely charity, helping with our events and fundraising efforts, as well as with my diary!
Reposted by Natalie Perera
🗣️Comment: Latest Ofsted inspections and report card proposals
Our Chief Executive @natalieperera.bsky.social responds to the latest announcements.
Our Chief Executive @natalieperera.bsky.social responds to the latest announcements.
February 3, 2025 at 11:02 AM
🗣️Comment: Latest Ofsted inspections and report card proposals
Our Chief Executive @natalieperera.bsky.social responds to the latest announcements.
Our Chief Executive @natalieperera.bsky.social responds to the latest announcements.