Psychometrician

Details
Reference number

420717

Salary

£48,999

National pay band minimum £48,999. London pay band minimum £52,799.

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

Job grade

Senior Executive Officer

Senior Professional Technical Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

DFE - Schools Group

Type of role

Analytical

Operational Research

Statistics

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

Bristol - BS2 0EL, Cambridge - CB2 8DR, Coventry - CV1 2WT, London - SW1P 3BT, Manchester - M1 2WD, Sheffield - S1 2FJ

Please note – Bristol currently have site controls in place. Therefore, this location option is only available to existing DfE employees already assigned to this office location.

About the job
Job summary

Are you an experienced analyst who is passionate about making a difference to schools and children across the UK?

We are recruiting a psychometrician to support the development and delivery of national assessments

This is an exciting time to be joining the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) as we look to build upon our existing assessment and digital service capability.

The STA community is made up of a group of enthusiastic and hardworking individuals from within both the public and private sectors. Our people are specialists in what they do whether it's developing tests, project managing the test cycle or working with suppliers. We are a friendly and inclusive team who acknowledge and appreciate everyone's expertise, knowledge and experience.

If you have a desire to work on one of the Department for Education's key priorities for ensuring all children achieve their potential, and ensure a positive experience for schools, this could be the role for you.

Job description

The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) is the part of the Department for Education responsible for the development and delivery of statutory assessments for pupils up to the age of 14 and for school-based assessment policy.

In addition to policy development and implementation, the STA's main functions are to:

• Develop high quality and rigorous National Curriculum Assessments (NCAs) in line with Ministerial policy.
• Deliver the assessments (including printing, distribution, marking and data capture).
• Support schools in carrying out the assessments.

The role presents interesting and challenging opportunities to deliver key ministerial priorities. The post-holder will work closely both with internal colleagues across STA and the wider department, and with external partners and suppliers. We are looking for a creative, proactive and motivated individual who is excited by the opportunity to make a positive impact and deliver on a high-profile policy area.

At DfE we have a strong culture of inclusion and diversity and are committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We aim to develop all our staff to enable them to make a full contribution to meeting the Department's objectives, and to fulfil their own potential. We promote and support the use of a range of flexible working patterns to help staff to balance home and work responsibilities and we treat people fairly irrespective of their working arrangements.

Person specification

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are dedicated to creating a great place to work that reflects the diversity of the society we serve. To help us do this, we encourage applications from ethnic minorities, disabled people, and people from LGBTQ+ communities. By bringing together different ideas, experiences, and perspectives, we can achieve our ambitions, together.

Key responsibilities

The post holder will report to one of the Lead Psychometricians.

You will be responsible for carrying out quantitative analysis on a range of testing programmes using a variety of statistical and psychometric techniques:

• Undertaking psychometric and statistical analysis on a range of testing programmes.
• Contributing to the development of tests and other assessments through provision of psychometric expertise.
• Working closely with colleagues to ensure data from trialling meets analysis needs both from paper-based and digital assessments.
• Setting and maintaining standards on tests in a rigorous way.
• Applying appropriate project management techniques to ensure that projects are delivered to time, cost and quality.
• Contributing to development and coding of tools for psychometric analysis using for example R, SQL and VBA, with willingness to develop competency with other software as required.
• Contributing to the collection of evidence of validity, reliability and fairness of tests.

Key experience requirements:

The successful applicant for the post to satisfy the following Essential criteria:

• Delivering high quality analysis in an operational testing/ assessment context. This will include using advanced skills in Excel and experience in R.
• Use of assessment theories and psychometric techniques such as classical test theory, item response theory and validity theory.
• Experience of working in a technical team supporting specialist domain knowledge and activities such as equating, standard setting and standards maintenance.
• Experience of collaborative working with other teams to deliver high quality outcomes for a project, at pace to tight timescales.

Desirable skills:

• Good coding/programming skills to help develop and debug tools
• Experience with IRT software
• Educational assessment experience

Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie break situation to make an informed decision.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £48,999, Department for Education contributes £14,195 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department's transfer / promotion policies.

As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK, with an average employer contribution of 27%.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years' service. In addition, all staff receive the King's Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days' bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.

Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.

Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.

Things you need to know
Selection process details

Application

At application you will be asked to provide your CV and a statement of suitability. Both should be anonymised (all personal information removed, such as your name, date of birth, gender, contact information, nationality etc).

• Your CV should include details of previous roles held and responsibilities/ previous skills and experience.
• Your statement of suitability (max 1250 words) should demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section above.

Your CV and statement will be assessed together against the listed essential criteria.

In the event that a high volume of applications are received, we will initially sift applications based on the criteria: "Use of assessment theories and psychometric techniques such as classical test theory, item response theory and validity theory."

Interview

At interview we will further assess your experience against the essential criteria listed in the person specification. We will also ask you questions relating to the technical skills listed for this role. The interview will also include a short presentation task; this will be given to you when invited to interview. Visual aids/ handouts are not required for this presentation. Feel free to use notes as a point of reference, if needed.

In the event of a tie, candidates will be selected based on the desirable experience criteria.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

Sift date to be confirmed. Interviews will likely take place virtually in the week commencing 08/12/2025 via MS Teams.

Other Information

Interviews may be via Microsoft teams or face to face; the vacancy manager will confirm prior to the Interview.

In your application, please don't include personal information that identifies you.

This means we can recruit based on your knowledge and skills, and not background, gender or ethnicity - it's called name blind recruitment .

Please ensure that you remove from your application, all references to your:

• name/title
• educational institutions
• age
• gender
• email address
• postal address
• phone number
• nationality/immigration status

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.

The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre- stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs

Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.

Reasonable adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Department of Education via soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Please refer to the attached 'Reasonable Adjustments Guide 05_2025 – accessible version' at the bottom of the advert, for further information.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants
Job contact :

• Name : David West
• Email :

Recruitment team

• Email :

Further information

The Department for Education's recruitment processes are underpinned by the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles, which outlines that selection for appointment is made on merit based on fair and open competition. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly with the department concerned via If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages

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