About the job

Summary

We’re looking for two data analysts (HPTO) to join the Assessment Research, Data and Psychometrics team in the Standards and Testing Agency (STA).

As part of the data team, you will be working with stakeholders and suppliers to provide expert analytical advice and data assurance to support the successful delivery of primary assessments.

This is an exciting time to be joining STA as primary assessments return following the pandemic, and we look to the future and how digital and other innovations can be built into the primary assessment programme.

The STA community is made up of a group of enthusiastic and hardworking individuals both from within the public and private sectors. Our people are specialists in what they do whether it’s developing tests and assessment, collecting and analysing data, project managing trials of tests and the test cycle or working with suppliers. It’s a real pleasure working with this level of expertise and with a friendly and inclusive bunch of people too.

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 (NCA) in line with Ministerial policy.
• deliver the assessments (including printing, distribution, marking and data capture).
• support schools in carrying out the assessments.

This role presents an exciting opportunity to work with data in an operational context. 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 someone who has analytical skills, a strong attention to detail and who is excited by the opportunity to make a positive impact and deliver on a high-profile policy area.

There will also be an opportunity within this role to learn and develop as we develop and operationalise our data strategy for the agency.

Responsibilities

As a HPTO you will be managed by the G7 lead, however you will be working closely with the senior data analyst, and your responsibilities may include:

• Working with external suppliers to ensure all deliverables are met and align with agreed specifications.
• Providing technical and subject matter expert support within STA to ensure that documentation and processes are aligned creating a seamless end to end experience for schools and local authorities.
• Supporting the delivery of business-as-usual activities including:

1. Supporting the gathering of requirements from stakeholders and providing clear specifications to support the data collection processes.

2. Contributing to the production, analysis, and assurance of KS2 assessment results ensuring that STA return high quality data to schools and customers on time.

3. Supporting the SPTO to deliver data activities associated with the Reception Baseline Assessment and Multiplication Tables Check in primary schools.

4. Supporting the supplier in the collection and assurance of KS2 teacher assessment data and marking reviews of the KS2 tests.

• Working alongside the wider team to develop, adopt and maintain a future data strategy to include how we collect, store, and share our data internally and externally to the agency.

• Providing analysis and quality assurance of all data where required, including responding to Freedom of Information requests and other data requests.

• Providing advice on our data to customers and stakeholders for its use in externally facing services such as “Find and compare schools in England” and “Analyse school performance”. This may include representing the STA at internal meetings and programme boards across the DfE.

As the team grows there may opportunities to get involved with applied psychometrics and assessment research.

Essential Criteria - Essential skills and experience

• Experience in monitoring and reporting on the quality of data, including accuracy, completeness and ensuring data is fit-for-purpose.

• Displays a curious mind with an excellent attention to detail, keen to find out more information and challenge assumptions and data sources.

• A team player who communicates effectively with colleagues and can work flexibly and responsively to changes to priorities.

• Experience using SQL scripting syntax, R and/or SPSS.

• Demonstrated track record of self-directed learning.

Desirable skills and experience

• Understanding of relational databases, data warehousing principles and data modelling.

• Understanding of data storage and transfer technologies (e.g. Azure, XML, JSON, APIs)

• Experience of automating processes via one or more scripting languages.

Although the Data team roles are predominantly centred around the outlined essential requirements, we are expected to move in a direction where staff need to learn the technologies and skills described as desirable at some point in the future.

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

Benefits

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.

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 Queen’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.

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