Hallam academic awarded UKRI Policy Fellowship

Charlynne Pullen is the first academic from Sheffield Hallam University to be awarded a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Policy Fellowship, which embeds researchers into the heart of government to help inform and shape effective public policy 

Press contact: Emma Griffiths | e.griffiths@shu.ac.uk

The Fellowship is part of a What Works Innovation Fellowship, part of the UKRI Policy Fellowships Programme, based at the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF).  

Charlynne’s research will focus on effective strategies to narrow the attainment gap for socioeconomically disadvantaged 16-19-year-old learners.  

Charlynne, from Sheffield Hallam’s Institute of Education, said: “Being a fellow in this programme is a great opportunity to build on my existing policy-facing research in post-16 education, and Sheffield Institute of Education’s longstanding relationship with EEF. A recent focus on Level 2 and 3 vocational qualifications in the Skills White Paper makes this an ideal time to be conducting research on supporting progression from Level 2 to 3.” 

The fellowship will focus specifically on identifying good practice in colleges and other post-16 providers that enables learners to progress from Level 2 to Level 3 by age 19 within 16-19 study programmes. It will investigate systems, structures or otherwise strategies that help learners complete a Level 2 qualification by age 17 and successfully progress to a Level 3 qualification that is completed by 19. 

The UKRI Policy Fellowships scheme embeds academic researchers within UK government departments and What Works Networks to undertake focused research that directly informs public policy.  

The EEF is part of the What Works Network, and is an independent charity dedicated to breaking the link between family income and educational achievement. EEF supports schools, colleges, and early years settings to improve teaching and learning through better use of evidence. 

Emily Yeomans, Director of Research at the EEF, said: "The UKRI fellowship will strengthen our growing work in the 16–19 sector. Charlynne's project will help us to provide colleges with reliable, robust evidence on how best to support learners to progress from Level 2 to Level 3 vocational qualifications."