The team

National Centre Manager for TIMSS 2027
Director, International Large-Scale Assessments, Pearson Assessment Services

Role: Grace leads the International Large-Scale Assessment team at Pearson. She has overall responsibility for the delivery of TIMSS in Scotland, ensuring that all TIMSS tasks are carried out on schedule and in accordance with the specified international standards.

Background: In her current role at Pearson, Grace leads on other international large scale assessment studies in her role as NRC (National Research Coordinator) for TIMSS 2027 in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, TIMSS 2023 in England, plus as NRC for PIRLS 2026 in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. She is also the NPM (National Project Manager) for PISA 2025 in Wales, England and Northern Ireland. In her previous role as Director of Research in Pearson UK (2014 - 2023) she was strategically responsible for research on academic and vocational qualifications and learning services for schools, as well as the implementation of the efficacy agenda in the UK. Grace started her career as a teacher, teacher trainer and principal research officer at the examination board of the University of Malta. She completed her post-graduate studies at the University of Otago in New Zealand, as a Commonwealth student, and worked on the National Educational Monitoring Project (NEMP) at the Educational Assessment Research Unit for her doctorate. Grace was Director- General for Quality and Standards at the Ministry of Education in Malta (2007-2013) before moving to Pearson in the UK.

Adaptation Manager and Scoring Manager
Advanced Specialist, Pearson

Role: Sarah coordinates the adaptation of international assessment instruments and manages scoring of pupil responses.

Background: Sarah is a PRINCE2 qualified project manager with over 20 years’ experience within Pearson in the end-to-end operational delivery of a range of high-stakes qualifications and assessment instruments. This includes leading a team in delivering the accurate marking of over 250,000 GCSE Religious Studies examination scripts and managing a team of 1000 markers each summer examination series. Sarah managed adaptations and scoring for PIRLS 2016, 2021 and 2026 and TIMSS 2023, and will manage these activities for TIMSS 2027.

Project Manager
Advanced Specialist, Project Management, Pearson

Role: Project Manager, responsible for the management of the contract deliverables.

Background: An effective, PRINCE2 practitioner qualified project manager with over eight years’ experience working on DfE contracts. Kate successfully managed TIMSS 2019, TIMSS 2023 and PIRLS 2021 (from 2019) in England, PISA 2022 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) and PISA 2025 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). She is also Project Manager for PIRLS 2026 England.

National Data and Sampling Manager
Advanced Specialist, Pearson

Role: Mish will oversee activities relating to sampling, data handling and assessment delivery systems.

Background: Mish is currently the Data and Sampling Manager for other studies including TIMSS 2027 in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, PIRLS 2026 in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, and Wales and for PISA 2025 in England and Wales and Northern Ireland. Mish has over fifteen years’ experience within Pearson, in Customer Service, Operations and IT development roles. He was Data Manager for PIRLS 2016 and TIMSS 2019, delivering a successful sampling strategy, sampling frame and data submission.

School Support Manager and Deputy Data Manager
Advanced Specialist, Pearson

Role: Alistair will coordinate activities relating to recruitment and retention of schools and will support with data management.

Background: Alistair has been working for Pearson for over 12 years. He was Data Manager for PIRLS 2021 and School Recruitment Manager for TIMSS 2023 and PISA 2025, PIRLS 2026 in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and is currently doing the same role for TIMSS 2027 in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. He has worked in many different aspects of international studies including sampling, data management, translation/adaptations, school recruitment and retention, School Coordinator and Test Administrator recruitment as well as training, and coding.

Test Administrator Manager
Advanced Specialist, Pearson

Role: Lucian coordinates recruitment, training and management of Test Administrators.

Background: Lucian is a PRINCE2 practitioner qualified project manager with over 20 years’ experience within Pearson, in the delivery and assessment of high-stakes qualifications, including as Head of Assessment for GCE and GCSE humanities subjects at Pearson for nine years. Lucian has experience of recruitment, training and management of Test Administrators for PISA 2022, PISA 2025, TIMSS 2023 and PIRLS 2026 in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Delivery Support Manager
Specialist, Pearson

Role: Stacey coordinates school participation and retention activities, ensuring schools remain engaged and well supported throughout the lifecycle of each study.

Background: Stacey brings over a decade of experience in education and assessment delivery. Drawing on her previous experience as an Examinations Officer, she combines a deep understanding of the education sector with expertise in stakeholder engagement and service improvement. More recently, she has played a key role in the delivery of PIRLS 2026 and TIMSS 2027, leading strategic school engagement initiatives that strengthen participation, enhance the school experience and foster lasting partnerships that support successful educational research outcomes.

Delivery Support Manager
Specialist, Pearson

Role: Beth coordinates school participation and retention activities, ensuring schools remain engaged and well supported throughout the lifecycle of each study.

Background: Beth joined Pearson in 2021, initially overseeing and driving quality strategy across the Assessment and Qualifications Division. Since 2023, she has played a key role in the delivery of multiple international large-scale assessments, including TIMSS 2023, PISA 2025, PIRLS 2026 and TIMSS 2027. Drawing on her expertise in project delivery, stakeholder engagement and process improvement, Beth has developed resources and support materials for schools, helping to enhance the participant experience and ensure the successful delivery of these important studies.

Delivery Support Manager
Specialist, Service Delivery Management, Pearson

Role: Chris supports the team with school recruitment and exam delivery.

Background: After a career in teaching Chris joined Pearson as an Assessment Leader within Pearson’s International Assessment Team and later joining the International Large Scale Assessment team as a delivery support manager. He has used his teaching experience to play a key role in supporting the School Support team for the recent PISA, PIRLS and TIMSS Studies.

Delivery Support Manager
Specialist, Service Delivery Management

Role: Catherine assists in the recruitment, training and management of Test Administrators.

Background: After more than 20 years as a secondary school teacher, Catherine joined Pearson to work as an Assessment Leader within Pearson’s International Modern Foreign Languages Assessment Team. She joined the ILSA team early in 2025, initially working on recruiting schools to the research studies. Catherine now assists in the recruitment, training and management of Test Administrators.

Delivery Support Manager
Advanced Specialist, Pearson

Role: Marta supports schools and stakeholders throughout the school recruitment process, including contacts with governments and Test Administrators. Marta will also support the data managements process.

Background: In the ILSA team, Marta supported school recruitment and coding/scoring of the PISA 2025 Main Study in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; TIMSS 2027 Field Trial in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales; and PIRLS Main Study in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Previously, Marta redeveloped international and home qualifications at Pearson and other examination boards.

Role: School Support Team

Background: El brings extensive experience in customer service and school engagement, with a strong commitment to supporting schools across Scotland. Since joining Pearson, they have played a key role in leading the delivery of PIRLS 2026 in Scotland, working closely with schools, local authorities and educational stakeholders to build strong relationships and encourage participation in the study. Their collaborative approach, understanding of school needs, and focus on delivering a positive experience help foster lasting partnerships that support the successful delivery of international educational research.

Delivery Support Manager
Specialist, Pearson

Role: Teagan supports the team with school recruitment and exam delivery.

Background: Teagan has extensive experience in customer service and school engagement, underpinned by a strong commitment to supporting schools. Since joining Pearson, she has played a central role in coordinating the delivery of PIRLS 2026 in Northern Ireland, working in partnership with schools, local authorities, and educational stakeholders to build positive relationships and encourage participation in the study. Her collaborative approach, understanding of the needs of schools, and commitment to providing a positive experience help establish strong, lasting partnerships that contribute to the successful delivery of international educational research.