Charlynne Pullen BA (Hons) MSc GDE
Principal Research Fellow
Summary
An experienced researcher in education, my research interests are mainly in post-16 technical and vocational education. Previous projects include leading and managing Further Education workforce data, evaluating leadership and governance programmes in Further Education, and writing the Global Statement for Professional Technical Education and Training. Previous roles include Head of Research and Evaluation at The Education and Training Foundation, Research Manager at City & Guilds, and Principal Researcher Evaluation and Skills at the Learning and Skills Network.
About
An experienced programme manager and researcher, I’ve worked in educational research and policy for the past 16 years. I was an independent consultant from April 2020 to August 2022, working for clients including the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, Holex, ICF Consulting Ltd, and the TALENT programme at Midlands Innovation. I conducted research looking at: youth unemployment in Covid times; Institutes of Technology and the challenge of delivering higher technical education; adult education in a rural local authority; evaluating workforce development programmes for staff, leaders and governors in Further Education; and policy and partnerships about technicians in Higher Education.
For six years, I was Head of Research and Evaluation at the Education and Training Foundation, managing the FE workforce data programme including the Staff Individualised Record, and overseeing all evaluations of CPD programmes. I was on secondment at the Institute for Public Policy Research in 2016, where I wrote papers on apprenticeships and finding a solution for 16-18 year olds stuck in a cycle of Level 2 qualifications. Prior to that, I worked at City and Guilds producing and overseeing reports on a theory of vocational pedagogy, using digital technology in vocational education, and vocational education in Ireland. I also worked as a researcher at a sector skills council, the Learning and Skills Network, Universities UK and the National Foundation for Education Research.
I have been a governor at Milton Keynes College since 2016. I have previously chaired the Search and Governance Committee and the CEO Selection Committee, and currently Chair the Curriculum and Quality Committee. I am the link governor for English and maths, previously for apprenticeships, and I was involved in the establishment of the South Central Institute of Technology. In September 2020, I became a governor at the University of Bedfordshire. I was involved in appointing our current Vice-Chancellor and the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, and am currently the link governor for apprenticeships. I sit on the Student and Staff Experience Committee and Governance Committee as well as the main Governing Body.
I was a local councillor in Islington from 2010-14 including chairing the Education Committee in 2013-14. I was a member of the Richard Reeves Foundation charity board from 2010 until 2016, and was a governor at Robert Blair Primary School 2010-2014 and Canonbury Primary School 2008-9.
I am currently studying for a PhD in Economics from the University of Sheffield, looking at the educational and employment pathways of young people who achieve only a Level 2 by age 19, using longitudinal data. I also hold a BA (Hons) in Modern History from the University of Oxford, an MSc in Social Research Methods from the Open University, and a Graduate Diploma in Economics from Birkbeck College, University of London.
Publications
Reports
Pullen, C., McCaig, C., Emms, K., & Laczik, A. (2024). Widening Participation and Degree Apprenticeships. Edge Foundation. https://www.edge.co.uk/documents/520/DD1576_-_Edge_SHU_widening_participation_report_2_FINAL.pdf
Pullen, C. (2024). Apprenticeships - a system build for adults? UVAC. https://uvac.ac.uk/apprenticeships-a-system-built-for-adults-uvac-publishes-new-concept-paper/
Boylan, M., Pullen, C., Boodt, S., Zhu, H., & Clarkson, L. (2024). Generic skills in the 14-19 curriculum: an international review: summary report. Sheffield Hallam University.
Pullen, C., & Boodt, S. (2024). Evaluation of the Greater Than Network. https://www.shu.ac.uk/-/media/home/research/sioe-rke/reports/greater-than-network-final-evaluation-report.pdf
Pullen, C. (2024). Future Skills Projections and Analysis. Department for Education, UK Government. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/662a2a0a690acb1c0ba7e597/Future_skills_projections_and_analysis_-_research_report_April_2024.pdf
Pullen, C., Jeffery, R., & Griffiths, T.-.L. (2024). Experiences and Perceived Impacts of the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage: A Qualitative Scoping Study. gov.uk. https://minimumwage.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/157/2024/02/Pullen-et-al-2024_Apprentice-Experiences-2.pdf
Midlands Innovation, (2022). The TALENT Commission: Technical skills, roles and careers in UK higher education and research. Midlands Innovation. https://www.mitalent.ac.uk/CoreCode/Modules/Content/ResourceLibrary/AjaxHandlers/ResourceAccessHandler.aspx/e85f7b36-c487-4f50-8760-6b36d27bf723
Pullen, C., & Mullan, J. (2021). Global statement on the future of professional technical education and training. World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics. https://wfcp.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/wfcp-globalstatement-report-1.pdf
Pullen, C. (2020). Youth unemployment: lessons to learn. The Gatsby Charitable Foundation. https://www.gatsby.org.uk/uploads/education/reports/pdf/youth-unemployment-report-v6.pdf
Frontier Economics, (2020). Further education workforce data for England: analysis of the 2018-2019 staff individualised record (SIR). Education & Training Foundation. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/SIR27-REPORT-FOR-PUBLICATION.pdf
BMG Research, (2019). Workforce capability to deliver the digital entitlement: an independent report based on a telephone survey and qualitative case studies intothe training needs and skills of the workforce who deliver basic digital skills trainingin post-18 education and training organisations in England, ahead of the introductionof the new standards and Government entitlement in 2020. The Education & Training Foundation. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Report-Workforce-capability-to-deliver-the-digital-entitlement.pdf
Frontier Economics, (2019). Further education workforce data for England: analysis of the 2017-2018 staff individualised record (SIR). Education & Training Foundation. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/SIR26-Workforce-Data-report.pdf
BMG Research, (2018). Training needs in the further education sector: an independent and comprehensive report of survey-based research into the training needs ofpeople who work in post-16 education and training organisations in England. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1331_Training-Needs-Analysis-Final-.pdf
Zaidi, A., Howat, C., Caisl, J., & Puts, E. (2018). Initial teacher education provision in further education - 2015/16 : a report prepared for the Education and Training Foundation by ICF Consulting Services Ltd. The Education & Training Foundation. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Initial-Teacher-Education-in-Further-Education-15.16-Published-April-2018.pdf
Frontier Economics, (2018). Further education workforce data for England: analysis of the 2016-2017 staff individualised record (SIR). Education & Training Foundation. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Staff-Individualised-Records-Data-Report-SIR-25-2016-17.pdf
Frontier Economics, (2017). Further education workforce data for England: analysis of the 2015-2016 staff individualised record (SIR). Education & Training Foundation. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/FE-workforce-data-2017-FINAL_new.pdf
Zaidi, A., Howat, C., & Caisl, J. (2017). Initial teacher education provision in further education and skills: third year report. The Education & Training Foundation. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ITE-data-report-new-brand.pdf
Pullen, C., & Dromey, J. (2016). Earning and learning: making the apprenticeship system work for 16–18-year-olds. Institute for Public Policy Research.
Pullen, C., & Clifton, J. (2016). England’s apprenticeships: assessing the new system. Institute for Public Policy Research. https://www.ippr.org/files/publications/pdf/Englands_apprenticeships_Aug%202016.pdf
Frontier Economics, (2016). Further Education Workforce Data for England: Analysis of the 2014-2015 Staff Individualised Record (SIR). The Education & Training Foundation. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/RPT-FE-Colleges_SIR_for-publication-PC.pdf
Frontier Economics, (2016). Local authority providers' workforce in 2014/15. The Education & Training Foundation. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/RPT-Local-authority-providers_for-publication-PC.pdf
Frontier Economics, (2016). Private training providers' workforce in 2014/15. The Education & Training Foundation. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/RPT-Private-training-providers_for-publication-PC.pdf
Frontier Economics, (2016). Third sector providers' workforce data in 2014/15: findings based on survey evidence from adult and community learning and work-based learning workforce surveys. The Education & Training Foundation. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/RPT-Third-sector-providers_for-publication-PC.pdf
Frontier Economics, (2016). Workforce data across the further education sector 2014/15: summary of findings from analysis of administrative and survey data. The Education & Training Foundation. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/RPT-summary-of-workforce-reports_for-publication-PC.pdf
Zaidi, A., Howat, C., & Caisl, J. (2016). Initial teacher education provision in further education and skills: second year report. The Education & Training Foundation. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Data-analysis-of-ITE-in-FE-Year-2-report-FINAL-PC.pdf
Zaidi, A., Howat, C., Caisal, J., & Pullen, C. (2015). Initial teacher education provision in further education and skills. The Education & Training Foundation. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/ITE-data-report-FINAL.pdf
Research & Consultancy Service, (2015). Work-based learning workforce survey 2013/14. The Education & Training Foundation. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/WBL-Workforce-Survey-2015-280415.pdf
Frontier Economics, (2015). Workforce data across the further education sector 2013/14: Summary of findings in the 2013-2014 Staff IndividualisedRecord (SIR) data, Work Based Learning report, andAdult and Community Learning Workforce report. The Education & Training Foundation. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Workforce-data-summary-13.14-final-final.pdf
Frontier Economics, (2015). Further education workforce data for England: analysis of the 2013-2014 staff individualised record (SIR). The Education & Training Foundation. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/RPT-SIR22-230415.pdf
Research & Consultancy Service, (2015). Adult and Community Learning Workforce Survey 2013/14. The Education & Training Foundation. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/ACL-Workforce-Survey-2015-210415.pdf
HOLEX, (2014). Local authority community learning and skills workforce survey report 2012/13. The Education & Training Foundation. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/ACL-Survey-Final.pdf
Frontier Economics, (2014). The qualification of maths and English teachers in further education: report prepared for the Education and Training Foundation (ETF). The Education & Training Foundation. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/RPT-Survey-v4.pdf
Frontier Economics, (2014). Further education workforce data for England: analysis of the 2012-2013 staff individualised record. The Education & Training Foundation. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/SIR-Report.pdf
Frontier Economics, (2014). Work-based learning workforce survey 2012/13. The Education & Training Foundation. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Work-Based-Learning-Workforce-Survey-Final.pdf
Pullen, C., & Varley Winter, O. (2013). Culture, Coaching and Collaboration: How to unlock the potential of digital learning in vocational teaching and learning. City & Guilds. https://www.cityandguilds.com/-/media/cityandguilds-site/documents/news/culture-coaching-and-collaboration-pdf.ashx?la=en&hash=EA4FE5AD3BEA5B426D9361AD5595FBA8277AFD70
Lucas, B., Claxton, G., & Spencer, E. (2012). How to teach vocational education: a theory of vocational pedagogy. City & Guilds. https://www.improvingtechnicaleducation.org.uk/assets/__/resource-library/resource/pdf/report-how-to-teach-vocational-education.pdf
Pullen, C., Varley-Winter, O., & Melaniphy, P. (2012). International approaches to specialisation in vocational education. City & Guilds. http://hdl.voced.edu.au/10707/256953
Cox, A., Fairhurst, P., Hadjivassiliou, K., Hirsh, W., Pullen, C., Jones, K., ... Walker, E. (2010). Leading and managing in a recession: same or different skills. Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/302417685_Leading_and_Managing_in_Recession_Same_or_Different_Skills
Pullen, C., Bruce, T., & Hale, C. (2008). Researcher mobility in the European research area: barriers and incentives. Universities UK. https://dera.ioe.ac.uk/26286/1/ResearcherMobilityEU.pdf
Pullen, C., & Morris, M. (2007). Disengagement and re-engagement of young people in learning at key stage 3. Research in Practice. https://www.nfer.ac.uk/disengagement-and-re-engagement-of-young-people-in-learning-at-key-stage-3/
Pullen, C., Lines, A., Easton, C., & Schagen, S. (2007). Language learning provision at key stage 2: findings from the 2006 survey. DfES. https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20111125054450/https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/RBX02-07
Internet Publications
Pullen, C. (2024). Whether degree apprenticeships support widening participation depends on who we’re talking about. https://wonkhe.com/blogs/whether-degree-apprenticeships-support-widening-participation-depends-on-who-were-talking-about/
Pullen, C. (2024). What the curriculum review needs to know about generic skills. https://feweek.co.uk/what-the-curriculum-review-needs-to-know-about-generic-skills/
Pullen, C. (2024). How do you work out future skills needs? https://wonkhe.com/blogs/how-do-you-work-out-future-skills-needs/
Pullen, C. (2024). The model that could make CPD greater than it is. https://feweek.co.uk/the-model-that-could-make-cpd-greater-than-it-is/
Pullen, C., Jeffery, R., & Griffiths, T.-.L. (2024). Experiences and Perceived Impacts of the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage - a qualitative scoping study. https://minimumwage.blog.gov.uk/2024/02/07/experiences-and-perceived-impacts-of-the-apprenticeship-minimum-wage-a-qualitative-scoping-study/
Pullen, C., Jeffery, R., & Griffiths, T.-.L. (2024). Experiences and Perceived Impacts of the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage - a qualitative scoping study. https://minimumwage.blog.gov.uk/2024/02/07/experiences-and-perceived-impacts-of-the-apprenticeship-minimum-wage-a-qualitative-scoping-study/