TALIS
What is TALIS?
TALIS is OECD’s survey of teachers and headteachers which is carried out in more than 40 countries. It has taken place every five years since it was first carried out in 2008. England participated for the first time in 2013, focussing on lower secondary (KS3) teachers and their headteachers.

For TALIS 2018, England will survey primary (KS1 & KS2) and lower secondary (KS3) school teachers and their headteachers.
In England, the Department for Education (DfE) is responsible for TALIS, with support by the National Centre. The National Centre team consists of FFT Education Ltd, UCL Institute of Education and RAND Europe who have collaborated to implement the TALIS survey.
Main survey
The TALIS main survey takes place in March 2018. 200 primary schools and 200 secondary schools will be selected to take part.

In each of the selected schools, 20 teachers and their headteachers will be asked to complete the TALIS questionnaire during the survey period. It’s very important for the selected schools to take part so England can meet OECD’s strict participation requirements to be involved in this study. The more schools take part, the more reliable the results.
Each school will be asked to provide a contact who the National Centre team can liaise with directly to provide support and guidance throughout the TALIS process.
Documents
The Independent School Association has endorsed TALIS as a valuable and important survey and encourages the selected independent schools to contribute in order to produce meaningful analysis across all types of schools. Please see the letter from the Independent School Association encouraging selected school’s participation in TALIS 2018.
View letterTeaching unions NAHT and ASCL have also endorsed TALIS, recognising the impact that the previous survey in 2013 had in implementing policy change at government level to achieve better working practices for the teaching profession. The union General Secretaries encourage all headteachers of selected sample schools to register to participate, and encourage their teachers to complete the survey.
Research
Timeline
- Autumn 2016
- Sampled schools are informed about their participation in the TALIS 2018 field trial
- Schools register with the National Centre and begin preparations for the field trial survey period
- February–March 2017
- Field Trial survey period
- June 2017
- Sampled schools are informed about their participation in the TALIS 2018 main survey
- Schools register with the National Centre and begin preparations for the main survey period
- March–May 2018
- Main Survey period
- June 2019
- Release of the International and National TALIS 2018 report
- July–December 2019
- Participating schools receive school reports and are invited to National TALIS 2018 conference(s)
FAQs
Why was my school selected for the main survey?
What is the TALIS main survey?
Who is responsible for TALIS in my country?
Who is the National Centre?
Does my school have to take part?
What is the role of the school coordinator?
I’m a teacher that has been sampled to take part in TALIS, will my responses be anonymous?
What information will be shared with others?
What happens with the personal data schools provide for TALIS 2018?
Team

Rebecca Allen

Laura James

Dave Thomson
