Director of Research, Pearson | Associate Professor | National Programme Manager for PISA
Dr. Grace Grima is a distinguished education research expert with over three decades of experience in educational assessment, policy development, and large-scale international studies. As the Director of Research at Pearson, she leads the strategic delivery and research analysis for some of the world’s most influential educational benchmarks.
Professional Overview
Dr. Grima’s career is defined by her unique position at the intersection of corporate educational leadership and academic research. She currently serves as the Director of Research (International Assessments) at Pearson, where she oversees the implementation of major international comparative studies in partnership with leading academic institutions, including the Oxford University Centre for Educational Assessment (OUCEA) and University College London (UCL).
In addition to her role at Pearson, Dr. Grima is an Associate Professor and holds an Honorary Senior Research Fellow position at the UCL Institute of Education (IOE). Her work is central to shaping how data from international studies is used to inform national education policy and classroom practice in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
- National Programme Manager for PISA: Dr. Grima served as the National Programme Manager for the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2021/2022 and continues this leadership for the PISA 2025 cycle. She is responsible for the operational delivery and school-level engagement across the UK nations.
- PIRLS and TIMSS Leadership: She has played a pivotal role as the National Research Coordinator for the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), ensuring high-quality data collection and reporting for reading, mathematics, and science.
- Strategic Collaboration: She leads the Pearson research team in close collaboration with the University of Oxford, bridging the gap between operational assessment delivery and academic analysis.
Research Focus & Expertise
Dr. Grima’s research interests are deeply rooted in improving student outcomes through better assessment design. Her key areas of focus include:
- Formative and Summative Assessment: Exploring how “Assessment for Learning” can be integrated into the curriculum to support student growth rather than just measuring performance.
- Mathematics Mastery: Investigating the impact of structured curriculum materials, such as Power Maths, on children’s mathematical dispositions and achievement.
- COVID-19 Educational Impact: Contributing to longitudinal studies regarding the “new normal” in post-pandemic classrooms and the resilience of student reading performance during disruptions.
- Gender and Equity in Education: Analyzing performance gaps and self-perception trends among different student demographics in international assessments.
Background and Experience
Before joining Pearson, Dr. Grima held senior leadership roles in the Maltese education system, including Director General of Quality and Educational Standards and Principal Research and Development Officer at the MATSEC Examinations Board.
She earned her first-class degree from the University of Malta and completed her PhD in educational assessment in New Zealand under a Commonwealth Scholarship. Throughout her career, she has been a vocal advocate for assessment reform, serving as President of the Association of Commonwealth Examination Boards and Accreditation Bodies (ACEAB) and maintaining active involvement with AEA-Europe (Association for Educational Assessment).