Type Think tank Chairman of Trustees Sir Paul Marshall | Executive Chairman David Laws | |
Registration no. Charity Commission in England and Wales: 1102186 Legal status Private company limited by guarantee Location Westminster, London, United Kingdom | ||
The Education Policy Institute (EPI), is an education policy research institute based in Westminster, London.
Contents
The Institute’s aim is to “promote high quality education outcomes for all children and young people, regardless of social backgrounds” by employing an “impartial and evidence-based approach”. In addition to its focus on raising standards in education from early years through to higher education and beyond, the EPI’s research also includes the areas of young people’s mental health and prisoner education.
The EPI formerly existed as think tank CentreForum until June 2016.
Research Areas
The Institute regularly publishes policy reports on the following areas of research, covering issues affecting opportunity from birth to the labour market:
People
Those who currently serve as the EPI’s Trustees are:
The Institute’s Advisory Board is composed of more than 20 individuals including academics, education professionals, business leaders and parliamentarians from across the political spectrum.
The Institute is run by an executive management committee:
Notable former members of the EPI include:
History
Previously a liberal think tank, the Institute was originally conceived as Centre for Reform in 1998. The organisation’s creation was spearheaded by Lord Newby and Lord Kirkhope, with Richard Grayson named as its first Director. Anthony Rowlands subsequently assumed the Director position in 2000, guiding the think tank as it published a wide range of papers. Centre for Reform was awarded charitable status in 2004.
After the death of its principal benefactor, Richard Wainwright, in 2003, the Centre's future appeared uncertain. Paul Marshall agreed to fund the Centre's future for at least three years, with a new business plan written and former Goldman Sachs banker Jennifer Moses brought in as Chief Executive.
The organisation moved to larger offices in Westminster and expanded its staff. For the first time it was able to produce in-house research. It was at this time in 2005 that the think tank was relaunched as CentreForum.
Two Directors were recruited: Alasdair Murray from the Centre for European Reform; and Julian Astle MBE who had been working for Paddy Ashdown in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Duncan Greenland CBE became Chair of CentreForum's Trustee Board, remaining in that capacity until 2015. In early 2008 Jennifer Moses left to become a Special Adviser to Gordon Brown in Downing Street. Chris Nicholson took over as Director and Chief Executive in 2010 and in April 2011, Julian Astle left CentreForum to become Special Adviser to Nick Clegg. Chris Nicholson left in Spring 2012 to become Special Adviser to Edward Davey when he became Secretary of State in the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Tim Leunig, London School of Economics economist was appointed as CentreForum's Chief Economist in January 2011 before leaving in October 2012 to work as a Policy Adviser in the Department for Education.
Former Schools Minister Rt Hon. David Laws joined the organisation as Executive Chairman in August 2015, with the think tank also holding two Executive Director positions: Natalie Perera, Head of Research; and Anthony Rowlands, Head of Resources and Operations.
In June 2016 CentreForum became the Education Policy Institute, focusing its research on education and young people’s mental health.
Funding
During the financial year ending 31 March 2016, the Education Policy Institute received a donation of £1,050,000 from The Sequoia Trust of which Sir Paul Marshall is also a trustee of. The Sequoia Trust is a charity registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales.