Sparx welcomes Tim Oates CBE to its Advisory Board

Sparx, the socially focused learning technology company, has today announced the appointment of Tim Oates CBE as the latest member of its Advisory Board.  

Tim has had a 30-year career dedicated to educational research and is currently the Group Director of Assessment Research and Development at Cambridge Assessment. Prior to this, he was Head of Research and Statistics at the Qualifications and Curriculum Agency. He was awarded a CBE for services to education in 2015.  

Tim’s expertise and experience in educational research, and his passion for evidence-based pedagogy, will help Sparx to continue to deliver education technologies underpinned by robust evidence and measurable impact.  

His appointment follows the launch of the EdTech Evidence Group (EEG), an industry initiative encouraging EdTech providers to make the availability and transparency of evidence a priority. Pioneered by Sparx, the EEG brings together leading UK EdTech companies calling for a step-change in the quality of EdTech evidence available to schools.  

Tim commented on his new appointment to the Sparx Advisory Board saying:  

“Technology has a key role to play in our classrooms, but we must not get swept up in the untested potential for EdTech. Instead, we must focus on testing, refining and evidencing the real, long-term effects of educational technologies. We shouldn’t rush to integrate tools that have not proved their worth in robust ways. Sparx’ evidence-first ethos should act as an example and I look forward to helping them on their mission to revolutionise maths learning based on these principles.”  

Dan Sandhu, CEO at Sparx welcomed Tim’s appointment and said: 

“Tim’s wealth of experience in educational research is a huge asset for Sparx. We are looking forward to being able to draw on from his vast knowledge of research and development to ensure that our maths learning platforms deliver evidence-based excellence. We are delighted that he is joining our Advisory Board alongside colleagues dedicated to delivering impactful educational technologies.”  

Tim joins an impressive group of leading education thinkers Dr Rebecca Winthrop, Senior Fellow of the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institute, Glenn Woodcock Director of Oxygen House, Dr Julian Huppert, Director of the Intellectual Forum at Jesus College, Cambridge, Joe Ludlow, Impact Investment Director at UfI Charitable Trust, and Dr Georgie Hart, Head of Community Education at the British Red Cross.