Natasha Plaister, Author at FFT Education Datalab

About Natasha Plaister

Natasha Plaister is a statistician at FFT Education Datalab, having previously spent 10 years as a project manager at the Institute of Physics. Her interests include diversity and social mobility in education, particularly the inclusion of women in STEM.

The size of multi-academy trusts

By 2030, most MATs will be expected to run at least 10 schools, or at least be working towards it. But how large are MATs at the moment - and are they already getting bigger?

By Natasha Plaister|2026-04-13T15:36:45+01:0018th May 2022|School accountability, Structures|

Do disadvantaged students choose different subjects from their peers at Key Stage 5?

We look at the routes that disadvantaged students take at Key Stage 5 and the individual subjects that they choose

By Natasha Plaister|2022-11-08T15:21:33+00:001st April 2022|Exams and assessment, Post-16 provision, Pupil demographics|

How does A-Level subject choice vary around the country?

A question of geography, not demography

By Natasha Plaister|2022-01-11T16:34:05+00:0012th January 2022|Exams and assessment, Pupil demographics|

Which BTEC subjects have the best (and worst) gender balance?

We explore trends in gender balance in BTECs between 2016 and 2020.

By Natasha Plaister|2021-11-10T11:16:43+00:0010th November 2021|Exams and assessment, Pupil demographics|

Why aren’t students choosing to study English and the arts at A-Level?: Part two

The second post in this series examining the fall in entries to A-Levels in English and the arts. This post focuses on the arts.

By Natasha Plaister|2021-10-05T10:44:34+01:005th October 2021|Exams and assessment, Pupil demographics|

Why aren’t students choosing to study English and the arts at A-Level?: Part one

Part one of two posts examining the fall in entries to A-Levels in English and the arts. This post focuses on English.

By Natasha Plaister|2021-10-04T17:38:10+01:005th October 2021|Exams and assessment, Pupil demographics|

Which A-Level subjects have the best (and worst) gender balance?

We explore trends in gender balance over the last five years.

By Natasha Plaister|2021-11-08T10:34:21+00:0017th September 2021|Exams and assessment, Pupil demographics|

GCSE results 2021: Why are Maths and English entries from older pupils down this year?

Entries from pupils aged 17 or above are down by 18.6% in English and 8.6% in maths

By Natasha Plaister|2021-08-13T13:59:32+01:0013th August 2021|Exams and assessment|

A-Level results 2021: Five things to look out for on Tuesday

Entry numbers will likely rise in STEM and social sciences - and will grades increase again?

By Natasha Plaister|2021-08-09T15:44:34+01:009th August 2021|Exams and assessment|