Fatema is a Research Officer in the School of Education.

Fatema’s PhD research explored the use of evidence-informed learning strategies for improving secondary school students learning in science. She designed and conducted the first population-based survey exploring secondary school learners study practice in North Wales. Fatema has used the findings from her PhD studies to develop a learning programme called Improving Standards through Effective Revision (iStER).

Her current research interests include promoting the use of robust survey research methods in education. She is currently involved in developing accessible survey research methods content for educators, PhD students as well as early career researchers.

Fatema is currently the lead project manager and Research Officer on the Welsh Government’s Collaborative Evidence Network programme of research (£548, 000), to help design robust surveys for the range of projects across the education system in Wales. Fatema was also successful in obtaining external grant income from the National Academy for Education Leadership to conduct the first study exploring the roles and responsibilities of executive headteachers in Wales.

Fatema works closely with colleagues supporting the various close-to-practice research projects in the Collaborative Institute for Education Research, Evidence and Impact (CIEREI), School of Education.

2025

• CyhoeddwydAn Evaluation of Secondary School Students’ Use and Understanding of Learning Strategies to Study and Revise for Science Examinations
  Sultana, F., Watkins, R., Al Baghal, T. & Hughes, C., 17 Ion 2025, Yn: Education Sciences. 15, 101
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydPost-pandemic speech, language and communication needs for pandemic-era babies and toddlers now aged 5 to 8 in fulltime schooling in Wales. Government Social Research
  Tiesteel, E., Jones, A., Sultana, F., Grigorie, A., Storey, C., Griffiths, C. & Eales, C., 16 Medi 2025
  Allbwn ymchwil: Llyfr/Adroddiad › Adroddiad Comisiwn › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2024

• CyhoeddwydThe influence of COVID-19 on the independent study habits of learners
  Sultana, F., Watkins, R. & Hughes, C., Meh 2024
  Allbwn ymchwil: Llyfr/Adroddiad › Adroddiad Comisiwn › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydWhere Are the Costs? Using an Economic Analysis of Educational Interventions Approach to Improve the Evaluation of a Regional School Improvement Programme
  Tiesteel, E., Watkins, R., Stringer, C., Grigorie, A., Sultana, F. & Hughes, C., 29 Awst 2024, Yn: Education Sciences. 14, 957
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2023

• CyhoeddwydReview of the Pupil Development Grant: Final Report
  Tiesteel, E., Hughes, C., Sultana, F., Grigorie, A., Whiteley, H., Edwards, R. T., Lynch, L., Egan, D. & Sibieta, L., 6 Medi 2023, Welsh Government. 152 t.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Llyfr/Adroddiad › Adroddiad Comisiwn
• CyhoeddwydUnderstanding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on aspects of literacy provision in schools across Wales.
  Roberts-Tyler, E., Hulson-Jones, A., Tiesteel, E., Sultana, F., May, R. & Hughes, C., 12 Medi 2023, Online: Welsh Government. 158 t.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Llyfr/Adroddiad › Adroddiad Comisiwn › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2023

• Seminar 5 – Impact of the COVID disruption on GCSE, A Level and HE Learners

  Over the course of this year, the Welsh Government have been holding a series of online seminars to showcase and disseminate the main findings from the Collaborative Evidence Network (CEN) reports. The eighteen collaborative research projects, involving HEIs and other organisations, looked at impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on various aspects of the education system and on particular groups of learners. They also looked at ways to mitigate those impacts, as well as ways practitioners and learners can be better supported going forwards.

  This fifth seminar focuses on the impact of COVID disruption on GCSE, A Level and HE Learners, and the implications for future policy and provision. This includes an examination of how independent study habits changed for GCSE and A Level learners, an assessment of how student transitions were affected and an evaluation of the nature of online provision in Initial Teacher Education courses.

  6 Rhag 2023

  Gweithgaredd: Mathau o waith ymgysylltu â'r cyhoedd a gwaith maes - Darlith/trafodaeth/seminar gyhoeddus (Siaradwr)
• British Educational Conference (BERA) Annual Conference 2023

  Let’s talk about evidence in education: Using and developing collaborative evidence-based practice with schools

  The Collaborative Institute for Educational Research and Evidence and Impact (CIEREI) is a partnership between Bangor University and GwE, the regional improvement agency for North Wales. Our vision is to support and expand the use of a wide spectrum of evidence-based practice (EBP) in schools (Tyler, et al, 2019). However, our recent research indicates adoption of evidence-based approaches is generally not widespread in schools (Pegram et al., 2022). The talks in this symposium represent a diversity of approaches to supporting use of EBP, including working with teachers to co-construct a contextually relevant Social Emotional Learning curriculum, investigating student’s use of independent learning strategies through robust survey methods, the innovative use of education economics to help school leaders choose cost-effective interventions, and the use of systematic and robust methods to develop relevant evidence for SEN contexts. The talks in this symposium celebrate the strength of educational research in terms of its diversity in utilising different methodologies to answer diverse questions in the journey to EBP (Owen, Watkins & Hughes, 2022).

  12 Medi 2023 – 14 Medi 2023

  Gweithgaredd: Cymryd rhan mewn cynhadledd Academaidd (Siaradwr)

• Investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on independent study habits of GCSE and A-Level students across Wales (CEN 6)

  01/11/2021 – 01/08/2022 (Wedi gorffen)

Investigating the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the independent study habits of GCSE and A-Level students across Wales. Welsh Government. Principal Investigator, 2021-2022.

An evaluation of the roles and responsibilities of executive headteachers in Wales. National Academy for Education Leadership. Principal Investigator, 2022-2023.