Make informed IT hiring and team development decisions
Hire the best candidate
Recruiting IT staff shouldn’t feel like a leap in the dark. Our education-specific IT assessments take the guesswork out of hiring, helping school leaders make informed decisions—even without deep IT expertise. By evaluating real-world skills and strategic knowledge, our assessment ensures that candidates have the technical proficiency and cybersecurity awareness needed to keep your school’s digital infrastructure running smoothly. With results in hand, you can confidently select IT professionals who align with your school’s priorities, safeguarding your investment in technology and learning.
Strengthen and develop your IT Team
Technology evolves rapidly, and your IT team needs to keep pace. Our assessment helps schools assess current staff, pinpoint knowledge gaps, and provide data-driven insights for training and development. Whether you’re looking to upskill your team, enhance cybersecurity, or optimize IT strategy, our evaluation gives you the clarity to make informed decisions. By identifying strengths and areas for improvement, we help you build a resilient IT department that supports teaching, safeguards student data, and maximizes the impact of your school’s IT investment.
To support schools in making the right IT decisions, we offer three levels of assessment: Standard, Advanced, and Custom, tailored to the seniority and expertise of your IT candidates or team members.
Choose Your Assessment
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Standard Assessment
Whether you're hiring a new IT professional or assessing your current team, the Standard assessment provides a clear, objective measure of technical proficiency. With 30 questions covering essential topics like data security and network management, this timed evaluation not only tests knowledge but also assesses performance under pressure.
Each test is randomly generated from a pool of hundreds of questions, ensuring a fair and rigorous assessment every time. By using the same proven framework for both recruitment and team development, you can confidently benchmark IT expertise and make informed decisions about hiring, training, and upskilling.
Simply complete the online order form and a test invite will be sent to your chosen attendee(s) and we will invoice your organisation.
The timeframe for the test can be set to as little as 48 hours of being sent should you wish to move quickly.
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Advanced Assessment
Whether you're hiring a senior IT professional or evaluating an experienced team member, the Advanced Assessment provides a comprehensive measure of high-level technical and strategic expertise. This in-depth evaluation offers a deeper understanding of an individual’s IT knowledge and is an essential tool for recruiting an IT Manager or assessing senior staff already in post.
Building on the Standard Assessment, the Advanced version includes 30 multiple-choice questions covering cybersecurity, network architecture, and IT governance. It also features detailed free-text responses, allowing candidates to demonstrate their approach to real-life scenarios such as setting up Single Sign-On (SSO) via Active Directory and managing IT contracts. To assess real-world proficiency, practical server tests are included to distinguish those with hands-on expertise from those with only theoretical knowledge.
Each test is randomly generated, ensuring fairness and rigor. Simply complete the online order form, and test invites can be sent within 48 hours.
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Custom Assessment
For schools, academies, and trusts with unique requirements, our Custom Assessment offers a tailored solution to assess IT candidates or teams at scale. Whether you need to evaluate multiple candidates simultaneously, assess an entire IT department, or customize the test content to focus on specific technical skills, we can adapt our assessment to meet your needs.
Designed for flexibility, the Custom Assessment can incorporate a combination of multiple-choice, free-text, and practical tests to ensure a thorough evaluation. Whether you're recruiting for multiple roles, benchmarking IT capabilities across a trust, or identifying training priorities, we provide data-driven insights to support informed decision-making at every level.
Simply get in touch to discuss your requirements, and we’ll design an assessment package that works for your organisation.
Why Choose Performance for Education?
UK schools collectively spend £5 billion a year on IT software, staff, and equipment, with the average secondary school IT budget exceeding £400,000. As IT is the second-largest expenditure after salaries, school leaders need confidence that their IT investment is delivering real value. Ensuring you have the right people with the right expertise is key to safeguarding your technology strategy and enhancing learning outcomes.
Assess Your IT Team with Confidence
Technology is evolving rapidly, and school IT teams must keep pace. An IT staff assessment provides objective insights into the skills, strengths, and gaps within your team—helping you make data-driven decisions about hiring, training, and IT strategy. Whether you're identifying areas for professional development or ensuring your IT department is fit for the future, an assessment is a proactive step towards smarter IT management.
Identify Skill Gaps & Training Needs
Assessments provide a clear picture of IT team capabilities, revealing where additional training or recruitment may be needed. This ensures your staff can effectively manage school-wide technology, cybersecurity, and digital learning platforms.
Enhance Security & Safeguard Data
With schools holding vast amounts of sensitive information, strong cybersecurity measures are critical.
Assessments help identify vulnerabilities and ensure your IT team is equipped to protect student data, prevent cyber threats, and maintain compliance with security best practices.
Improve IT Efficiency & Support
A well-trained IT team enhances daily operations, providing faster, more effective support for teachers, students, and staff. By pinpointing areas for improvement, assessments help streamline IT processes—ensuring fewer disruptions and a more seamless digital learning experience.
A Smarter Approach to IT Strategy
Investing in IT staff assessments is a proactive step towards stronger, more efficient, and future-ready school IT. At Performance for Education, we specialize in rigorous, education-specific assessments designed to help schools evaluate IT expertise, optimize resources, and strengthen technology leadership.