Ben Willis BMedSci, MRes
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Fellow
Summary
Ben is a Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Fellow with 10 years of research experience. His research interests are focused around the broader dimensions of education, particularly in relation to children and younger people's health/wellbeing.
Ben has significant experience of both qualitative and quantitative methodologies (including survey design, face to face/telephone interviewing and focus groups) derived from working on school based research projects/evaluations for a range of clients including the Department for Education (DfE), Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), local authorities and the National Health Service (NHS). In addition to his role as a researcher he regularly undertakes the role of project manager too.
About
Ben is a Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Fellow with 10 years of research experience, his research interests are focused around the broader dimensions of education, particularly in relation to children and younger people's health and wellbeing. His academic focus in recent times has centred upon how schools are engaging with PSHE.
Ben has worked on numerous education related research projects/evaluations for clients such as the Department for Education (DfE), Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), local authorities, Booktrust and the National Health Service (NHS). He is comfortable working across a variety of settings including schools, colleges, Early Year's provision, local authorities and school-linked health services.
Methodologically, Ben has extensive experience of both qualitative and quantitative research (including survey design, face to face/telephone interviewing and focus groups). He is particularly practiced in conducting in-depth case study work that regularly involves mixed method approaches.
In addition, Ben frequently performs the role of project manager something that necessitates working very closely with funders, delivery partners and research participants to ensure projects run effectively and to time. CEIR's increasing use of experimental methodologies (E.g. Randomised Controlled Studies - RCTs) has meant the relationship with funders, delivery partners, research participants and other external partners has become increasingly complex which has necessitated the implementation of new processes that he has helped to design and embed.
Recently Ben project managed CEIR's largest RCT to date - the DfE funded Multiplicative Reasoning Project RCT (DfE, 2015) where he worked closely with a number of external partners (National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM), Exam providers and a variety of recruitment agencies) and 60 secondary schools to ensure that a variety of key data was collected and that a test related to the RCT was undertaken by all nominated pupils on a specified date.
Children and young people wellbeing
Education policy
Equality and diversity
PSHE
Teaching
College of Social Sciences and Arts
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ
Project Manager for the Evaluation of the Educational Action Challenging Homophobia (EACH) -Homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying programme grant on behalf of the Department for Education and Government Equalities Office (2015-16).
Co-director of the Evaluation of the Jigsaw PSHE programme for schools (2015-2016)
Project Manager for the Improving the impact of teaching assistants: EEF scale-up campaign evaluation on behalf of the Education Endowment Foundation. (2015-17)
Project Manager for the Evaluation of progress towards an evidence based teaching system, including DfE’s role in facilitating progress on behalf of the Department for Education (2014-16)
Project Manager for the Evaluation of Dialogic Teaching: Improving Classroom Talk on behalf of the Education Endowment Foundation. (2015-17)
PSHE under a coalition government: schools’ perspectives research project. Internally awarded research grant. (2014-15)
Boylan, M, Demack, S, Willis, B, Stevens, A, Adams, G and Verrier,D. (2015) Multiplicative reasoning professional development programme evaluation for Department for Education
Bronwen, M, Burnett, C, Reidy, J, Willis, B, Demack, S, (2015) Oracy Curriculum, Culture and Assessment Toolkit for the Educational Endowment Foundation.
Coldwell M, Willis B, McCaig C (2013) Investigation of the Key Stage L6 tests (PDF, 1.6MB) for
Formby, E, Coldwell M, Stiell B, Demack S, Stevens A, Shipton L, Wolstenholme C, Willis B (2011) Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education: A mapping study of the prevalent models of delivery and their effectiveness for
Formby E. and, Willis, B. (2011) Tackling homophobia and transphobia in settings supporting young people: What are the barriers and facilitators? Findings from a South Yorkshire study. Published by Ï㽶ÊÓƵ
Coldwell, M, Shipton, L, Stevens, A, Stiell, B, Willis, B and Wolstenholme, C (2011) Process evaluation of the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check Pilot for
Stiell B, Maxwell B, Willis B, Stevens A. (2010) School meal uptake research in Rotherham for Rotherham MBC and NHS Rotherham (confidential)
Formby E, Owen J, Willis B, Wolstenholme C (2010) Mapping Bradford Tic Tacs: An Evaluation of School Based Health Services for Young People for Bradford City Council
Bath C, Garrick R, Dunn K, Maconochie H, Willis B, Wolstenholme C (2010) Children's Experiences of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) for Department for Education (DfE)
Formby E, Owen J, Willis B, Wolstenholme C (2010) Mapping Bradford Tic Tacs: An Evaluation of School Based Health Services for Young People
Publications
Journal articles
Boylan, M., Adams, G., Coldwell, M., Willis, B., & Demack, S. (2018). . Review of Education, 6 (3), 408-410.
Boylan, M., Adams, G., Willis, B., Coldwell, M., & Demack, S. (2018). . Review of Education, 6 (3), 360-407.
Coldwell, M., & Willis, B. (2017). . The Curriculum Journal, 28 (4), 578-597.
Willis, B., Clague, L., & Coldwell, M. (2013). . Pastoral Care in Education: An International Journal of Personal, Social and Emotional Development, 31 (2), 99-111.
Coldron, J.H., Willis, B., & Wolstenholme, C. (2009). . British journal of educational studies, 57 (3), 245-264.
Nixon, J., Hodge, N.S., Parr, S., Willis, B., & Hunter, C. (2008). . People, place & policy online, 2 (1), 37-47.
Conference papers
Coldwell, M.R., Gornall, L., Holland, M.R., Trickey, D.S., Willis, B., & Wolstenholme, C.E. (2006). . In European Conference on Educational Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, Geneva, 2006.
Reports
Reaney-Wood, S., Willis, B., & Booth, J. (2024). YES Outdoors CLIMB programme Feasibility study report.
Willis, B., Maxwell, B., Stiell, B., Clark, L., Stevens, A., Clarkson, L., ... Zhu, H. (2023). . Education Endowment Foundation.
Clark, L., Coldwell, M., Pearson, S., Willis, B., Wilson, I., Byrne, E., ... Reaney-Wood, S. (2023). . London: Department for Education.
Willis, B., Reaney-Wood, S., Demack, S., Jay, T., & Harris-Evans, J. (2023). Adventure Learning: Randomised Controlled Trial. Education Endowment Foundation.
Stiell, B., Willis, B., Clarkson, L., Rutgers, D., McCaig, C., Crossfield, J., & Behailu, A. (2023). School Recovery Strategies: Year 2 findings Ï㽶ÊÓƵ report (January 2023). (DFE- RR1318). DfE.
Carter, C., Clark, L., Coldwell, M., Hatton, A., Pearson, S., Reaney-Wood, S., ... Wilson, I. (2022). . Department for Education.
Willis, B., Maxwell, B., Reaney-Wood, S., Nelson, J., Straw, S., Worth, J., ... Staunton, R. (2022). . Department for Education.
Culliney, M., Willis, B., Formby, E., Demack, S., & Clark, L. (2022). . Youth Endowment Fund.
Stiell, B., Willis, B., Coldwell, M., Achtaridou, E., Mason, E., & Behailu, A. (2022). . DfE.
Byrne, E., Coldwell, M., & Willis, B. (2020). Evaluation of the early outcomes framework fund.
Batty, E., Harris, C., Leather, D., Pearson, S., Wilson, I., Carter, C., ... Willis, B. (2020). . Save the Children, UK. /centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/childrens-communities-final-evaluation-report
O'Brien, S., Perry, E., Leach, A., Willis, B., Booth, J., Walker, H., & Dalton, K. (2019). Doncaster Opportunity Area and South Yorkshire Futures Recruitment and Retention Project Phase 1 Final Report. Ï㽶ÊÓƵ.
Maxwell, B., Willis, B., Culliney, M., Coldwell, M., Demack, S., Goepel, J., & Stevens, A. (2019). . Education Endowment Foundation.
Maxwell, B., Willis, B., Culliney, M., Coldwell, M., & Reaney, S. (2019). . Education Endowment Foundation.
Maxwell, B., Coldwell, M., Willis, B., & Culliney, M. (2019). . Educational Endowment Foundation.
Thomas, P., Jay, T., Willis, B., Taylor, R., Merchant, G., Moore, N., ... Stevens, A. (2019). . London, UK: Education Endowment Foundation.
Thomas, P., Jay, T., Willis, B., Taylor, R., Merchant, G., Moore, N., ... Stevens, A. (2019). Dialogic Teaching: Addendum Report. Education Endowment Foundation.
Booth, J., Reaney-Wood, S., & Willis, B. (2019). Doncaster Opportunity Area Essential Life Skills programme evaluation Briefing paper 1: Rapid Literature Review.
Stiell, B., Willis, B., Culliney, M., & Coldwell, M. (2018). . London: Department for Education.
Batty, E., Pearson, S., Wilson, I., Coldwell, M., Stiell, B., & Willis, B. (2018). . Sheffield: Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. /centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/childrens-community-evaluation-2017-report
Batty, E., Harris, C., Leather, D., Pearson, S., Wilson, I., Coldwell, M., ... Willis, B. (2018). . Save the Children UK. /centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/childrens-communities-programme-evaluation-2018-report
Jay, T., Willis, B., Thomas, P., Taylor, R., Moore, N., Burnett, C., ... Stevens, A. (2017). . London, UK: Education Endowment Foundation.
Coldwell, M., Greany, T., Higgins, S., Brown, C., Maxwell, B., Stiell, B., ... Burns, H. (2017). . London, UK: Department for Education.
Formby, E., Willis, B., & Stevens, A. (2016). . Sheffield: Ï㽶ÊÓƵ.
Wolstenholme, C., Willis, B., & Culliney, M. (2016). . Sheffield: Ï㽶ÊÓƵ.
Wolstenholme, C., & Willis, B. (2016). . Sheffield, UK: Ï㽶ÊÓƵ.
Boylan, M., Demack, S., Willis, B., Stevens, A., Adams, G., & Verrier, D. (2015). . London: Department for Education.
Boylan, M., & Willis, B. (2015). . Ï㽶ÊÓƵ.
Maxwell, B., Burnett, C., Reidy, J., Willis, B., & Demack, S. (2015). . London: Education Endowment Foundation.
Boylan, M., Demack, S., Willis, B., Stevens, A., Adams, G., & Verrier, D. (2015). Multiplicative reasoning professional development programme : evaluation. London: Department for Education.
Formby, E., Coldwell, M., Stiell, B., Demack, S., Stevens, A., Shipton, L., ... Willis, B. (2011). . London: Department for Education.
Formby, E., & Willis, B. (2011). . Sheffield: Ï㽶ÊÓƵ.
Clague, L., Coldwell, M., Stevens, A., Stiell, B., Willis, B., & Wolstenholme, C. (2011). Process evaluation of the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check Pilot. DfE.
Formby, E., Hirst, J., & Willis, B. (2009). . Sheffield: Centre for HIV and Sexual Health.
Coldron, J.H., Tanner, E., Finch, S., Shipton, L., Wolstenholme, C., Willis, B., ... Stiell, B. (2008). . London: Department for Children, Schools and Families.
Clague, L., Stiell, B., Willis, B., Wolstenholme, C., & Coldron, J. (2008). . DCSF.
Internet Publications
Reaney-Wood, S., & Willis, B. (2023). Can adventure learning improve student outcomes?
Presentations
Boylan, M., Adams, G., & Willis, B. (2015). Professional learning as situated: Accounting for variation in engagement and outcomes in professional development. Presented at: International Association for Professional Development (IPDA) Conference, Aston University
Other publications
Hunter, C., Hodge, N.S., Nixon, J., Parr, S., & Willis, B. (2007). . London: Disability Rights Commission
Evans, A., Hawksley, F., Holland, M.R., Wolstenholme, C.E., & Willis, B. (2007). .
Evans, A., Holland, M.R., Wolstenholme, C.E., Willis, B., & Hawksley, F. (2006). Ljubljana: National School for Leadership in Education: