Benjamin Maddison

Having worked in Key Stage 1 through 5 as well as in further education, Ben's area of expertise is in the practical application of research informed evidence in a range of classroom settings.

[email protected]

Background

After qualifying in 2005 as a secondary school teacher of Religious Education, Philosophy and Ethics, Ben focused efforts on classroom based research and sharing best practice, primarily through work as an Advanced Skills Teacher (now Lead Practitioner) and Head of Department at a leading boys’ grammar school.

After a period in school leadership and helping to set up a ‘free’ school in West London, Ben is now dividing his time between managing the Covid Recovery Programme for a secondary school, lecturing and initial and later-career teacher training as well as consultancy work.

Having completed a Masters in Education with a focus on the use of digital technologies in the classroom, Ben is looking forward to deepening his experience of FE and conducting research through a relationship with ARU.

An average week for Ben can involve working with children in early years, through to leading training for adults aspiring to leadership positions. This holistic brief and the interconnectedness of all things is one which continues to fascinate and motivate Ben.

Research interests

• Emerging technologies and their use in the classroom
• Covid recovery in education
• Child and adult mental health and wellbeing
• Metacognition and effective thinking skills and strategies
• Curriculum design

The pandemic has provided a unique opportunity to ‘take stock’ of the educational sphere. Through work with schools and in conjunction with Pearson, Ben is currently engaged in exploring and developing a range of post-pandemic recovery strategies which he is testing the effectiveness of. Our measurements of school ‘success’ are founded, to all intents and purposes, on standards (progress and exam results) which do not guarantee the future wellbeing of individuals and society. Ben is currently working to embed a programme which places the future of the individual at the core of the educational experience. 

Teaching

• Primary Education Studies

Qualifications

• National Professional Qualification of Senior Leadership (NPQSL), Whole School Improvement, Leadership East (2015)
• Masters of Arts (MEd) Technologies in the classroom, Anglia Ruskin University, UK (2012)
• Advanced Skills Teacher Babcock Education (2010)
• Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) Secondary Religious Education, The University of Birmingham (2005)
• BA Philosophy, The University of Birmingham (2004)

Memberships, editorial boards

• National College of Teachers

Research grants, consultancy, knowledge exchange

• Essex and Thames SCITT: consultancy
• Cambridge Education: teacher trainer, resource writer for metacognition, AFL, Global Perspectives
• Best Practice Network: facilitator National Professional Qualifications for Leading Teaching and Senior Leadership
• REOnline: consultancy on Early Career Framework
• Pearson Publishing: consultancy and collaboration, Covid recovery
• Harris Academy: Early Career Framework facilitator and trainer

Selected recent publications

• PSHE and RSE across the curriculum St Bernard's High School (2022)
• Early Career Framework Harris Academy (2022)
• Primary RE Essex and Thames SCITT (2022)