Professor Mike Coldwell
Professor Mike Coldwell
Faculty Director of Research
My profile
Biography
I am an experienced academic leader, currently Director of Research in the Faculty of Health and Education. I was previously Associate Dean for Research and Innovation (R&I) in the College of Social Sciences and Arts at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU), following a long period leading different education research and knowledge exchange (RKE) centres at that university. As a researcher, my focus is on systems approaches to evaluation, policy research, research use and teacher professional learning and careers. I am currently working on a large DfE Family Hubs evaluation, and have previously led over £4m of evaluation and research studies for a range of clients and funders, advising organisations on evaluation strategy, reviewing papers, reports and grant applications and presenting keynote speeches at significant conferences and other events. This work has informed my teaching and supervision of doctoral and other students, and the work of teachers in schools.
Interests and expertise
I lead Research in the Faculty of Health and Education, providing strategic direction - working research leaders in the faculty - in line with the university strategy. I currently act as coordinator for the Education REF unit of assessment. As a Professor of Education, I research areas including education and children’s/young people’s policy; research use and evidence-informed practice in education; teacher development and careers; and evaluation methodology. I am able to supervise and teach in these areas. I advise policy makers and government departments in these areas.
Impact
I have worked with Policy makers on policy and strategy including the SHINE Trust on their evaluation strategy; the Education Endowment Foundation and Youth Endowment Fund on aspects of evaluation; and the Department for Education on a number of major research studies and priority areas. This includes:
- Member of Authoritative School Enabling Climate Study Advisory Board (EEF, 2023-).
- Member of evaluation steering group: Working Lives of Teachers and Leaders (DfE, 2021-).
- Member of evaluation steering group: Opportunity Areas Place-based Evaluation (DfE, 2020-22).
- Expert advisor: early years and parental engagement evaluation (SHINE/EEF/DfE funding round, 2018-2019).
- Member of evaluation steering group: Opportunity Areas Impact Evaluation (DfE, 2018-2019).
- Invited speaker: EEF scale-up evaluation workshop (September 2018).
- Expert advisor: developing SHINE Trust’s Impact and evaluation strategy (2016-2020).
Projects
I have led over 40 studies with a combined value of over £4.5m supported by a range of funders including charities, government departments, what works centres and school groups. I work with partners including universities, consultancies, schools and policy bodies. Projects are wide ranging, with a focus on policy research and evaluation, teacher development and careers, children and young people’s work force, research use and programme evaluation. Recent examples include:
|
Title |
Funder |
Role |
Value to University |
Start |
Finish |
|
DfE (subcontracted by Ecorys) |
PI/Senior Advisor |
£400,000 |
01/04/2023 |
31/03/2026 |
|
Wellcome Trust |
Senior Advisor |
£150,000 |
01/09/2021 |
01/12/2023 |
|
Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) |
Senior Advisor |
£230,000 |
01/09/2021 |
01/09/2023 |
|
Department for Education (DfE) |
PI |
£300,000 |
01/05/2021 |
31/10/2023 |
|
DfE via Ipsos MORI |
Co-I |
£65,000 |
01/02/2020 |
01/12/2022 |
|
YEF |
Oversight of all projects |
£400,000 |
01/10/2019 |
01/09/2022 |
|
Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) |
Co-I |
£90,000 |
01/02/2019 |
31/12/2021 |
|
EEF |
PI |
£250,000 |
12/11/2018 |
30/11/2021 |
|
DfE with NfER |
Senior Project Advisor |
£60,000 |
5/09/2017 |
30/09/2021 |
|
Save the Children |
Joint PI |
£300,000 |
01/12/2016 |
31/03/2020 |
Teaching
I have taught on professional doctorates in Education and Masters and undergraduate programmes on areas including mixed methods, research use, realist approaches and research and evaluation methodology.
Supervision
I am an experienced supervisor, and am open to new doctoral students with aligned interests to my own. I am committed to doctoral supervision, and was nominated for a university inspirational supervisor award in 2014, 2019 and 2023, and won the award in 2021. Previous supervision is typically in the fields of school leadership, early career teacher development and wider children and young people’s workforce. Specific focuses of students I supervised to completion have included:
Do the values and ambitions of Secondary headteachers determine the achievement of their schools?
Primary Headteachers’ views of PE
Leadership of Food Education
What does it mean to be a SENDCO?
Understanding the Link between Context and Curriculum Change in Early Years’ Education
Reporting without fear, or favour’; HMI 2000-2010, an oral history
Comparative Leadership: Pathways, Scope and Values in DRC-English ‘Urban’ Schools
An investigation of Youth Work in Irish Youth Services
A framework for understanding the distinctive characteristics of an outdoor setting pedagogy: a comparative primary education case study approach
An exploration of the relationship between undergraduate pharmacy knowledge and professional practice
Research outputs
I have published and presented in a range of academic, policy and professional fora.
-
Books (authored/edited/special issues)
(2018) International Teacher Recruitment Understanding the Attitudes and Experiences of School Leaders and Teachers.
(2017) Maths and Physics Teacher Supply Package Research Report.
Coldwell, M. (2017) Evidence-informed Teaching An Evaluation of Progress in England : Research Report.
(2014) Independent Review Panel and First-tier Tribunal Exclusion Appeals System.
(2003) Evaluation of Home School Agreements.
-
Chapters in books
Pountney, R., Coldwell, M. (2025) 'Practice knowledge and teacher mentoring.' In McPhail, G., Pountney, R., Wheelahan, L. (ed.) Emerging Perspectives from Social Realism on Knowledge and Education: curricula, pedagogy, identity, and equity. London: Routledge, pp. 142-161.
Moore, N., Coldwell, M., Perry, E. (2023) 'Exploring the role of curriculum materials in teacher professional development.' Non-Linear Perspectives on Teacher Development. Routledge, pp. 135-151.
Coldwell, M. (2022) 'Evidence-Informed Teaching in England.' The Emerald Handbook of Evidence-Informed Practice in Education. Emerald,
Pountney, R., Coldwell, M. (2019) 'Practice knowledge and teacher mentoring: what can realism teach us about professional learning? [abstract only].' IPDA 2019 : keynotes and abstracts. International Professional Development Association, pp. 24-25.
-
Reports
Bevins, S., Stiell, B., Perry, E., Coldwell, M. (2024) Embedding change: leadership of professional development in English schools. Wellcome Trust.
Perry, E., Booth, J., Boylan, M., Rutgers, D., Stiell, B., Coldwell, M. (2024) Understanding mechanisms for change in policy and school environments which lead to embedded teacher professional development. Wellcome Trust.
Clark, L., Coldwell, M., Pearson, S., Willis, B., Wilson, I., Byrne, E., Demack, S., Hamer, R., Reaney-Wood, S. (2023) Family hubs innovation fund evaluation: Final research report City of Doncaster. Department for Education.
Carter, C., Clark, L., Coldwell, M., Hatton, A., Pearson, S., Reaney-Wood, S., Willis, B., Wilson, I. (2022) Family hubs evaluation interim report: Doncaster. Department for Education.
Straw, S., Nelson, J., Maxwell, B., Coldwell, M. (2022) Teaching and Leadership Innovation Fund (TLIF): fund-level evaluation final report. Department for Education.
Byrne, E., Reaney-Wood, S., Coldwell, M., Nelson, J., McLean, D., Staunton, R., Worth, J. (2022) TLIF evaluation: The Ambition Institute?s Transforming Teaching Project. Department for Education.
Stiell, B., Willis, B., Coldwell, M., Achtaridou, E., Mason, E., Behailu, A. (2022) School recovery strategies: year 1 findings. DfE.
Culliney, M., Daniels, K., Booth, J., Coldwell, M., Demack, S. (2021) REACH Primary Evaluation Report. London, United Kingdom: Education Endowment Foundation.
Demack, S., Maxwell, B., Coldwell, M., Stevens, A., Wolstenholme, C., Reaney, S., Stiell, B., Lortie-Fortes, H. (2021) Review of EEF Projects. Education Endowment Foundation.
Maxwell, B., Stiell, B., Stevens, A., Demack, S., Coldwell, M., Wolstenholme, C., Reaney-Wood, S., Lortie-Forgues, H. (2021) Scale-up of EEF efficacy to effectiveness trials. Education Endowment Foundation (EEF).
Maxwell, B., Stevens, A., Demack, S., Coldwell, M., Wolstenholme, C., Reaney-Wood, S., Stiell, B., Lortie-Forgues, H. (2021) EEF Implementation and Process Evaluation (IPE) quality pilot. Education Endowment Foundation.
Batty, E., Harris, C., Leather, D., Pearson, S., Wilson, I., Carter, C., Coldwell, M., Stiell, B., Willis, B. (2020) Children's Communities final evaluation report. Save the Children, UK.
Wolstenholme, C., Coldwell, M., Stiell, B. Independent Review Panel and First-tier Tribunal Exclusion Appeals systems: Research Report. London, United Kingdom: Department for Education.
Coldwell, M., Willis, B., McCaig, C. Investigation of the Key Stage 2 Level 6 Tests. Department for Education.
Culliney, M., Moore, N., Coldwell, M., Demack, S. (2019) Integrating English: Evaluation Report. Education Endowment Foundation.
Maxwell, B., Willis, B., Culliney, M., Coldwell, M., Reaney, S. (2019) Formative evaluation of the Lincolnshire teaching assistants scale-up campaign. Education Endowment Foundation.
Maxwell, B., Willis, B., Culliney, M., Coldwell, M., Demack, S., Goepel, J., Stevens, A. (2019) Formative evaluation of the South & West Yorkshire teaching assistants scale-up campaign. Education Endowment Foundation.
Maxwell, B., Coldwell, M., Willis, B., Culliney, M. (2019) Teaching assistants regional scale-up campaigns: Lessons learned. Educational Endowment Foundation.
Maxwell, B., Clague, L., Byrne, E., Culliney, M., Coldwell, M., Hobson, A., Glentworth, A. (2018) Retain: CPD for Early Career Teachers of KS1 Pilot report and executive summary. Education Endowment Foundation.
Batty, E., Pearson, S., Wilson, I., Coldwell, M., Stiell, B., Willis, B. (2018) Children’s Community evaluation 2017 report. Sheffield Hallam University: Sheffield Hallam University.
Batty, E., Harris, C., Leather, D., Pearson, S., Wilson, I., Coldwell, M., Carter, C., Stiell, B., Willis, B. (2018) Children’s Communities programme evaluation 2018 report. Sheffield Hallam University: Save the Children UK.
Perry, E., Boylan, M., Booth, J., Coldwell, M. (2017) Connecting research and teacher education : quality enhancement for ITE Partnerships. Welsh Government.
Straw, S., Coldwell, M., Poet, H., Byrne, E., Stiell, B., Worth, J. (2017) Maths and physics teacher supply package. National Foundation for Educational Research ; Sheffield Hallam University: Department for Education.
Boylan, M., Demack, S., Stevens, A., Coldwell, M., Stiell, B. (2016) An Evaluation of the Further Mathematics Support Programme : Research Report. Sheffield Hallam University.
Higham, R., Early, P., Coldwell, M., Stevens, A., Brown, C. (2015) New pathways into headship?. National College for Teaching and Leadership: Department for Education.
Coldwell, M., Gregory, M., Maxwell, B., Ramchandani, G., Taylor, P. (2015) The Impact of National College Grants Evaluation. National College for Teaching and Leadership.
Coldwell, M., Maxwell, B., McCaig, C., Stevens, A. (2011) NQT Quality Improvement Study for the Training and Development Agency for Schools : Synthesised key findings from all five stages of the NQT Quality Improvement Study. Sheffield Hallam University: Sheffield Hallam University for the Training and Development Agency for Schools.
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. Department for Education.
-
Internet publications
Coldwell, M. (2020) COVID-19 and the battle for the control of teaching. https://blogs.shu.ac.uk/sioe/2020/06/19/covid-19-and-the-battle-for-the-control-of-teaching/.
Coldwell, M. (2017) Easy targets: learning styles, ‘ability’ grouping and the politics of research use in education. https://blogs.shu.ac.uk/sioe/2017/07/26/easy-targets-learning-styles-ability-grouping-and-the-politics-of-research-use-in-education/.
Coldwell, M., Twiselton, S. (2017) A tale of two teachers: the importance of keeping a supply of great teachers for our region. https://blogs.shu.ac.uk/sioe/2017/03/09/a-tale-of-two-teachers-the-importance-of-keeping-a-supply-of-great-teachers-for-our-region/.
Coldwell, M. (2016) Bridging the great divide? Building understanding between primary and secondary schools. https://blogs.shu.ac.uk/sioe/2016/07/14/bridging-the-great-divide-building-understanding-between-primary-and-secondary-schools/.
Coldwell, M. (2015) Dialogue, Depth and Doing a Master’s? Working with teachers on research. https://blogs.shu.ac.uk/sioe/2015/11/13/dialogue-depth-and-doing-a-masters-working-with-teachers-on-research/.
-
Journal articles
Coldwell, M., Moore, N. (2024) 'Learning from failure: A context-informed perspective on RCTs.' British Educational Research Journal,
Maxwell, B., Sharples, J., Coldwell, M. (2022) 'Developing a systems-based approach to research use in education.' Review of Education, 10(3)
Coldwell, M., Pearson, S., Wilson, I. (2022) 'Evaluating local system change using a comparative maturity matrix.' Evaluation, 28(4) pp. 446-465.
Booth, J., Coldwell, M., Müller, L.M., Perry, E., Zuccollo, J. (2021) 'Mid-career teachers: A mixed methods scoping study of professional development, career progression and retention.' Education Sciences, 11(6)
Burnett, C., Coldwell, M. (2021) 'Randomised controlled trials and the interventionisation of education.' Oxford Review of Education, 47(4) pp. 423-438.
Moore, N., Coldwell, M., Perry, E. (2021) 'Exploring the role of curriculum materials in teacher professional development.' Professional Development in Education, 47(2-3) pp. 331-347.
Coldwell, M., Twiselton, S. (2019) 'The 2019 General Election and the teaching profession in England.' People, Place and Policy Online, 13(2) pp. 71-74.
Coldwell, M. (2019) 'Reconsidering context: Six underlying features of context to improve learning from evaluation.' Evaluation, 25(1) pp. 99-117.
Coldwell, M., Maxwell, B. (2018) 'Context and Implications Document for: Using evidence-informed logic models to bridge methods in educational evaluation.' Review of Education, 6(3) pp. 301-302.
Coldwell, M., Maxwell, B. (2018) 'Using evidence‐informed logic models to bridge methods in educational evaluation.' Review of Education, 6(3) pp. 267-300.
Boylan, M., Adams, G., Coldwell, M., Willis, B., Demack, S. (2018) 'Theorising variation in engagement in professional and curriculum development: performativity, capital, systems and purpose.' Review of Education, 6(3) pp. 360-407.
Boylan, M., Adams, G., Coldwell, M., Willis, B., Demack, S. (2018) 'Context and Implications Document for: Theorising variation in engagement in professional and curriculum development: Performativity, capital, systems and purpose.' Review of Education, 6(3) pp. 408-410.
Boylan, M., Coldwell, M., Maxwell, B., Jordan, J. (2018) 'Rethinking models of professional learning as tools: a conceptual analysis to inform research and practice.' Professional Development in Education, 44(1) pp. 120-139.
Coldwell, M., Willis, B. (2017) 'Tests as boundary signifiers: level 6 tests and the primary secondary divide.' Curriculum Journal, 28(4) pp. 578-597.
Coldwell, M. (2017) 'Exploring the influence of professional development on teacher careers: A path model approach.' Teaching and Teacher Education, 61pp. 189-198.
Coldwell, M. (2016) 'Career orientations and career cultures: individual and organisational approaches to beginning teachers’ careers.' Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice, 22(5) pp. 610-624.
Willis, B., Clague, L., Coldwell, M. (2013) 'Effective PSHE education: Values, purposes and future directions.' Pastoral Care in Education, 31(2) pp. 99-111.
Coldwell, M., Simkins, T. (2011) 'Level models of continuing professional development evaluation: A grounded review and critique.' Professional Development in Education, 37(1) pp. 143-157.
Simkins, T., Coldwell, M., Close, P., Morgan, A. (2009) 'Outcomes of in-school leadership development work: A study of three NCSL programmes.' Educational Management Administration and Leadership, 37(1) pp. 29-50.
Simkins, T., Coldwell, M., Caillau, I., Finlayson, H., Morgan, A. (2006) 'Coaching as an in-school leadership development strategy: Experiences from leading from the middle.' Journal of In-Service Education, 32(3) pp. 321-340.
Coldwell, M., Holland, M. (2001) 'Challenges at 12 and 16: Views on some aspects of secondary education in a former coal mining town in Northern England.' International Electronic Journal for Leadership in Learning, 5
-
Non-peer reviewed articles / reviews
Muller, L.M., Booth, J., Coldwell, M., Perry, E., Zuccollo, J. (2021) Continuous professional development and career progression in mid-career teachers.
-
Conference papers
Coldwell, M., Maxwell, B., McCaig, C. (2010) 'Cultures of career development: senior leaders’ and early career teachers’ views of career.' pp. 1-20.
Trickey, S., Coldwell, M., Holland, M., Close, P., Rybinski, D. (2005) 'Evaluation of valued youth: a national peer-tutoring programme to increase self confidence and motivation.'
-
Other
Sharples, J., Maxwell, B., Coldwell, M. (2023) The bigger picture: taking a systems approach to encouraging research use in education.
Coldwell, M. (2018) Professional learning and professional careers: theory, evaluation and practice.
Boylan, M., Coldwell, M., Simkins, T. (2011) Complexity and leadership in teacher professional development : the case of the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics.
Maxwell, B., Simkins, T., Coldwell, M. (2009) Possibilities of partnerships as sites for learning: Leadership development in English 14-19 consortia.
Career history
2021 to 2024
Associate Dean for Research and Innovation in the College of Social Sciences and Arts at Sheffield Hallam University.
2007-2021
Led three different education research and knowledge exchange centres at Sheffield Hallam University.
1998-2007
Researcher and Senior Researcher roles at Manchester University (during Master’s programme) and then Sheffield Hallam University.
1994-1998
teacher of Business Studies and Mathematics at schools in Wolverhampton and Runcorn.
Press and media
I am able to comment on education policy and programmes.