Becky Francis | Lightnews

Light up
your news

About Privacy Terms Help

Becky Francis

Becky Francis

@beckyfrancis.bsky.social

4.7K followers 220 following 200 posts

Educationalist, sometime academic, committed to supporting social justice and evidence-led policymaking and practice in education.
CEO of the Education Endowment Foundation. Chaired the Curriculum and Assessment Review (2024-2025) but now back at the EEF .. more

Rebecca Jane Francis, is a British educationalist and academic, who specialises in educational inequalities. Since January 2020, she has been Chief Executive of the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF). .. more

Education 64%

Political science 19%

more

Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Becky Francis, Patrick Dunleavy, Christina Pagel

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 3d

YouGov have Reform on 25% in both their first poll of 2025 and their final poll before Christmas. The only significan sustained gain across 2025 was Green Party +7, at expense of Labour

Reform 25% tp 25% (-)
Labour 26% to 20% (-6)
Cons 22% to 19% (-3)
LibDems 14% to 15% (+1)
Greens 8% to 15% (+7)

Reposted by Becky Francis

Education Endowment Foundation @theeef.bsky.social · 7d

🎄 Huge thanks to every teacher and support staff member for your hard work and care this year. You make such a difference.

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a restful break. ❤️

Reposted by Becky Francis

Education Endowment Foundation @theeef.bsky.social · 7d

🌟 New EEF projects for schools, settings, and colleges are coming soon!

There’ll be something for everyone — and by taking part, you’ll help grow the evidence on what works in education.

75% of state-funded schools in England have already taken part.

More details soon!

Reposted by Becky Francis

UCL Centre for Holocaust Education @uclholocaust.bsky.social · 11d

We've distributed 100,000 copies of our textbook ‘Understanding the Holocaust: How & why did it happen?’ to more than 3,300 secondary schools. holocausteducation.org.uk/ks3-textbook/
Delivered FREE courtesy of the Pears Foundation this research-informed textbook is helping transform Holocaust T&L.

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Becky Francis, Charles West , and 2 more Jonathan Portes, Becky Francis, Charles West, Michael H. Whitworth, Pauline Stafford

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 11d

Parliament is properly on Bluesky. Why isn’t government? Asking for a friend (of democracy).

House of Commons @houseofcommons.parliament.uk · 11d

MPs are now considering the Employment Rights Bill: Consideration of Lords message.

Watch live ⬇️ parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...

Reposted by Will Jennings, Becky Francis, Glen O’Hara , and 1 more Will Jennings, Becky Francis, Glen O’Hara, Simon Usherwood

YouGov @yougov.co.uk · 11d

With a report suggesting half of graduates would earn more if they had done an apprenticeship instead, our polling shows that 46% of Britons think apprenticeships better prepare young people for the future - only 6% say the same of degrees, while 43% say both equally

yougov.co.uk/society/arti...

Reposted by Becky Francis

Crown House Publishing @crownhousepub.bsky.social · 13d

New article from @ensermark.bsky.social and @greeborunner.bsky.social! 📝

Reflecting on @beckyfrancis.bsky.social’s Curriculum and Assessment Review, they consider the 6 components of a truly ambitious curriculum. Read it in full over on NACE’s website: buff.ly/tg3z5tr

An independent charity founded 40 years ago, the National Association for Able Children in Education (NACE) works with schools, education leaders and practitioners to improve provision for more able…

Reposted by Will Jennings, Becky Francis, Lesley A. Hall , and 1 more Will Jennings, Becky Francis, Lesley A. Hall, Jon Dean

Peter Jukes @peterjukes.bsky.social · 13d

The number of murders in the capital in the first nine months (1st January to 30th September) of 2025 is the lowest since monthly records began and represents a fall of almost 60 per cent compared to 2003.

www.london.gov.uk/london-recor...

London records fewest homicides this year since monthly records began

The number of homicides in London in the first nine months of 2025 was lower than any year since monthly homicide records began in 2003, according to new analysis from the Mayor’s Office for Policing ...

www.london.gov.uk

Reposted by Becky Francis

Becky Arnold @beckyarnold.bsky.social · 14d

@ascl-uk.bsky.social Women Leaders… a date for your diary! 12 January 6-7pm Professor @beckyfrancis.bsky.social will be sharing insights and part of a q&a. Join the network to be involved! DM me if you’re an ASCL member and want to join!

Reposted by Will Jennings, Becky Francis, Tim Bale

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 14d

Good and important piece by @chrisgiles.ft.com. One implication: if you look at the revised figures for 2014-5, then frankly any talk that 2015 was a 'shock' win for David Cameron starts to look really silly and you just go 'oh yeah, figures': www.ft.com/content/5aff...

The UK economy is not nearly as bad as you’ve been told

A huge pessimistic bias in our national accounts leads us to doom and gloom which turns out to be nonsense

Reposted by Becky Francis

Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 14d

ICYMI: From child sexual exploitation rates to exam malpractice - government often releases multiple important sets of statistics at once. Schools Week breaks down everything you might have missed...
schoolsweek.co.uk/four-things-...

Four key things we learnt from government data this week

Things you might have missed from a busy morning of government statistical releases

schoolsweek.co.uk

Reposted by Becky Francis

SecEd @seced.bsky.social · 14d

SecEd Podcast: Our new episode offers practical ideas & #teaching techniques for engaging students in the work of William #Shakespeare. We have partnered with our friends at @the-rsc.bsky.social to offer some great advice for the English classroom & across the school: buff.ly/EgEDVOy #teachers

The SecEd Podcast: Teaching Shakespeare Effectively: Practical tips and classroom ideas - SecEd

RSC-inspired ideas and teaching techniques for engaging secondary students in the work of William Shakespeare

Reposted by Becky Francis

Education Endowment Foundation @theeef.bsky.social · 14d

📚 'Disadvantaged' isn’t a label. It’s about real needs and real actions.

Leaders from East London Research School argue for a shared working definition of disadvantage and for turning classroom insight into equitable teaching for all.

Explore the full blog: tinyurl.com/mmumc5fy

#EduSky

Reposted by Becky Francis

Andy Day @andypday.bsky.social · 14d

Bet he was the one who reminded the others on the 21st of June… “Nights are going to be drawing in from now on fellas”. Every damn year

Becky Francis @beckyfrancis.bsky.social · 14d

Wishing you a better day tomorrow. The fact that you are trying so hard and giving your all is surely making a difference even if you can't see it now. Teachers are heroes and we salute you! And - the holidays are coming.

Becky Francis @beckyfrancis.bsky.social · 14d

YES! I always had the same thought as a kid doing Carols! Thanks a bunch, King 3!

Reposted by Becky Francis

Education Endowment Foundation @theeef.bsky.social · 15d

🚀 New research opportunity!

We’re partnering with The Gatsby Charitable Foundation to commission a new review exploring metacognitive teaching in 16–19 settings. The study will examine how common metacognitive approaches are and how they’re currently being used.

Apply: tinyurl.com/7pvmx2ha

Reposted by Becky Francis

The Maths Bazaar @themathsbazaar.bsky.social · 15d

You may already know the Teacher Art Pass is a great offer (£25 instead of £83) but before January you can get another £5 off! A year of free and reduced exhibitions for only £20. Use www.artfund.org/refer-a-teac... to get the discount.

Reposted by Becky Francis

Adam Boxer @adamboxereducation.bsky.social · 16d

Are predicted grades accurate?

This wonderful blog from @fftedudatalab.bsky.social explores the question, and my takehome is that *on average* they might be, but for an individual student it's pretty much guesswork.

Well worth a read.

ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/12/pred...

Reposted by Becky Francis, Laurent Pech, Alan Richardson , and 3 more Becky Francis, Laurent Pech, Alan Richardson, Simon Lester, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 16d

Trump’s foreign policy isn’t “noninterventionism,” it is a kind of neo neo conservatism devoted to imposing authoritarian ethnonationalism abroad instead of democracy (gift link) www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...

Although the pretense of adhering to democratic values has been abandoned by an administration that disdains democracy, free speech, and the rule of law, the theory is nonetheless the same: Unless America defends ethno-nationalism against the forces of multiracial democracy elsewhere, ethno-nationalism will not be safe here. The Trump administration’s rabid hostility toward the “Rainbow Nation” of South Africa, with its history all Americans can recognize, makes more sense in this context.

Reposted by Becky Francis

Education Endowment Foundation @theeef.bsky.social · 16d

🐾 Concept Cat is a new EEF Promising Programme, recognised for boosting early verbal concepts in nursery settings.

Goodway Nursery School's Claire Stanley shares how careful implementation, staff training, and playful sessions helped children make impressive gains.

Read: tinyurl.com/px5453et

Reposted by Richard S.J. Tol, Becky Francis, Tim Bale , and 4 more Richard S.J. Tol, Becky Francis, Tim Bale, Alan Lester, Tom Griffin, Glen O’Hara, Pauline Stafford

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 17d

This statement appears to be untrue for 95-99% of British people convicted and imprisoned abroad

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 17d

I would be interested to see the statistics per country per year behind this statement

“We, the UK, take back our citizens if they’re convicted of criminal offences overseas. It’s only reasonable to expect other countries to do the same thing"

www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

All criminals with dual nationality must be deported, say Tories

The Conservative party’s policy also includes stripping people of their British citizenship when they are found guilty of a crime

www.thetimes.com

Reposted by Becky Francis

Education Endowment Foundation @theeef.bsky.social · 18d

Teachers check for understanding all the time — but the real impact comes from what happens after the checking.

@corinnesettle.bsky.social explores why feedback is the engine of adaptive teaching, and how small in-the-moment decisions help every pupil move forward.

📘tinyurl.com/5tujfz2a

Becky Francis @beckyfrancis.bsky.social · 18d

It is great that the latest ITT Census shows recruitment rises for STEM subjects. Much further to go, of course, but it's important to celebrate positives explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statist...

Initial Teacher Training Census, Academic year 2024/25

Annual national and provider level statistics on new entrants to Initial Teacher Training (ITT) in England and their characteristics.

explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk

Reposted by Becky Francis

Education Endowment Foundation @theeef.bsky.social · 22d

🧮 New EEF evaluations look at what boosts early maths.

Findings include:

• Numicon boosted educator confidence.
• TEEMUP led to one month of additional progress in maths.

Explore: tinyurl.com/5f48wxdh

Reposted by Becky Francis

Education Endowment Foundation @theeef.bsky.social · 23d

What makes professional development effective in 16-19 settings? Find out in our latest 'Evidence into Action' podcast, with practical tips from college leaders.

🎧 Listen or download: tinyurl.com/5t55jm68

Reposted by Becky Francis

Reposted by Lawrence Freedman, Will Jennings, Becky Francis , and 4 more Lawrence Freedman, Will Jennings, Becky Francis, Tim Bale, Dave O’Brien, Philip Cowley, Christina Pagel

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 23d

New post just out:

Six lessons from the 2024 election.

And what they mean for the next one.

Covering: Labour's fatal misunderstanding about why they won; effects of a more fragmented system; changes in media/polling.

(£/free trial)

samf.substack.com/p/six-lesson...

Six lessons from the 2024 election

And what they mean for the next one

samf.substack.com

Reposted by Becky Francis

Gabriel Milland @gabrielmilland.bsky.social · 25d

Media speculating whether media will continue to speculate about something that only media is speculating about.

"Rachel Reeves will be hoping the shock resignation from the boss of the economic watchdog tonight will drown out questions about whether she misled the public about its forecasts."

Reposted by Becky Francis

Mark Enser @ensermark.bsky.social · 25d

*** NEW POST ***

Reflecting on @beckyfrancis.bsky.social Curriculum and Assessment Review to consider the 6 components of a truly ambitious curriculum.

www.nace.co.uk/blogpost/176... with @greeborunner.bsky.social

An independent charity founded 40 years ago, the National Association for Able Children in Education (NACE) works with schools, education leaders and practitioners to improve provision for more able l...