Professor Bill Lucas

Biography

Bill Lucas is Professor of Learning and Director of the Centre for Real-World Learning (CRL). He founded CRL in 2008, together with Prof. Guy Claxton.

In 2017 Bill was appointed by the OECD as co-chair of the strategic advisory group for the 2021 PISA test of Creative Thinking which will draw on the work of the CRL. In 2018 he was invited to join the Durham Commission on Creativity in Education as an academic adviser and was subseqently co-author of its first report in 2019. He is currently curating an online platform, Creativity Exchange, for Arts Council England. Bill is an international adviser to the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority in Australia and to the OECD/CERI research into critical and creative thinking in France. In 2022, Bill was appointed to the Global Institute of Creative Thinking as chair of its advisory board. Bill co-leads the Fellowship Programme of THIS, the Healthcare Studies Institute at the University of Cambridge. 

Bill is known internationally as a speaker on the subjects of learning, change, creativity, healthcare improvement and leadership. Before the pandemic he travelled extensively to present keynotes, most recently in Sydney, Philadelphia, Helskinki, Qatar, Stockholm, Melbourne, Auckland, Belfast, Perth, Dublin and Dubai. He is a prolific, award-winning writer, and has authored and co-authored over forty books and chapters and many peer-reviewed papers.

Bill is co-founder of Rethinking Assessment, a movement arguing for a major overhaul of the assessment system in England.

Read Bill's latest blog here. Find Bill on ResearchGate here and on Google Scholar here. Find Bill on Wikipedia here.

Find out about CRL's framing of zest in a new book for schools here.

Bill tweets as @LucasLearn.

Areas of expertise

Dispositions for learning, Creativity, Tenacity, Pedagogy, Vocational teaching and learning, Change, Parental engagement in schools, English language

Publications

Selected recent publications

Books and book chapters

• Lucas, Bill et al. (2023). Creative Thinking in Schools: a leadership playbook. Carmarthen: Crown House Publishing Ltd.
• Lucas, Bill (2023) Rethinking sixth from education. In: Csogor, N. and Watkin, B. (Eds.) Sixth Form Matters. London: Sixth Form Colleges Association.
• Lucas, Bill and Spencer, Ellen (2020). Zest for Learning: Developing curious learners who relish real-world challenges. Carmarthen: Crown House Publishing Ltd.
• Hanson, Janet and Lucas, Bill (2020). The Case for Technology Habits of Mind. In Williams, John and Barlex, David (Eds.), Pedagogy for Technology Education in Secondary Schools: Research Informed Perspectives for Classroom Teachers (pp. 45-64). (Contemporary Issues in Technology Education). Switzerland AG: Springer Nature.
  
• Lucas, Bill and Spencer, Ellen (2018). Developing Tenacity: Creating learners who persevere in the face of difficulty, Camarthen: Crown House Publishing Ltd.
• Lucas, Bill and Spencer, Ellen (2017). Teaching Creative Thinking: Developing learners who generate ideas and can think critically, Carmarthen: Crown House Publishing Ltd.
• Lucas, Bill (2016). 'Never mind the quantity feel the depth' In A race to the top. Winchester: Winchester University Press.
• Lucas, Bill (2016). 'What if the further education and skills sector realised the full potential of vocational pedagogy?'  In Possibility Thinking: Re-imagining the Future of Further Education and Skills. London: Royal Society of Arts
• Lucas, Bill and Claxton, Guy (2015). Educating Ruby: what children really need to learn. Carmarthen: Crown House Publishing Ltd
• Lucas, Bill and Claxton, Guy and Spencer, Ellen (2013). Expansive Education: Teaching learners for the real world. Maidenhead: Open University Press
• Lucas, Bill and Mulvey, Christopher (2013). A History of the English Language in 100 Places. London: Robert Hale

Research reports

• Hanson, Janet and Lucas, Bill (2022). Head, Heart and Hands: Powerful examples of practical learning in schools. London: Royal Academy of Engineering.

• Lucas, Bill (2022). Creative Thinking in schools across the world: a snapshot of progress in 2022. London: Global Institute of Creative Thinking.

• Lucas, Bill (2022). A Field Guide to assessing creative thinking in schools. Perth: FORM-Rethinking Assessment.

• Lucas, Bill and Spencer, Ellen (2021). Creative leadership to develop creativity and creative thinking in English schools: A review of the evidence. London: The Mercers' Company.

• Lucas, Bill and Hanson, Janet (2021). Reimagining practical learning in secondary schools: A review of the evidence. London: Royal Academy of Engineering.

• Lucas, Bill (2021). Rethinking educational assessment: the case for change. Melbourne: Centre for Strategic Education.

• Lucas, Bill (2021). Creative School Leadership. Perth: FORM.
• Venckutė, Milda, Berg Mulvik, Iselin and Lucas, Bill (2021) Creativity - a transversal skill for lifelong learning. An overview of existing concepts and practices. Final report. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
  
• Lucas, Bill and Venckutė, Milda (2020). Creativity - a transversal skill for lifelong learning. An overview of existing concepts and practices. Literature review report. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg,
  
• Cofu, Will, Daniels, Sophie, Houston, Alan, Lucas, Bill, Newton, Alan, Morgan, Nicky and Ruck, Anthony (2019). Durham Commission on Creativity in Education. London: Arts Council England
• Spencer, Ellen and Lucas, Bill (2019). Christian Leadership in Schools: An initial review of evidence and current practices. London: Church of England Foundation for Educational Leadership
• Lucas, Bill (2019). Why we need to stop talking about twenty-first century skills. Melbourne: Centre for Strategic Education
• Lucas, Bill (2019). The impact of Critical and Creative Thinking on achievement in Literacy and Numeracy: An initial review of the evidence. Melbourne: Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
• Hanson, Janet, Hardman, Sally, Luke, Sue, Maunders, Pam and Lucas, Bill (2018). Engineering the future: training today's teachers to develop tomorrow's engineers. London: Royal Academy of Engieering
• Lucas, Bill and Smith, Charlene (2018). The capable country: Cultivating capabilities in Australian Education. Melbourne: Mitchell Institute
• Lucas, Bill and Hanson, Janet (2018). Learning to be an Engineer: the role of school leadership. London: Royal Academy of Engineering
• Spencer, Ellen and Lucas, Bill (2018). Understanding the role of creative self-efficacy in youth social action - A literature review. London: RSA
• Lucas, Bill, Hanson, Janet, Bianchi, Lynne and Chippindall, Jon (2017). Learning to be an Engineer: Implications for the education system. London: Royal Academy of Engineering
• Lucas, Bill, Stoll, Louise, Greany, Toby and Nelson, Rebecca (2017). Independent-State School Partnerships: An initial review of evidence and current practices. Eton: Eton College
• Lucas, Bill and Hanson, Janet (2016). Learning to be Employable: practical lessons from research into character. London: City & Guilds
• Lucas, Bill and Spencer, Ellen (2016). A practical guide to craftsmanship: creating the craftsmen and women Britain needs. London: City & Guilds
• Lucas, Lucas (2015). The habits of an improver: thinking about learning for improvement in healthcare. London: The Health Foundation
• Lucas, Bill and Spencer, Ellen (2015). Remaking Apprenticeships: powerful learning for work and life. London: City & Guilds 
• Lucas, Bill, Hanson, Janet and Claxton, Guy (2014). Thinking Like an Engineer: Implications for the education system. London: Royal Academy of Engineering

Articles

• Lucas, Bill (2023). Leadership for creativity and creative thinking in schools. Impact Journal, 26-29.

• Lucas, Bill (2022). Rethinking assessment in schools: Moving from a deficit to a strengths-based model. Psychology of Education Review, 46: 1, 5-15.

• Lucas, Bill, Cooper, Andrew & Willson, Alan (2021). The undervalued role of communication in healthcare improvement and its critical contribution to engaging staff and saving lives. Journal of Communication in Healthcare, 14:1, 5-7.

• Lucas, Bill (2020). Crank up efforts to get creativity blooming. Times Educational Supplement, 27-29.

• Lucas, Bill (2019). Character Education in Schools: An initial overview of some frameworks and associated implementation issues. Eton Journal for Innovation and Research in Education, 3 4-9

• Lucas, Bill (2019). Teaching and assessing creativity in schools in England. Impact Journal, 7: 5-8
• Lucas, Bill and Spencer, Ellen (2018). Tenacity - what it is and why it matters. Creative Teaching and learning. 8(1) 8-14 
• Lucas, Bill and Spencer, Ellen (2018). Creativity and Creative Thinking in Schools - An Overview. Eton Journal for Innovation and Research in Education. 1 20-22
• Lucas, Bill (2017). Engineering a new curriculum. School Leadership Today. 8(1) 42-48
• Lucas, Bill (2017). Capabilities: the new currency for success. Every Child Journal. 5(6) 8-14
• Lucas, Bill (2016). A Five-Dimensional Model of Creativity and its Assessment in Schools. Applied Measurement in Education, 29(4): 278-290
• Claxton, Guy and Lucas, Bill (2016). Open Dialogue: The Hole in the Heart of Education (and the role of psychology in addressing it). Psychology of Education Review. 40(1) 4-12
• Lucas, Bill and Hanson, Janet (2016). Thinking Like an Engineer: Using Engineering Habits of Mind and signature pedagogies to redesign Engineering Education. International Journal of Engineering Pedagogy, 6 (2) 4-13
• Lucas, Bill (2015). Getting the improvement habit. BMJ Quality and Safety. 25: 400-403
• Lucas, Bill (2014). 'Progression in student creativity in school: first steps towards new forms of formative assessments'. Contemporary Readings in Law and Social Justice. 6(2) 81-121
• Lucas, Bill (2014). Vocational Pedagogy: What it is and why it matters. Glasgow: Skills Development Scotland
• Lucas, Bill (2014). Vocational Pedagogy: what it is, why it matters and how to put it into practice. Bonn: UNESCO-UNEVOC
• Lucas, Bill and Claxton, Guy and Spencer, Ellen (2013). Student Creativity in School: First steps towards new forms of formative assessment. OECD Education Working Papers. 86: 1-46

Blogs

• Lucas, Bill (2021) The role of creative leadership in schools. Creativity Exchange. Read here.
• Lucas, Bill (2021) Practical Learning: why and how to embed it in schools. Times Educational Supplement. Read here.
• Lucas, Bill (2021) Why are we so reluctant to let go of exams? Times Educational Supplement. Read here.
• Lucas, Bill (2020) An open letter to Nick Gibb: five myths about creativity. Read here.
• Lucas, Bill and Bakshi, Hasan (2019) An opportunity for England to learn about the creativity of its people. Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre. Read here.
• Lucas, Bill (2019) If schools are to make creativity normal, then they need to think about the culture they seek to create. Times Educational Supplement. Read here.
• Lucas, Bill (2018) For Remembrance Day, celebrate creativity in schools. Times Educational Supplement. Read here.
• Lucas, Bill (2018) How to implement the general capabilities in busy schools. Education HQ. Read here.
• Lucas, Bill (2018) The value of Creative Thinking. Arts Professional. Read here.
• Lucas, Bill (2018) We need one grand educational theory for all. Times Education Supplement. Read here.
• Lucas, Bill (2018) Twelve ways to be a more successful learner. Education HQ, Australia. Read here.
• Lucas, Bill (2018) Twelve ways to be a more successful learner. University of Winchester. Read here.
• Lucas, Bill (2018) How Australia can regain centre stage on education. The Mandarin. Read here.
• Lucas, Bill (2017) The power of creative thinking. RSA. Read here.
• Lucas, Bill (2017) Teaching engineering 'habits of mind' and capabilities will set young people up for the future, Times Education Supplement. Read here.
• Lucas, Bill (2017 If "soft skills" really matter then we should try to measure them. Times Education Supplement. Read here.
• Lucas, Bill (2016) Schools will teach ‘soft skills’ from 2017, but assessing them presents a challenge. The Conversation. Read here.
• Lucas, Bill (2016) Ten ways to improve your students' employability, Times Education Supplement. Read here.
• Lucas, Bill (2016) How to praise your child: why simply saying ‘well done’ is not helpful. The Conversation. Read here.
• Lucas, Bill (2016) Character is a meaningful concept, is learned at least as much as it is taught and can be woven into a school’s culture’, Times Education Supplement. Read here.
• Lucas, Bill (2016) Forget technical and professional education: there's nothing wrong with the word vocational'. Times Education Supplement. Read here.

Film clips

• Lucas, Bill (2018) Creative self-efficacy and young people’s teenagency. In conversation with colleagues at the Royal Society of Arts. Watch here.
• Lucas, Bill (2018) Why Sailing & Windsurfing should be on the PE Curriculum. Interview for for Royal Yachting Association. Watch here.
• Lucas, Bill (2017) The role of professional standards in FE and workbased learning for Welsh Government. Watch here.
• Lucas, Bill (2017) How people learn. On how sailing helps to develop character, for Royal Yachting Association. Watch here.
• Lucas, Bill (2016) The habits of improvers. Key-note address for Center for Kvalitet, Copenhagen. Watch here.