Lisa is the Education Research Lead, helping co-ordinate and monitor a range of research projects currently being undertaken within the department. She is also a member of several collaborative research teams exploring topics such as Talk pedagogy, Embedding research and enquiry in schools, Community-focused schools, Neurodiversity in the workplace and Trauma-informed approaches and design.
Before working at Wrexham University, Lisa worked for 3 years at Bangor University on a mixed-method research study exploring the diagnostic journeys of men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer in Wales. Within education, Lisa has delivered learning experiences and workshops in a wide variety of establishments including primary and secondary schools, further education, youth clubs, third sector organisations and prisons.
Lisa is passionate about helping facilitate change to tackle inequalities and disadvantage, and to support inclusion and wellbeing. Her previous roles include youth work, transitional support for offenders leaving prison, community development in areas of deprivation, NLP coaching and as a project lead for multi-agency teams centred around complex families in need.
Research Projects
| Title | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Embedding Research and Enquiry in Schools | Researcher | This Welsh Government funded project works in collaboration with the GwE consortium and other HEIs in Wales. It is on its third year with an aim of providing the models, skills and resources to equip all schools in Wales with tools to begin to develop their own research and enquiry journey. |
| Navigating the Storm TrACE workbook | Co investigator | A research project exploring the creation and implementation of the 'Navigating the Storm' TrACE workbook in primary schools. |
| Talk Pedagogy | Researcher | The Talk Pedagogy project is part of a Welsh Government funded initiative. This project is in its second year; the first year supported schools in delivering authentic learning experiences through the use of research summaries, and this year we will be exploring the extent to which pedagogical thinking and practice is changing at a national level, along with practitioners' changes in values, beliefs and practices. |
| Support for Neurodivergent staff working in UK Higher Education | Researcher | The research will explore the current support experiences and wellbeing of neurodivergent staff (ND staff) working in UK higher education (HE). |
| Trauma Informed Design | Researcher | To explore Trauma Informed Design Principles within Wrexham University |
| Understanding the evolving landscape of the family engagement workforce through the lens of frontline staff | Principal Investigator | A three phase study to provide an overview of the current evolving landscape of the family engagement workforce across Wrexham, bringing together the experiences of practitioners working across a range of organisations that support children, young people, and families. The project is intended to inform future planning, workforce development, and collaborative practice, helping to strengthen family engagement and improve outcomes. |
| Feathers, Fleece, and Flourishing Minds: A case study of the wellbeing benefits of the first school farm in North Wales | Principal Investigator | A collaborative research project undertaken to explore the potential benefits of a farm embedded within a primary school in North Wales. The research involves the children as co-researchers and will produce a case study, along with a report. |
| Exploring the approaches, barriers and facilitators of Community Focused School Managers in Wales. | Principal Investigator | To explore the approaches, experiences, barriers and facilitators encountered by Community Focused School Managers (CFSMs) in Wales. |
| Family and Community Engagement in a Welsh Primary School: A Range of Perspectives and Experiences | Principal Investigator | To explore a range of perspectives and experiences of family and community engagement within a Welsh primary school in Wales. |
Research Interests
Qualitative research, mixed methods.
Publications
| Year | Publication | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Formby, Lisa (2026) 'Shaping Research Directions for Community Focused Schools: A Participatory Research Exploration and Planning (PREP) Workshop Method'. [DOI] | Peer reviewed journal |
| 2026 | Formby, Lisa 'From Insight to Impact: Reflexivity and Reflection in Educational Research'. https://doi.org/10.16922/focus16 | Peer reviewed journal |
| 2025 | Greenway, Charlotte;Conn, Carmel;Knight, Cathryn;Thomas, David V.;Formby, Lisa 'Archwilio Arferion Grwpio Dysgwyr mewn Ystafelloedd Dosbarth yng Nghymru'. https://doi.org/10.16922/wje.27.1.4cym | Peer reviewed journal |
| 2025 | Greenway, Charlotte W.;Conn, Carmel;Knight, Cathryn;Thomas, David V.;Formby, Lisa 'Exploring Classroom Grouping Practices in Wales'. [DOI] | Peer reviewed journal |
| 2024 | Conn, Carmel;Thomas, David V.;Knight, Cathryn;Greenway, Charlotte;Formby, Lisa 'Learner experiences of low attainment groups in the context of a rights approach to education'. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14681366.2024.2311640 | Peer reviewed journal |
| 2024 | Sue Horder, Tomos Gwydion ap Sion, Lisa Formby, Karen Rhys Jones 'Working with Uncertainty for Educational. Change Orientations for Professional Practice' In: Routledge. Oxford : Routledge. | Book chapter |
| 2023 | Integrating research & practice in schools: an emerging collaborative framework within Welsh education, ap Sion, Tomos G.;Formby, Lisa;Horder, Sue;Jones, Karen R. |
Other Journal |
| 2023 | Teaching and learning in the outdoors: the current state of outdoor learning in schools in Wales, French, Graham;Parry, David;Jones, Cath;McQueen, Robyn;Boulton, Pavla;Horder, Sue;Rhys-Jones, Karen;Formby, Lisa;Sheriff, Lisa;Sheen, Liz |
Other Publication |
| 2023 | Grouping Practices for Learning Support, Conn, Carmel;Formby, Lisa;Greenway, Charlotte;Knight, Cathryn;Thomas, David V. |
Other Publication |
| 2022 | Diagnostic Journeys in Prostate Cancer: In what ways can the accounts of men with prostate cancer increase understanding and improve care in Wales? A qualitative study of men with prostate cancer, | Other Publication |
Professional Associations
| Association | Function |
|---|---|
| BERA- The British Education Research Association | Member |
Committees
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Research Development Concordat Working group | A member of the concordat working group |
| Wrexham University Research Ethics Committee | Committee member |
Journal Reviewer or Editor
| Journal Name | Activity |
|---|---|
| British Educational Research Journal | Peer Reviewer |
| Wales Journal of Education | Editorial Board |
Outreach Activities
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Authentic learning experiences: evidence summaries Talk Pedagogy | A playlist designed to support teaching practitioners in reflection and enquiry. It contains a collection of research evidence summaries, each coupled with an introductory presentation. |
Consultancy
| Client | Description |
|---|---|
| Community Focused Schools, Wrexham County Borough Council | Consultant supporting the Community Focused School Manager with evaluation and impact. |
Other Professional Activities
| Title |
|---|
| Talk Pedagogy Symposium presentation at BERA 2023 conference Co-author and presenter of Talk Pedagogy project at the 2023 BERA conference. https://wrexham.ac.uk/blog/posts/education-bera-2023/ |
|
Welsh Universities Research Leadership Programme - The Welsh Universities Research Leadership Programme aims to support research by enhancing researchers’ leadership capabilities, skills, abilities, and confidence to lead and manage researchers effectively. This programme draws on expertise in leadership from within the Welsh University community to build and foster cross-institutional engagement and networking. |
|
EREiS symposium - Embedding research and enquiry in schools project (EREiS) presented at BERA conference within a symposium. |
|
BERA Conference - Presentation on a study exploring the baseline indicators of Community Focused Schools in Wales |
|
BERA ECR Conference - Presenting doctoral research exploring collaborative research practices when designing a funding bid focused on Community Focused Schools |