Former EEF research lead Danielle Mason to head RSA education team

The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce has appointed Danielle Mason to lead its education research and action programme.

Formerly the Head of Research at the Education Endowment Foundation, Danielle has over fifteen years’ experience in research and policy development, including Head of Social Research at the Cabinet Office, and Policy Lead for the Child Poverty Commission at the Department for Education, having started her career at Oxford University’s Social Disadvantage Research Centre. 

As Education Director at the RSA, she will lead the RSA’s programme of educational research, including its Learning About Culture programme, which aims to establish an evidence base for the impact of cultural learning, and Pinball Kids, which explores the link between school exclusions and educational under-performance. 

She will also manage the RSA’s relationship with RSA Academies, the RSA’s sister organisation which manages eight primary and secondary schools in the West Midlands. 

The RSA has an extensive history of leading innovation in education – including developing with industry the first-ever set of national examinations.

Fellowship is open to all who share our values, with 30,000 fellows internationally including leaders and practitioners in all aspects of education and social change.

Danielle said: 

“I’m delighted to be joining the RSA – there’s a continuous focus on real world outcomes and impact which sets the RSA apart.  

“And in the education team, the combination of world-leading educational research and our special relationship with the RSA Academies gives us a unique ability to influence change.”