Professor Becky Francis is Director of the UCL Institute of Education (IOE). She joined the IOE from King’s College London, where she was Professor of Education and Social Justice. Her previous roles include Director of Education at the RSA.
Becky has combined academic research and policy work in education throughout her career. She regularly serves as a consultant to the UK government and international agencies, and previously served as Standing Advisor to the UK Parliamentary committee responsible for scrutinising government policy on education. She is a frequent media commentator on education issues.
Becky’s academic expertise centres on social identities and inequalities in educational contexts. Her policy research focuses on school quality and social class. She has spearheaded longstanding research programmes on the impact of major reforms in the English schools system – in particular, the policy of academisation. Her research is presently focussed on attainment grouping, and the impact on social inequality.
Becky served as a panel member for the 2014 national Research Excellence Framework exercise. She has also acted as a judge for various national practitioner awards, including the TES Teacher of the Year awards. She is a trustee of Impetus, which supports charities working with disadvantaged young people.