Professor Becky Francis CBE

In 2024-25 she was seconded to lead the UK Government’s independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, which published its final report in November 2025. Prior to her EEF role, Becky was Director of the UCL Institute of Education (IOE), which is ranked #1 in the world for education in the international QS rankings. Her prior roles include Professor of Education and Social Justice at King’s College London and Standing Advisor to the Parliamentary Education Select Committee.

Throughout her career, Becky has sought to maximise the impact of research by working closely with teachers and policymakers. She has spearheaded high-profile national policy and research programmes in the English school system, focused on system improvement and addressing educational inequalities. And she is sought out internationally as an advisor to Governments on education policy.

Becky was the inaugural Charles Yidan Global Fellow at Harvard University. Her academic expertise and extensive publications centre on social identities and inequalities in educational contexts.