Professor Sonia Blandford is one of the country’s foremost experts on social mobility and author of the influential publication: ‘Born to Fail?: Social Mobility and the Working Class’.

Sonia is visiting professor of education at UCL Institute of Education and has held leadership positions in schools, higher education and charities including Director of Research and Leadership at Teach First, Professor of Educational Leadership and Innovation at the University of Warwick, where she now holds an honorary professorship and pro-vice chancellor and dean of education at Canterbury Christ Church University.

Sonia was named in Debrett’s list of the Top 500 Most Influential People in the UK in 2015 and 2016 and was among the 2016 Women of the Year. Sonia is editor of the Teaching Times Every Child journal and author of 250 articles and books written for teachers, leaders, parents and carers, and children and young people.