Rebecca Jane Francis, (born 7 November 1969) is a British educationalist and academic, who specialises in educational inequalities. Since January 2020, she has been Chief Executive of the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF). Before joining the EEF, she was Director of the UCL Institute of Education at University College London. She has also taught and researched at the University of Greenwich, London Metropolitan University, Roehampton University, and King's College London. She has also been Director of Education at the Royal Society of Arts (2010–12) and an advisor to the Education Select Committee of the House of Commons since 2015.
Early life and education
Francis was born on 7 November 1969 in Keynsham, Somerset, England. She was educated at the Ralph Allen School, a comprehensive school outside of Bath, Somerset. She studied English at the University of Wales, Swansea, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1992. She then undertook a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in women's studies and education at the University of North London.
Honours
In 2021, Francis was elected a Fellow of the British Academy (FBA). She is also an elected Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS).
Francis was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to education.
