We've put together a list of our favourite women to follow for education news, comment, research and just general good sense. It's far from exhaustive, so please give us your recommendations in the comments below, or via @EdCentral and we'll share as many as possible
Becky Allen is co-founder and chief analyst at Teacher Tapp. Until December 2018 she was Professor of Education at UCL Institute of Education, prior to which she founded and led Education Datalab, a research project that
Daisy Christodoulou's first brush with fame came when she was labelled 'Britain's brightest student' after her appearance on University Challenge in 2006. She has put her mighty brain to good use, becoming a teacher, head of assessment at ARK Schools and author of two hugely popular books: Seven Myths About Education and Making Good Progress?: The future of Assessment for Learning. She is currently the director of education at No More Marking.
Nancy Gedge describes herself as "mother, writer, teacher, ranter". She's a passionate advocate for better special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
Amanda Speilman took over from Sir Michael Wilshaw in January 2017 as Ofsted's chief inspector – and her appointment ruffled a few feathers. Many criticised her lack of teaching experience (although she previously worked as an adviser to an academy chain and was chair of Ofqual), but her commitment to evidence and accountability soon won over many of her critics. She is currently consulting on a new education inspection framework. "Inspection should capture the things that no data measure can," she says. "We need to look at how a school has achieved results, not just take them at face value".
Professor Becky Francis is the director of the UCL Institute of Education. Her impressive research background has focused on educational inequality and social identity, including influential work on academies and satisfactory schools. Her academic expertise and extensive publications centre on social identities (gender, 'race' and social class) in educational contexts, social in/equality, and social identity and educational achievement, and gender theory. She is also a regular adviser to the government on education issues.
Professor Dame Alison Peacock is chief executive of the Chartered College of Teaching, the professional body for teachers formed in January 2017. She has decades of experience in primary and secondary schools (where she rose to the role of
Laura McInerney is an education journalist, public speaker and co-founder of Teacher Tapp (with Becky Allen). She was a columnist for the Guardian, before taking on the role of editor at Schools Week, and continues to be a vocal critic of education policies that aren't supported by evidence. She cut her teeth as a teacher and waged a Freedom of Information war with the Department for Education over free schools.
This grassroots organisation connects women working in education across the globe, offering opportunities to share ideas, campaign and come together for events – all in the name of working towards a more equal workforce. WomenEd uses its collective power to make improvements and create a more equitable balance - in terms of gender and ethnicity at leadership level - across all sectors of education.
Natalie Perera is executive director, head of research at the Education Policy Institute and a towering figure in the sector – she worked in the Department for Education for 12 years on projects, including early years language
Katharine Birbalsingh is the headteacher of Michaela Community Free School in London and a fervent believer in discipline and traditional teaching methods. These views have made her a controversial figure in the sector, but a must-follow nonetheless. She is the author of To Miss with Love and editor of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Teachers: The Michaela Way.