Meet the speaker
Lee Elliot Major is Britain’s first Professor of Social Mobility, based at the University of Exeter. He was previously Chief Executive of the Sutton Trust, the UK’s leading social mobility foundation.
His work is dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people from under-resourced backgrounds. He works closely with school leaders, universities, global employers and Governments to develop practical ways of improving educational and life prospects.
His latest book Equity in Education argues for a new approach and language for disadvantage and challenges deficit discourses in education. On its release the book was immediately ranked among Amazon’s 'Hot New Releases in Education’.
His Penguin book Social Mobility and Its Enemies has attracted attention across the world. Lee is one of the most prominent public voices in national education debates and is invited to speak about the topic across the world.
He was awarded an OBE in the 2019 Queen’s Honours. He is the first in his family to go to university. He currently sits on the Department for Education’s Schools Strategy & Delivery Advisory Group.
Read on to hear more about what you can expect from his talk at the Hackney Headteachers' conference.
Q&A with Professor Lee Elliot Major
What can we look forward to from your speech at the Headteachers' Conference?
My story of how I went from bin-man to professor, and why we need a new approach to improving prospects for pupils from under-resourced backgrounds.
What was the inspiration behind your book “Equity in education: Levelling the playing field of learning”?
For too long we have been stuck in deficit mode in education, failing the children we say we are trying to help, and for too long teachers have been given sole responsibility for levelling life’s playing field.
How did your experience at school influence your role as a professor of social equity?
Teachers helped me and inspired me at every stage of my schooling when no-one else was there to give me belief in myself - they showed me the power of education, a priceless gift that I’ve tried to pass on to others.
Want to hear more from Lee?
Learn more about Lee and his work at our Hackney Headteachers’ Conference on 22 March 2024.