Alice Bradbury

Professor Alice Bradbury is a leading academic in the Sociology of Education at the UCL Institute of Education (IOE), part of University College London's Faculty of Education and Society. Her work critically examines the intersection of education policy, inequality, and social justice, with a focus on early years and primary education. A central theme of her research is how policies like school inspections (Ofsted), assessment frameworks, and austerity measures impact marginalized communities and contribute to disparities in educational attainment.

Bradbury has produced influential studies on the effects of high-stakes testing, the role of datafication in early childhood education, and the emergence of food banks in schools as responses to the cost-of-living crisis. Her research on the controversial Baseline Assessment for five-year-olds directly influenced UK government policy. She also advocates for improving minority ethnic teacher retention and has highlighted the emotional toll of accountability regimes on educators.

In addition to her research, Bradbury supervises PhD students and collaborates with schools and policy bodies. Her work bridges academic rigor with real-world impact, often informing debates on educational equity, accountability, and systemic inequality.