Gillian Hampden-Thompson

Prof Gillian Hampden-Thompson is a Visiting Professor at the School of Education and Social Work, University of Sussex. She served as Head of School (2016-2021) and has a career spanning research, teaching, and policy evaluation across UK and US institutions.

• PhD in Educational Theory and Policy, Comparative and International Education from Pennsylvania State University
• Former Director of Research, Department of Education, University of York (2008-2014)
• Previous roles: American Institutes for Research (Washington, DC), secondary school teacher (UK)

Her research focuses on social justice in education, utilizing secondary data analysis and evaluation methods. Key themes include educational policy, family-school dynamics, and equity in academic achievement. Recent publications examine topics like teacher decision-making during reform, mathematics achievement disparities, and the impact of online tuition on primary students.

She contributes to national evaluations such as A Better Start and has secured grants from the Rudd Family Foundation and Education Endowment Foundation, targeting mental health outcomes and boarding school access for disadvantaged children.