Chantelle Francis

Chantelle Francis serves as the Faculty Academic Support Lead for the School of Psychology at the University of Sunderland, acting as a conduit between the School and the wider institution to ensure student success across courses. She is responsible for leading and evaluating university and Faculty initiatives linked to student retention. Additionally, she serves on the Academic Misconduct panel and acts as a Stage One Personal Academic Tutor.

Dr. Francis specializes in school-based mental health, neurodivergence in mainstream schools, developmental psychology, and psychometrics. Her research focuses on psychological wellbeing measurement in educational settings, particularly examining how neurodivergent children and those with Special Educational Needs experience challenges compared to neurotypical children in mainstream schools. She maintains active engagement with current research and teaching practices in developmental psychology, having previously served as a module lead for developmental modules at another institution.

Her recent research output demonstrates a strong focus on developing and validating instruments to measure psychological wellbeing in school settings, with particular attention to mental health assessment tools for educational environments. This work bridges psychological theory with practical applications in educational contexts.

Dr. Francis completed her PhD in 2023 with a thesis titled 'The design and validation of a school-based measure of psychological wellbeing.' Prior to her doctoral work, she earned an MSc Psychology (Conversion) degree and an undergraduate degree in Early Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status, both from Northumbria University. Her academic journey reflects a deliberate shift from education to psychology, driven by her interest in neurodiversity within mainstream school settings.