Sandra Leaton Gray

Professor Sandra Leaton Gray is a distinguished academic at University College London (UCL), where she serves as Professor of Education Futures at the UCL Institute of Education (IOE) within the Curriculum, Pedagogy & Assessment department. She also holds significant governance roles as a member of the UCL Council, the main governing body of the university, and as a Senior Member of Wolfson College, University of Cambridge. Her academic career spans multiple institutions including the University of East Anglia and the University of Cambridge, with a consistent focus on the intersection of education, technology, and social policy.

Professor Leaton Gray's educational background includes:

• Doctor of Philosophy from University of Cambridge (2004)
• Master of Philosophy from University of Cambridge (1999)
• ATQ07 - Holder of a PGCE in higher education, secondary education, further education, lifelong learning from Roehampton University (1993)

Her research interests center on the sociology of technology and its impact on children and young people, with particular emphasis on AI ethics in educational contexts. She explores education futures, the future of assessment, educational testing, and curriculum reform through a critical lens that considers digital ethics, children's biometrics, and the knowledge economy. Her work addresses pressing contemporary issues including the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on education systems, with a strong commitment to addressing educational inequality and promoting democratic values in technologically mediated learning environments. Professor Leaton Gray approaches these topics through the frameworks of sociology, policy analysis, and educational futures thinking, always with attention to the lived experiences of learners in digital contexts.

Professor Leaton Gray's extensive publication record reveals a clear trajectory of increasing focus on digital technologies in education, particularly AI and biometrics, while maintaining her foundational interest in educational sociology and policy. Her recent work demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of how technological systems intersect with power structures in educational assessment and how these dynamics impact equity and access. The growing emphasis on AI in her recent publications reflects both the rapid development of educational technologies and her strategic positioning at the forefront of critical analysis of these innovations.

Professor Leaton Gray has received numerous professional recognitions:

• Fellow of the College of Teachers (since 2007)
• Fellow of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (since 1993)
• Fellow of the London College of Music (since 1990)
• Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (since 2005)
• Senior Member of Wolfson College, University of Cambridge (since 2006)

As an advisor and consultant, Professor Leaton Gray has significantly influenced education policy at national and international levels, working with organizations including the UN, UK Government, EU Commission, OECD, Royal Colleges of Medicine, British Dental Association, International Baccalaureate Organisation, BBC, Channel 4, Pearson, and the Biometrics Institute. Her current role as Researcher in Residence at the University of Passau, Germany (2024-2025) leading the project 'Education Futures: Visions of Artificial Intelligence, Biometrics and Digital Surveillance within Bavarian Schools' demonstrates her ongoing commitment to shaping educational practices through research. She has also directed significant projects including the 'My Life Online' research project, the 'Future of the Artificially Intelligent Examination,' and the 'Optimising 2020 secondary school transition processes during the Covid-19 pandemic.'

Professor Leaton Gray is actively involved in several important governance and advisory roles that extend her influence beyond traditional academic boundaries. She serves as a member of the UK Government's College of Experts in the Ministry of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the UK Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology, the Privacy Expert Group of the Biometrics Institute, the UK Cabinet Office's International Best Practice Advisory Group, and as an expert advisor to the UK Government's Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation. Her participation in the OECD's ONE AI working group further demonstrates her international standing in the field of educational technology policy.