Professor Sonia Blandford is Dean of Education at Canterbury Christ Church University College, among the largest providers of initial teacher training and professional development in the United Kingdom. Following a successful career as a teacher in primary and secondary schools, Sonia has worked in Higher Education for eight years. Sonia has acted as an education consultant to Ministries of Education in Eastern Europe, South America and South Africa. Sonia has also worked as an advisor to LEAs, schools and leads the Teach First initiative. As an author of a range of education management texts, Sonia has a reputation for her straightforward approach to difficult issues. Sonia writes in an accessible style, communicating ideas in a pragmatic manner as illustrated in Master Class and columns written for the Guardian.