Sammy Wright is currently Vice Principal of Southmoor Academy in Sunderland.

Between 2002 and 2014 he taught in London, experiencing the full range of contexts from deprived and multi-ethnic inner city comprehensives to the affluent suburbs.

He arrived in the North East five years ago to set up the first non-faith school-based Sixth Form in Sunderland at Southmoor, and since then has gone on to establish the North East's first OxNet hub at the school. With Southmoor students now going on to Oxford, Cambridge and Russell Group institutions, he has been working with other schools and universities across the region to increase participation in elite education by those from disadvantaged and marginalised backgrounds.

Sammy covers the schools and higher education portfolio in his role as a Social Mobility Commissioner.