Author list

Kamalagita Hughes has been practicing mindfulness for 25 years and teaching it for 15. She is a qualified teacher and lecturer with substantial experience in the classroom and in teacher training, further education and higher education. Kamalagita is also the education lead for Mindfulness in Action and a lead trainer for the Mindfulness in Schools Project (MiSP). 

Haili Hughes is an experienced teacher and mentor who is passionate about keeping excellent teachers in the classroom, where they make the most impact on young people. She is determined to improve teacher retention rates through the support of high-quality mentors.

View Haili's features on TES here.

Click here to read Haili Hughes' blog.

Sjanie is a psychotherapist, hypnotherapist and menstruality educator specialising in fertility. During her years in practice, both privately and as part of an integrated medical team at the Zita West Fertility Clinic, she has successfully treated many couples with fertility problems.

Sjanie developed The Fertile Body Method which is a unique approach to treating fertility problems using hypnosis and other mind-body approaches. She is passionate about sharing what she knows and continues to teach The Fertile Body Method to therapists throughout Europe and in South Africa. In September 2009 her book The Fertile Body Method: Practitioner's Manual was published, the first of its kind to outline the application of hypnosis and mind-body approaches to treat fertility problems. The Fertile Body Method: Practitioner's Training DVD produced in March 2011 brings the theory in the manual to life, with demonstrations and live therapy sessions.

Since developing the Fertile Body Method, Sjanie has trained a worldwide community of FBM therapists. She continues to contribute to the growing field of fertility and mind-body medicine through writing, teaching and most recently co-founded the new Blossom & Be online fertility support community.



Over the past few years she has further developed her work to acknowledge the menstrual cycle as the foundation for women's wellbeing at all levels. Sjanie is co-founder of Red School, pioneering a ground'breaking approach to women's physical, psychological and spiritual wellbeing based on the menstrual cycle and the journey from menarche to menopause.

Emily Hunt is an experienced primary school teacher with a passion for promoting STEM education. She regularly writes articles and speaks about STEM, and shares activities and blogs on her website www.howtostem.co.uk. Emily holds a Masters of Education from the University of Cambridge and has also worked within the US education system to deliver science outreach.

Click here to read Emily's article on TES.

Left-handed pupils: five quick-win support tips

STEM: Building early foundations

Click here to read Emily Hunt’s blog.

Roy Hunter, MS, Cht, teaches professional hypnosis and advanced techniques for professionals and teaches self hypnosis to groups and clients for personal or professional motivation. He was specially selected to carry on the work of the late Charles Tebbetts. He was awarded a PhD from Alpha University and California University with a major in clinical hypnotherapy.

Jake Hunton is head of modern foreign languages at Heart of England School in Solihull and believes in combining passionate, engaging and fast-paced teaching with a focus on the highest achievement for all students.

Click here to read Jake's insights on teaching approaches, research and challenging misconceptions in education in his interview with The Learning Scientists.

Will Hussey is an experienced teacher and author who writes about thinking ' and spy dogs. Will has a degree in physical and adventure education and reckons that's pretty much how all education should be: sedentary and unadventurous education is not much use to anyone. He's completed three London marathons and the Snowdon marathon. He's vowed never again'. He is (almost) a black belt in karate and has a wife and two children who don't take him too seriously.

Louise Hutton is an experienced teacher of RE who is currently an assistant head teacher at a large comprehensive school in Poole, where she also leads on staff development and teaching and learning. She is passionate about ensuring that her colleagues are research-informed and focused on high-quality teaching strategies in their subject areas.

Click here to read Louise Hutton’s blog.

Barry Hymer is Emeritus Professor of Psychology in Education at the University of Cumbria and Chief of Science for the leading online chess learning platform, Chessable. Barry has written 11 books and numerous papers on the subject of teaching and learning and he is one of the UK's foremost authorities on the educational applications of mindset theory.

Click here to read Barry Hymer's blog.

An English specialist with over twenty years' teaching experience, Martin Illingworth is a senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University with responsibility for English and drama PGCE. As an Independent Thinking Associate he has delivered keynote speeches and workshops across the UK, and has also worked internationally ' undertaking research in Cairo, Egypt, and at the University of Toronto in Canada.

Nick J. Thorpe is a journalist, writer and editorial consultant whose work has been featured by media organisations around the world. As well as trying new things for a year he has driven a black cab to Mongolia and attempted to have a cup of tea with someone from every country in the world. He now lives in Hong Kong, and is still trying new things.

Nina Jackson is an international education consultant who has a breathtaking grasp of what makes classrooms, children and their teachers tick. She's a leading practitioner in all areas of teaching and learning with particular expertise in special educational needs, digital technology and mental and emotional health. She has transformed learning and teaching in some of the most challenging schools in the UK as well as working extensively with schools on the international circuit.

An accredited Apple Teacher, winner of the IPDA International Prize for Education and described by the TES as an inspirational, evangelical preacher of education', Nina is a tour-de-force when it comes to enlivening teaching and learning for all.

Nina is one of the happiest, most effervescent personalities in education today and puts her own learning, and the learning of others, at the heart of everything she believes in.

Ninjas and Sherbet Lemons ' Nina Jackson in the Time Out Room ' PP179

Click here to read Nina Jackson’s blog.

Lenore F Jacobson was principal of an elementary school in the South San Francisco Unified School District in 1963 when she started a correspondence with Harvard psychologist Robert Rosenthal which led to the influential Pygmalion Effect study.

Charismatic and possessing a profound ability to bring out the best in people, Dr Tad James was a staunch believer in the inexhaustible inner potential of human beings. He was an exciting, dynamic and  transformational seminar leader, and a pioneer in the field of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). As a successful personal success coach and NLP Master Trainer, Tad was the creator of a revolutionary new paradigm for human change known as the Time Line therapy technique.

Tad James taught NLP, Time Line therapy and hypnosis for over 35 years, and served as President of the American Board of Hypnotherapy for over 20 years. He was the author of seven books and numerous audios and videos in the field of NLP, including the bestselling The Secret of Creating Your Future, which shows people how to realize their goals in life. In 1999 Tad wrote Hypnosis: A Comprehensive Guide, a bestseller in the hypnosis field, and in 2001 he co-authored Presenting Magically, which details all his training expertise and secrets. Actors James Brolin and Linda Gray loved his work so much that they hosted an infomercial with Tad in 1994 that promoted audiotape versions of his book, The Secret of Creating Your Future. In addition to his interests in NLP and hypnosis training, Tad was a student, researcher and respected teacher of the healing and shamanistic science of Hawaiian Huna. His two volumes of The Lost Secrets of Ancient Hawaiian Huna were published in 1998. 

Tad James attended Syracuse University and graduated with a master's degree in mass communication. He began his career as a manager of a radio station, and went on to manage his own station at a later date. At this time, the plight of the small businessman led him to become a business consultant. While doing business consulting he realized he could not help everyone he wanted. Even though his master's degree was in mass communication, he found something missing in the art of communication between humans. He began to research into powerful ways of communicating and creating change within both people and  organizations, and this led him to the field of NLP. Made the second NLP Master Trainer by Richard Bandler, one of NLP's founders, Tad quickly recognized the value of high involvement and shorter trainings.

Because of his dedication, hard work and unmatched discovery of the Time Line therapy technique, it did not take long before Tad rose to become a leader in the field of NLP. His name duly became synonymous with NLP excellence: he trained and certified more successful trainers than even the founders of NLP. His sole aim was to give his best and to bring out the best in every person he met in his trainings.

Tad James was the first NLP trainer to do a Learn NLP Training in an accelerated format. A leading advocate for expanding human potential and efficiency, he designed and implemented the seven-day NLP training program before anyone else did. His innovative spirit sometimes led to controversies, however. Initially met with opposition, his accelerated seven-day format (with pre-study) has since become the industry standard.

In 1988 his research became more widely known with the publication of his first book, Time Line Therapy and The Basis of Personality. Since then, Time Line therapy techniques have become a major modality for creating powerful change in business, education and therapy. Time Line therapy utilizes a person's own internal Time Line' to work with their unconscious minds in a variety of ways, including healing emotional
traumas and eradicating unwanted thoughts, emotions and behaviors. It has been so successful in its results that thousands of people ' including psychiatrists, psychologists, marriage and family counselors, social workers, life and business coaches, and even athletics coaches ' have utilized it for over a decade. It is so highly regarded that the Council of Psychotherapy in Croatia asked to be trained by Tad in Time Line  Therapy so that they could help many of the victims of the war who were suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Tad appeared on hundreds of local and national television programs throughout North America, Europe, Australia and the UK ' sharing his breakthrough techniques and empowering his students. Throughout his career Tad had only one dream: to empower people to find their best potential both inside themselves and collectively in order to transform the planet'. Tad traveled extensively while delivering trainings and seminars in the USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Asia and Australia, sometimes being away from home 11 months per year.

Since 2001, his wife Dr Adriana James joined him in his work, and together they founded The Tad James Co., one of the world's leading and most innovative NLP companies. The couple quickly emerged as a dynamic team, and together they developed new techniques and paradigms for prosperity, health and success. Their legacy of life focuses on the success and accomplishment of all their students. Tad's books, audios, videos and seminars have been used by hundreds of thousands of people around the world to create happier, more fulfilling lives.

The 'NLP Lifetime Contribution Award, awarded following a public vote, was presented to Tad James at the 2017 NLP awards ceremony.

Richard James has been teaching and organising chess for children since 1972. Between 1975 and 2006, Richard ran the highly successful Richmond Junior Chess Club, whose members included Luke McShane, Jonathan Rowson and other future grandmasters. He is also the author of Chess for Kids and The Right Way to Teach Chess to Kids, and has written extensively on chess history and trivia.

Discover Richard's websites:

Chess with Richard – Transforming children's lives through chess

Sian James manages a national creative learning programme with the Arts Council of Wales and has supported over 700 schools and their teachers to explore innovative pedagogy and prepare for the introduction of a new expansive curriculum. Having gained her Masters at Trinity College, Sian started out as a television researcher, going on to spend over a decade working within Communications for the Arts and Heritage sector in Wales. Sian is passionate about the arts, and the sector’s positive engagement with education.

Lisa Jane Ashes is an experienced professional development provider for all things teaching and learning. Lisa has worked in many school-based roles, ranging from classroom support to leadership, and her ability to create collaborative curriculums that allow all learning to be taken forward, used and improved comes from her many and varied experiences in schools.

Click here to listen to Lisa on the Pivotal Podcast.

Click here to read Lisa's article on Innovate my School.

Click here to read Lisa Jane Ashes' blog.

Kay Jarvis was a tutor in the faculty of Health and Social Care at the University of Lincoln, where she spearheaded the Parents and Children Working Together Project. She regularly ran training courses for parents on lifelong learning skills, and was a high school governor. Kay now spends her time on research, travel and writing.

Jaz Ampaw-Farr is a writer, international speaker and self-described ‘resilience ninja’ whose enthusiasm is both infectious and hugely motivating. Her background as a stand-up comedian and teacher, combined with her commitment to empowering teachers, makes her talks both engaging and resourceful. Named "The British Oprah" by US audiences and three-time winner of Speaker of the Year, Jaz's raw honesty and humour have already inspired millions through her viral TED talk and headline keynotes for organisations from Google to Gucci.

100 Years, 100 Women: Jaz Ampaw-Farr' - click here to listen in.

'Dear Teacher, I Know my Behaviour Makes you Mad, but you Need to Understand what my Life is Like- - click here to read the full article on teachwire.

Jaz has been named a TIME Person of the Year' 2017 - see her video here.

Interview with Jaz Ampaw-Farr ' how to be 10% braver.

Angela Jenkins has extensive experience in English education and school improvement having worked as an adviser in three different local authorities and two multi-academy trusts in the last 20 years. As well as providing link adviser support for individual schools she also took strategic responsibility for English and assessment. Recently, Angela has worked as an independent consultant, providing specialist advice and support for the development of exceptional curriculum, pedagogy and assessment both in primary and secondary settings. She is currently co-chair of the National Association of Advisers in English (NAAE).

Jill has taught for thirty years in six different schools, both state and independent, and was a head for the last ten years of her time in schools. She has also taught at GCSE and A-Level in the evenings for several years. Since then, Jill has completed a doctorate that explored the transition into headship, wrote a book about it; Making The Leap: Moving from Deputy to Head and carried out an extensive range of leadership development work. She has also given a TEDx presentation on the subject ‘Take a Second Look: Bring Out the Best in Yourself and Others’, which you can watch here and has published three short novels.

Georgina Jonas - the pen name for the collective talent and expertise of one full-time teacher, who has also been a children's storyteller, and one former headmistress who currently tutors and leads workshops to show parents the best way to help their children with maths and English.

Click here to read the author's article for SecEd in which she offers guidance for engaging reluctant readers.

Having spent over a decade working in education ' as a teacher, a deputy head and an adviser ' Verity Jones is now a senior lecturer at the University of the West of England, Bristol. She continues to provide training for both new and experienced teachers on how to ensure every child reaches their potential.

Trefina Jones has been head teacher of Ysgol Bancyfelin since 2016. She already had strong links with Ysgol Bancyfelin as it was also her first teaching post where she taught between 1987 and 1990. Following her marriage in 1995 she returned to live in the village, where her young sons also attended Ysgol Bancyfelin, being the fourth generation of the family that have studied at this remarkable little village school.

Rachel Jones, who loves sharing ideas, is a Google Certified Teacher interested in creativity and innovation in the classroom. She thrives on trying new things and engaging and empowering students. Her blog was a finalist in the 2013 EduBlog awards and was recommended by The Guardian as a must-read for 2014. Rachel is a regular blogger for The Huffington Post and a lively contributor on Twitter @rlj1981. She also curated Don't Change the Light Bulbs; a must-read anthology of mantras, lists, aphorisms, advice and activities from some of the UK's most switched-on educators.

Edwin K. Yager, PhD was a clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry, UCSD School of Medicine and a staff psychologist for the UCSD Medical Group. He was a certified consultant in hypnosis by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis and was also a president, board member and fellow of the San Diego Society of Clinical Hypnosis. In the course of his private psychology practice, using Subliminal Therapy and hypnosis, Dr Yager successfully treated thousands of patients.

Martha Kaufeldt is a full-time trainer and educational consultant throughout North America. She has taught at all grade levels, and served as a district level coordinator and staff developer. She is the creator of the award-winning Concept in a Day (book and video) program which demonstrates how educators can maximize learning using a brain-compatible immersion strategy. Her bestselling Begin with the Brain provides strategies for implementing the key elements of brain-compatible learning and teaching in the classroom.

Dave Keeling has been a professional actor and stand-up' educationalist for more than two decades, working the length and breadth of the UK with teachers, pupils and parents. Whether it's leading a workshop with challenging teenagers, speaking to a hall-full of equally reluctant teachers or delivering a keynote for school leaders looking for the cure to recalcitrance in their school, Dave never fails to leave delegates happy, moved, less stressed and feeling a great deal more motivated by the job in front of them.

A qualified but disillusioned graphic designer, Ben finally found true satisfaction in the classroom. Ben Keeling is a school leadership team member and says he is not an educationalist - just a human being (and a learner) who thinks we should all be trying to do things more effectively.

During Gill Kelly's career in the educational sector she has worked in an inner city school in Swindon and two large 11-18 schools in North Somerset before becoming the principal at The City Academy, Bristol. Her previous role, as deputy head teacher of Nailsea School in North Somerset, gave her the opportunity to provide the ICT solution for the school rebuild under the BSF (Building Schools for the Future) project.

From commercial values-based training programmes to transformational educational interventions, Emma strikes an inspiring balance between intellectual rigour, practical application, creativity and intuition. Originally trained as a journalist, she co-runs a successful theatre company and is also an actress, director, scriptwriter, diversity trainer and occasional cabaret crooner. A professional enthusiast, she gets a big buzz from truffling out people's uniqueness.

Click here to read Emma Kilbey’s blog.

Leah Kirkman is co-author of the bestselling teaching guides Pimp Your Lesson! and Talk-Less Teaching, and is an experienced AST and trainer. Keeping the needs of both the busy teacher and the discerning learner at the heart of all her training, Leah works with teachers both across the UK and abroad developing outstanding teaching and learning.

Leora Kuttner, PhD is a pediatric clinical psychologist who specializes in children's pain management. She is a Clinical Professor in the Pediatric Department of the University of British Columbia and BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada. Dr. Kuttner has authored A Child in Pain: How to Help, What to Do, a book for parents, and has also co-produced and directed award winning film documentaries on pediatric pain management, No Fears, No Tears, No Fears, No Tears ' 13 Years Later, and When Every Moment Counts.

Thomas L South has a PhD in clinical psychology and has taught courses in Ericksonian hypnotherapy at the University of Dayton and at Wright State University. He is a founder and first president of the Milton H Erickson Society of Dayton Ohio.

Ernest L. Rossi, Ph.D., held a diploma in clinical psychology and was the recipient of three lifetime achievement awards for outstanding contributions to the field of psychotherapy. He was a Jungian analyst, the science editor of Psychological Perspectives, and the author, co-author, or editor of more than 50 professional books and more than 170 peer-reviewed scientific papers in the areas of neuroscience, psychotherapy, dreams, and therapeutic hypnosis, many of which have been translated into a dozen languages. Ernest was internationally recognized as a polymath, a gifted psychotherapist, and a teacher of innovative approaches to facilitating the creative process.

Stephen Lane, aka Sputnik Steve, has been a teacher of English in a variety of schools for more than two decades. He has been a head of English, and is now head of Years 7'9. Stephen is also a doctoral researcher at the University of Birmingham.

Click here to read Stephen Lane’s blog.

Stephen Lankton, MSW, LCSW, DAHB, is a psychotherapist practising in Phoenix, Arizona. He is Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis. He taught as faculty associate at Arizona State University, Dept. of Behavioral Science and Sociology until 2009 and now teaches for the ASU graduate School of Social Work.

He has been a keynote speaker, invited faculty, workshop, and seminars leader for hundreds of conferences sponsored by virtually every major national and state professional organization as well as dozens of universities, and post-graduate training centres in the US. He is internationally known for his clinical work and teaching of Strategic therapy, Transactional Analysis, Ericksonian, and Gestalt approaches to psychotherapy, brief therapy, couples therapy, and hypnosis in over a dozen countries for the last 36 years.

He has authored and co-authored bestselling professional books, some of which are now considered classics, including: The Answer Within, Enchantment and Intervention in Family Therapy, Tales of Enchantment and Practical Magic, as well as Assembling Ericksonian Therapy and his most recent book Tools of Intention. He has edited and co-edited 11 other books. He was founding Editor of The Ericksonian Monographs, and has published numerous clinical papers and chapters. His works have been translated into 7 languages.

He is a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Psychotherapy and the Irving Secter Award for outstanding contributions to the field of clinical hypnosis. He has become a Fellow in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT); Fellow and Approved Consultant in Clinical Hypnosis of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) and a Diplomate in Clinical Hypnosis and president emeritus of American Hypnosis Board for Clinical Social Work (AHBCSW). He is an Arizona Licensed Clinical Social Worker and serves on the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Social Work Credentialing Committee and Chair of the main board.

He created a new methodology for bringing the science of human behaviour to interface management at corporate enterprise level. As a corporate consultant his clients have consisted large US organizations including the Internal Revenue Service, New York State Human Services, New York State Tax and Finance, Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield, American Express, Xerox, and others.

Described as having a breathtaking understanding of how to engage children, Jonathan Lear is an award-winning teacher, education consultant and author. He has worked for many years on a compelling mix of inspirational teaching strategies, and has shared his passion for learning as an advanced skills teacher, a deputy head and an Associate of Independent Thinking.

Read, When Two Tribes Go to War', Jonathan's interview with Teachwire.net.

Click here to listen in on Jonathan's podcast with Pivotal Education on How to Teach Guerrilla Style'.

Trisha Lee is the Founder and Artistic Director of MakeBelieve Arts, a theatre and education company offering innovative, high quality programmes to develop the creative, emotional and cognitive potential of children and young people from Foundation, Primary and Secondary schools across the UK.

Trish has directed seven shows with the company and run countless projects in schools. She has worked all over the world and is widely known for her work on Helicopter Stories. She is in demand to speak at conferences and deliver INSETs for teachers.

Based on her work in theatre and education, her ability to link current educational theory with theatre practice and a passionate interest in how children learn, Trish has published several books.

Through her bestselling books, seminars, and numerous TV and radio appearances, Janey Lee Grace has established her position as a representative and Media Spokesperson for the Organic and Natural Health world. She is known to over 8 million listeners daily via BBC Radio 2, and she has been voted No 1 personality in the 2013 and 2014 Natural Beauty Yearbook. She is the founder of janeyleegrace.com and imperfectlynatural.com, a consumers website.

Click here to read Janey Lee Grace’s blog.

Roy has been working in value-based areas in education, the arts and business environments in the U.K. and internationally for over 25 years. He has written books on creativity, learning, parenting, leadership and confidence. His areas of expertise are many and varied; from providing inspiring and stimulating key-note speeches to whole day conferences and workshops and sustainable programmes that run for weeks and years, and on rare occasions, possibly lifetimes.

John D. Lentz, D.Min, is both a licensed therapist and an ordained minister in Hardin County, Kentucky. His ministry includes directing the Ericksonian Institute of Jeffersonville, Indiana, where he practices marriage and family therapy, and teaches hypnosis for use in clinical settings. He has written four books: Therapeutic Meditations: 40 Days and 40 Nights to Change; How the Word Heals; Effective Handling of Manipulative Persons and his most recent volume, The Compassionate Healing of Sex Addicts.

Byron Lewis, M.A., studied under Dr. John Grinder, participating in the original research that laid the foundations for NLP. During the 1980s he was the director of the Meta Training Institute, conducting seminars and workshops in the field of NLP. He then specialized in the field of addictions and worked as a drug and alcohol abuse counselor, an outpatient clinical director (supervisory counselling psychologist), a county alcohol and drug abuse outpatient program director and a county health department senior analyst. He also authored Sobriety Demystified: Getting clean and sober with NLP and CBT.

Dr Helen Lewis is Programme Director for PGCE at Swansea University School of Education. Part of her role involves leading an educational anthrozoology module, and undertaking original research into the impact of animal-assisted interventions in educational settings. After studying animal and human behaviour at university she became a primary school teacher and has worked in education for over twenty years.

10 at-home learning ideas that hardly cost a penny' - click here to read the full article on The School Run.

After 18 years as a professional actor Anné Linden went back to college and trained to be a psychotherapist. Anné founded the New York Training Institute for NLP and the NLP Center for Psychotherapy - the first of their kind in the world. Anné introduced NLP to Europe undertaking the first NLP Practitioner Training in the Netherlands in 1982 and certifying the first European Trainers in 1985. She continues to train and teach in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

After spending the early part of his career in engineering and project management, Kevin Lister retrained as a teacher in 2009 and has never looked back – moving rapidly through various posts to his current role as senior assistant head teacher at an academy in Warwickshire. Over the last several years, Kevin has contributed to international forums, presented at and organised TeachMeets and delivered training days both for his own school and for a wider audience.

'NQT Special: How to get your work/life balance right as an NQT-

Click here to read Kevin Lister's blog.

Bryn Llewellyn is the founder of Tagtiv8, having previously worked in various UK schools for 25 years as a teacher, deputy head and acting head teacher. His pioneering approach to physically active learning (Move & Learn) not only provides an enjoyable alternative to classroom-based learning, but also promotes physical activity – crucial when challenging the increasing problem of sedentary lifestyles. Bryn acts as an advisor to the BBC and the Premier League on their education content.

Bill Lowe started his working life as a secondary school history and PE teacher, before moving into a primary setting and progressing to headship. From there he went into higher education as a senior lecturer at Newman University, Birmingham, and now works as a leadership and learning consultant and writer ' a role in which his 20 years of leadership experience are put to good use.

Click here to read Bill Lowe’s blog.

Ian Loynd has a wealth of experience as a teacher, school leader, governor, author, educational consultant and trainer. He is currently assistant head teacher at a large comprehensive school in Cardiff. Prior to this, Ian worked in pastoral leadership as Director of Studies and as a secondary mathematics teacher. He works regularly alongside teachers, students, parents and community groups as a speaker and trainer.

Professor Bill Lucas is Director of the Centre for Real-World Learning at the University of Winchester and, with Ellen Spencer, the originator of a model of creativity in use in schools across the world. A global thought-leader, Bill was co-chair of the PISA 2022 test of creative thinking and curates the Creativity Exchange website.

Building Learning Power with The Learning Organisation.

Read Bill's article in FE Week.

UKEdChat Podcast - Episode 13 - Teaching Creative Thinking.

Click here to read Bill Lucas' interview in Nursery World.

Click here to read Bill Lucas' article - Teaching creative thinking: Advice and examples'.

Click here to read another article by Bill Lucas - Why knowledge isn't enough'.

Read Bill's article in TES An open letter to Nick Gibb: 5 myths about creativity

Rachel Macfarlane is the Director of Education Services at Herts for Learning having previously been head teacher at three contrasting schools over a 16-year period. Between 2009 and 2018 Rachel was project director of the London Leadership Strategy's Going for Great (G4G) programme, which involved working with leaders of outstanding schools to share great practice and produce case studies for dissemination to London schools.

Terry Mahony is head of Hampshire’s Professional Development & Training Service and a trainer on the Leading From the Middle programme of the National College for School Leadership. He has twenty years’ experience as a leadership trainer and coach and is an accredited mediator with the Portsmouth Mediation Service, working to resolve conflicts in the community and the workplace in that city. A member of Robert Dilt’s NLP Global Training and Consulting Community, he writes on the applications of Neuro-Linguistic Programming in education, personal professional development and in mediation.

Michael Mallows was a management trainer and consultant and a psychotherapist with a background in transactional analysis, co-counselling, neuro-linguistic programming and enneagram analysis. He also recorded a series of relaxation audiotapes and designed typecasting workshops for anyone involved in creating fictional characters.

Dr James Mannion is the Director of Rethinking Education, a teacher training organisation dedicated to improving educational outcomes through self-regulated learning, implementation science, and practitioner research. He has a Masters in Person-Centred Education from the University of Sussex, and a PhD in Self-Regulated Learning from the University of Cambridge. Previously, James taught in secondary schools for 12 years.  

Richie Manu is an award-winning lecturer, designer and creative mentor who in 2017 won the University of the Arts London Teaching Excellence Award, which recognises curriculum innovation and the making of a positive and significant difference to students' learning journeys. With a background in design, branding and communications, Richie specialises in personal, professional and business development, working with individuals and organisations from all over the world to achieve their targets. 

He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and has taught at the London College of Fashion and on the International Design Camp Programme in Hong Kong. He also holds several senior lecturing posts at Central Saint Martins, a world-leading centre for art and design in London. Richie combines his experience of both creative practice and academic teaching to empower individuals and businesses with effective strategies and approaches for differentiating themselves and standing out in competitive environments.

Richie Manu is an award-winning lecturer, designer and creative mentor. With a background in design, branding and communications, he specialises in personal, professional and business development, working with individuals and organisations from all over the world to achieve targets and develop. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has taught at the London College of Fashion, on the International Design Camp Programme in Hong Kong, as well as holding several senior lecturing posts at Central Saint Martins, a world leading centre for art and design in London. Richie combines his experience of both creative practice and academic teaching to empower individuals and businesses to achieve goals with effective strategies and approaches for differentiating themselves and standing out in competitive environments.

As entrepreneur, author, and creative resource, Nancy's clients are as diverse as the Clinton White House and Cabinet, the Dalai Lama, and scores of Fortune 500 companies including Intel, Boeing, and Xerox. She is well known for her development of Mindscaping, the visual mapping of complex concepts.

Her most recent books are short fiction, Short Shorts: Sudden Fiction and Animal Husband published by Mel C Thompson.

Lindsey Marsh's career in fundraising began in 2005 and she has since raised thousands of pounds for local schools and charities in Shropshire. Lindsey has also previously run her own business, and won recognition and funding for two enterprise start-up projects during her media and business management studies.

"School fundraisers ' 10 tips to running a successful event" read the full article here. 

Curly Martin is the trail blazing author of the international ground-breaking bestseller The Life Coaching Handbook, a world first life coaching book written specifically for life coaches on how to build a life coaching business. This means that she is the pioneer for Life Coach Training. She has written The Business Coaching Handbook and The Personal Success Handbook which complete this handbook series.

She has also written or co-written over 30 books and articles on coaching. Curly is a Fellow member of The International Authority of Professional Coaching and Mentoring, which means she has met their highest robust criteria. Curly Martin 'an inspirational trainer, an un-equalled coach and one of the most impressive human beings I've ever met.' - Simon Cheung LCH Dip. Curly is the forerunner of life coach training, a pioneer and ground breaking author, top ten life coach (Observer Magazine) and one of the top 5% most viewed LinkedIn profiles.

She founded Achievement Specialists Limited, an internationally accredited life coach training company in 1997 (incorporated 2004) using her 25+ years experience as a business coach, mentor and trainer.

Click here to read Curly Martin’s blog.

With over two decades' worth of experience as a history teacher, Robert Massey has for the past six years led the Scholars' Programme at Bristol Grammar School. He has a particular interest in supporting his colleagues in the provision of stretch and challenge opportunities for high-attaining students. He regularly speaks at education conferences.

How to help your students become Expert Learners' - click here to read Robert's blog post on NACE.

Click here to read Robert Massey’s blog.

Peter Mattock has been teaching and leading maths for over 15 years. He is a specialist leader of education (SLE) and an accredited secondary maths professional development lead who regularly presents at conferences across the country. Peter also develops teaching for mastery in the secondary school classroom, having been part of the first cohort of specialists trained in mastery approaches by the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM).

Read Peter's features in TES:

Why our SLT need to be as accountable to us as we are to them'

The government and Ofsted have cost more people their careers than I can count'

Four ways to make sure maths teachers stay happy (and stay put)'

Take it from the task-master: easy ways to get pupils thinking'

Ten steps to surviving as a new head of department'

Five ways maths teachers can persuade secondary colleagues to embed numeracy'

How to grade questions in the new GCSE system'

Click here to read Peter Mattock’s blog.

An MFL teacher with twenty years' classroom experience, James A. Maxwell is principal of Carrickfergus Grammar School and winner of the London German Embassy's 2005 UK German Teacher Award. He has worked with the BBC on the development of their educational resources and has presented at various regional conferences, including on the use of digital media assets in modern languages education.

Having worked as an English and special educational needs teacher for twenty-five years, Jon Mayhew is now in demand on the school event circuit ' delivering writing workshops to students from Key Stage 2 to sixth form. He is also a Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow, helping students to improve their academic writing at Chester University. Jon is the author of the Monster Odyssey series and the multi-award-winning Mortlock.

Duncan McColl was a member of the International Association of Precision Therapists and the International Society for Professional Hypnosis (USA) and was a biofeedback, behavioural and management science consultant. He served as a pilot in the RAF during the Second World War. He later qualified as a chartered accountant and worked as a senior financial and marketing executive in leading British and American companies whilst spending thirty-five years abroad, mainly in the United States, Canada, Australia, Mexico and Spain. He successfully applied ancient and modern teachings, many of them not available in English, to health and business problems, to stress management, creative thinking, psychometric interviewing, and to staff motivation and development. He had an especially delightful and infectious sense of humour.

Julie McCracken is a primary school teacher, whose passion for children and effective learning has led her to become a certified Clean Language facilitator and NLP Master Practitioner in addition to her busy day job. She believes in the simple but essential solutions this training provides in allowing her to ensure that her students are part of an inclusive, interactive and happy learning environment.

Emma McCrea is a senior lecturer at the University of Brighton, specialising in the design and delivery of evidence-informed teacher training for both trainee and experienced teachers. She has led professional development training for organisations such as the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM), Mathematics in Education and Industry (MEI) and the Maths Hubs. She is currently studying for a Fellowship in Education and is the founding director of an edtech start-up. Having started her career as a maths teacher at an innovative secondary school in East Sussex, Emma has since worked as a head of maths, qualified as an advanced skills teacher and led on teaching and learning and teacher professional development.

Ian McDermott specialises in giving people the skills to innovate their own collaborative leadership solutions. Much of his time is spent advising senior leaders worldwide and coaching the next generation to be innovative leaders.

Ian is an Honorary Fellow of Exeter University Business School where his focus is on leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship. He is Dean of Innovation & Learning for the Purposeful Planning Institute in the US and his work is featured in the Open University's MBA course Creativity, Innovation and Change'. Ian is External Faculty at Henley Business School where he helped create the MSc. in Coaching and Behavioral Change. He is also a UKCP registered psychotherapist.

Ian McDermott has pioneered Leadership and Innovation Coaching, has trained a generation of coaches, is a member of the Association for Coaching's Global Advisory Panel and is AC Global Ambassador for Innovation and Collaboration.

Based in the UK and the US, he is an acknowledged thought leader. A published authority, he has authored and co-authored fifteen books on systems thinking, NLP and coaching. Titles include The Art of Systems Thinking, Principles of NLP and The Coaching Bible.

Ian's primary focus is on delivering practical how-tos' to ensure that learning in leadership and change, innovation and collaboration really happen. That's why he set up International Teaching Seminars (ITS).

25+ years on ITS continues to pioneer the application of practical techniques which are grounded in sound neuroscience for individuals, teams and organizations.



For details of consultancy, coaching and training: www.itsnlp.com

Avril McDonald is the bestselling, award-winning author of the Feel Brave series of books and founder of Feel Brave, a company with a vision to give all children access to tools that help them manage tough emotions and reach their potential. Avril has a Diploma of Education from Wellington College of Education, New Zealand, where she trained as a primary school teacher majoring in music and dance. She then had a varied career in digital entertainment before launching Feel Brave to give teachers and parents simple and practical strategies to help children with their emotional well-being. Her free ‘1 Dose/Day’ emotional well-being programme for children is now used in more than 350 schools across ten countries. Avril is an official partner of the New Zealand Life Education Trust and Patron of Westminster Children’s University.

Click here to read a feature on Avril's Feel Brave series on New Zealand's Stuff' website.

Click here to listen to UKEdChats podcast with Avril McDonald.

'Emotional tools for kids taught through books and songs.'

'Teaching children empathy.'

'Empowering kids to feel brave and tackle tough emotions'

Dr Matthew McFall is an education consultant and practitioner with an interest in puzzles, games, mazes, labyrinths and escape rooms.

His work focuses on the uses of wonderment for learning and engagement within both formal and non-formal educational environments. His second doctorate explores the heritage of wonder and considers how ' and why ' it remains relevant to pupils, families and communities. Matthew believes that at the heart of valuable learning is curiosity and positivity, which leads to a lifelong love of finding out more about the universe.

He has championed the venerable tradition of the Cabinet of Curiosities as a boon for schools, helping to establish dedicated wonder spaces both in mainstream schools and in specialist settings for pupils with learning difficulties. He also collaborates with museums to help create spaces that are stimulating, nurturing and surprising.

His book The Little Book of Awe and Wonder: A cabinet of curiosities is a portable cornucopia of the weird and the wonderful, celebrating the joys of discovery, exploration and sharing. Between the covers is an entire world of brilliant strangeness: riddles and illusions; jokes and wisdoms; wasp eyes and kidney crystals. Open the book at random and be transported, delighted and enlightened.

Matthew as featured in The Guardian, 2011: A Wonder Room - every school should have one.

Ormond McGill was known as The Dean of American Hypnotists. He was a magician and hypnotist of international renown, and toured many parts of the world with his exciting stage shows: East Indian Miracles, The Seance of Wonders, Real Mental Magic, South Sea Island Magic and The Concert of Hypnotism, to name but a few. Ormond McGill was also a naturalist of prominence, his contributions to entomology and conchology being well known in those fields.

Professor Angus McLeod is pre-eminent in coaching technology and practice. His company Angus McLeod Associates trains coaching-skills for managers, leadership and management development learning journeys' and e-learning solutions as well as supplying 1-2-1 coaching. They also supply ASK MAX', the world's first e-mentoring service, a cost-effective way of getting top coaches into organizations for a whole day at a time, where they coach several people during each day. He is also Principal of the Coaching Foundation, an e-learning platform for practical learning of coaching skills. They cover both life- and executive-coaching as well as business development programmes for coaches as well. A wide range of blended-learning is offered including video-tutorials, webinars, series of small-group tutorials (online) and an e-learners community with monitoring and tutoring by professional coaches. Angus is also Visiting Professor of Coaching at Birmingham City University and a supervisor of PhD applied research in coaching and leadership.

Darren Mead is an experienced science teacher whohas been described as the 'Jimi Hendrix of teaching' and perhaps 'the most intellectually engaged of all British teachers'. Based in the north-east of England, he shares his classroom-based interpretations of research through his highly respected blog, Sharing Pedagogical Purposes.