Supporting the Progress of the More Able - London - Speakers

Tim Oates

Group Director of Assessment Research and Development, Cambridge Assessment 

Tim Oates is Group Director of Assessment Research and Development at Cambridge Assessment, leading a 40+ research group which focuses on national and international research on assessment and measurement. Tim has regularly provided briefings and evidence for the House of Commons Education Select Committee, and routinely provides briefings and advice to UK Government and a range of governments around the world. He is a visiting professor at the University of Leeds and a Fellow of Churchill College Cambridge.

Ian Warwick

Senior Director, London G&T

After teaching in inner city comprehensives for 20 years, Ian Warwick set up London Gifted & Talented as part of the groundbreaking London Challenge, which successfully worked to tackle issues of educational disadvantage across the city. LG&T have directly worked with well over 3,000 schools and 11,000 teachers nationally.

Lynn Knapp

Headteacher, Windmill Primary School

Headteacher of Windmill Primary School in Oxford which was judged as Outstanding in June 2015 having been designated as a school requiring improvement in 2007. Lynn previously worked for Oxfordshire County Council for 33 years and in that time has championed teaching which is creative and challenging within an ethos embedded in core values.

Nicola Wileman

Headteacher, Totley Primary School

Totley Primary School is a small, one-form entry primary school, on the edge of the Peak district in the South West of Sheffield. In 2007 the school was in put into Special Measures by Ofsted. In July 2015, (in the last week of term!) we had our OFSTED inspection and gained our Outstanding judgment. The journey that Totley has been on for the past 8 years has now ensured that all children are challenged throughout their time in school and that progress is very carefully monitored.

Bob Cox

Director of Searching for Excellence Ltd

Bob gives key-note speeches at teaching and learning conferences and has supported creative, practical approaches to able learner inclusion in over 400 schools and at national, regional and international events. His 'Opening Doors' books are used across the UK and have been developed into a series. See www.searchingforexcellence.co.uk

Ruth Powley

Deputy Headteacher, Wilmslow High School

Ruth believes strongly that the best way to improve educational outcomes is by inspiring teachers to ‘reclaim the pedagogy’ and use this intelligently, efficiently and proactively in their classrooms. She also has a website and blog, www.lovelearningideas.com that provides evidence-based resources and ideas.

Victoria Gascoyne-Cecil

Headteacher, Worlingworth CEVC Primary School

I am the Headteacher of Worlingworth CEVC Primary School in North Suffolk. I have taught in a number of primary and middle schools in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. My areas of interest include developing provision for the more able, investigative maths and designing an inclusive and creative curriculum. When I joined Worlingworth CEVC Primary School it was in special measures, but with a committed staff  the school has come on in leaps and bounds over the last three years to be graded 'Outstanding' in all areas in our last inspection (February 2016).

Andrew O’Sullivan

Assistant Headteacher, Durham Johnston School

Andrew has been Assistant Headteacher at Durham Johnston Comprehensive School since 2009 and was previously Subject Leader for History for 8 years. He has been teaching for 18 years and has worked with the SSAT and the Prince’s Teaching Institute with regard to the performance of the more able students at GCSE and A Level.