Supporting the Progress of the More Able - Manchester - Speakers

Ian Warwick, Senior Director, London G&T

After teaching in inner city comprehensives for 20 years, Ian Warwick set up London Gifted & Talented (www.londongt.org) as part of the ground-breaking 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.

Bob Cox, Education Consultant

Bob Cox, director of Searching for Excellence Ltd, has been inspiring ideas for enhancing able learner provision for many years. As a freelance educational consultant, he has presented at regional, national and international conferences and supported over 400 schools directly. In 2017 his 'Opening Doors to Quality Writing' book series won an Educational Resources Award in the 'educational book' category. Thousands of schools use the resources and build quality text to quality writing journeys.

Dr Verity Jones, Freelance Education Consultant 

Verity has worked as a primary teacher, deputy head and consultant to local authorities. Over the last five years she has managed the More Able and Talented web site for Wales, been advisor to London Gifted and Talented, launched Bristol Gifted and Talented and developed a UK wide freelance consultancy (enhancedlearningforall.co.uk); supporting schools in developing teaching and deeper learning.

Andy Brumby, Director of Achievement, The Learning Academy Trust

Andy spent twenty years as a successful classroom practitioner before moving on to work for Cornwall LA as a teaching and learning consultant in 2005. Over the next decade, he worked on a multitude of different projects within Cornwall and beyond, establishing himself as an inspirational speaker, writer and coach. He is perhaps most widely known for his work on raising the achievement of disadvantaged children, a subject that sits, in his mind, right at the very core of school effectiveness.

Rob Jones, Managing Director, Specialist Engagement Solutions

Rob Jones regularly advises schools, academy groups and local authorities on how to inspire and engage with parents and carers, particularly those from challenging backgrounds/families who are resistant to working with educators and other agencies. Rob also has many years of experience in community engagement and cross-agency partnership working, designed to affect positive outcomes for children and young people.

Hetty Brown, Gifted and Talented Coordinator and Teacher of English Literature, St Brendan's Sixth Form College

After studying English Literature and Language at Oxford University, Hetty spent 15 years teaching in both the public and private sectors. She is currently a teacher of English Literature and Gifted and Talented coordinator at the comprehensive and diverse St. Brendan’s Sixth Form College in Bristol and works closely with local universities and industry to raise the aspirations of students in their choice of future destination.