Whole Education was founded as a national network in 2010, emerging from the RSA’s Charter for 21st Century Education. Our dynamic network consists of over 500 schools and partners committed to learning from and with each other to deliver a ‘whole education’.
Educators tell us this vision of a fully rounded education resonates with the reasons they came into the profession, and helps provide a common language and framework for doing something about it.
We believe that the essential knowledge on how to deliver such an education is in the system. WE exist to connect the dots; to enhance the ability of schools, teachers and leaders to offer a whole education to all and provide support to solve common challenges we face.
We hope you will join us in this mission.
Lord Knight, Chair of Whole Education
A whole education is one which:
- Helps children and young people to develop the range of knowledge, skills and qualities they need to succeed and thrive in life, learning & work
- Makes learning more relevant and engaging, with pupils and students taking ownership of their own learning
- Supports learning across various settings (online, outside, at home and through volunteering and work) while engaging the wider community
Learn why a whole education is so important >
MEET THE TEAM

Executive Director
Douglas Archibald
Douglas is Whole Education’s Executive Director for Development. His focus is on supporting education transformation through peer-to-peer networks. Douglas started his career as a manager on Accenture’s Human Performance practice before leading the development of the Knowledge and Innovation Network at Warwick Business School.
His work on networks has been published in Harvard Business Review and he has advised a number of third and public sector bodies, including the United Nations Development Program and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Before leading Whole Education he was a Partner at the Innovation Unit.
My favourite teacher at secondary school… was Mr Mackie, my history teacher, because he made it fun and enjoyable. He was uniquely eccentric and was hugely passionate about the subject, which rubbed off on all of us.

Executive Director
James Pope
James is Whole Education’s Executive Director for Schools and Trust. James is passionate about education, learning and leadership. Believing in the power that education has to inspire young people and transform lives. He describes himself as an accidental teacher and a deliberate leader, realising that through school leadership he could work alongside others to deliver a vision for education.
James has fifteen plus years of school leadership experience, most recently as a headteacher and executive leader in a trust. He left to start a new organisation, InspirEDucate, with the aim of developing networks of leaders who share his passion for change within and across the education system. Alongside his WE work James supports Headteachers and Trust Leaders across the country through the HeadsUp campaign.
My favourite teacher at secondary school… was Mrs Ward, who went out of her way to teach me Biology, teaching me at lunchtimes and after school due to a timetable issue! She instilled in me a love of Biology and a deep respect for teachers.

Associate Director
David Crossley
David is passionate about curriculum design and supports schools to maintain an entitlement to a whole education while responding to current changes. David’s ideas derive from his four Headships and work with outstanding school leaders.
He supports the development of effective partnerships working with LAs, MATs and other organisations. David created the DfE’s Raising Achievement Transforming Learning (RATL) programme involving more than 700 schools, which was described by Andrew Hargreaves as “One of the most distinctive, promising and successful reform models in the recent history of educational change”.
His book, Sustainable School Transformation: An Inside Out Approach was published in 2013.
Can help you with: curriculum design; school improvement; school-to-school support
Email:info@wholeeducation.org

Director
Dr Sebastien Chapleau
Sebastien is the Director of the Big Education Conversation, leads Whole Education’s communities work, and works in the WE primaries team.
He previously spent 6 years as the Founding Headteacher of La Fontaine Academy in Bromley. Sebastien also held the post of Senior Education Organiser with Citizens UK, where he supported headteachers across London around issues of youth leadership and community engagement.
His community organising work in London was recognised in 2012 with a Community Champion Award from the Mayor of London. He also received an Inspirational Educator from the Worshipful Company of Educators for his work across the UK.
My favourite teacher at school was my English Language teacher because she took a deep interest in knowing who I was and what I really cared about.

Director of Primaries
Jo Corrigan
Previously a professional, committed, experienced and successful Primary headteacher, Jo is now the Director of Primary for Whole Education. She previously served in a similar role for SSAT, and brings significant experience of what makes the most difference when supporting a national network of schools.
Jo has worked in a wide range of schools with differing contexts across two Local Authorities, providing the vision and leadership required to ensure a high-quality education for pupils.
My favourite teacher at school… was Mr Lynham because he made learning fun, exciting and relevant. He knew all of his pupils extremely well.We would often ‘down tools’ and sing songs! It was great to return to the school as a NQT and work alongside him as a teacher and leader for 6 years.

Director of Secondaries
Lisa Ling
Lisa joined Whole Education in October 2016. Prior to this, she worked in secondary schools for twenty-one years; first as an English teacher and then for thirteen years as a senior leader and vice-principal.
Her passion as a teacher and leader has always been to provide an inclusive, engaging and rounded education for all young people. Throughout her school career, she has had a determination to help young people achieve academic excellence alongside developing the skills, knowledge, and qualities needed to flourish in life, learning and work.
My favourite and most influential teacher was Mrs Booth, a passionate English specialist with a desire to help the most disadvantaged youngsters to dream big who patiently gave them the tools with which to achieve these goals. Special mention also to Jonathon Neelands who taught me how to teach – a gift for which I will be eternally grateful.

Associate Director
Hannah Wilson
Hannah Wilson is an independent educational consultant who specialises in leadership development and training. She is a DfE coach for the Women Leading in Education initiative and an advocate for flexible working (the focus for her MA in Education).
Her former roles have included:
- Head of Secondary Teacher Training, University of Buckingham
- Founding Executive Headteacher of Aureus School & Aureus Primary School, GLF Schools
- Strategic Lead for the GLF Teaching School Alliance
- Sub-Regional Strategic Lead for the SE Women Leading in Education Network for Oxon, Berks and Bucks (NCTL)
- Professional Learning Lead for the Harris Federation

Project Manager
Verity Cane
Verity is Secondary and Projects Manager for Whole Education, leading WE’s SEND Networks and Spirals of Enquiry. She also works closely with Director of Secondaries, Lisa Ling, supporting our core network of secondary schools to connect and collaborate.
Verity is a TeachFirst Ambassador and was previously a History teacher in North East Lincolnshire. Before joining Whole Education in 2018, Verity worked for education charity Challenge Partners as a Memberships Manager. Outside of work, Verity recently completed a Masters in Education, focusing her thesis on the issue of teacher retention in coastal communities.
My favourite teacher at school …was Mrs Todd because I couldn’t understand Maths at all until she taught me. She explained things in a way that made problems make sense to me when they never had before and helped me succeed.

Project Manager
Maddalena Goldin
Maddalena (Maddie) joined Whole Education in September 2020 as Project Manager, to provide support to various programmes and events across the organization.
Originally from Italy, Maddie has been living in London for the last 4 years, completing a Masters in International Relations at KCL and then working for Think Equal, Suklaa Education and Young Citizens. After a 1 year break from the education sector, Maddie is excited to start working again with school leaders, to provide a whole education to all children. Maddie is curious and chatty, loves reading and skiing, and of course Italian food.
My favourite teacher at school was Sister Ermanna, who taught me to be fierce and compassionate, and to fight for what I wanted. I was never great at Maths, but she was one of those teachers who luckily for me happened to be in the right place, at the right time.

Project Manager
Noorun Khan
Noorun joined Whole Education in 2020 to support education innovation projects. Noorun is an experienced teacher, education leader and project manager who has worked internationally and across various learning sectors for over 15 years.
She is committed to providing a whole education which equips young people for life, learning and work. She has first hand experience of the benefits of coaching networks and capacity building to sustain quality teaching and curriculum to impact students’ success.
My favourite teacher was Quintin Williams, my PGCE mentor. He made the classroom come alive and encouraged thoughtful practice. His passion for teaching and students inspired me till this day.

Operations Manager
Fie Rason
Fie joined Whole Education in 2020 to provide support for the development of the operational elements of the business, to help ensure it is robust, has fit for purpose programme management processes and joined up strategic thinking across the organisation – thus ensuring that we deliver our whole education mission and values.
Fie is an experienced Project Manager, who has worked and volunteered in the charity, not for profit and education sector for over 20 years. She is passionate about the benefits of collaborative working, a common sense approach to project management and process-driven approach to work within any organisation.
My favourite teacher… was my German teacher at school, who taught me to not fear language lessons like I had previously, and although by no means my favourite subject it was possible to achieve in something that didn’t come naturally.
OUR BOARD
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Sir John DunfordFounder and former Chair
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Neil CarmichaelFormer chair of ed select committee
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Lord Jim KnightChief Education Advisor, TES Global, former Minister for Schools
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Ross HallDirector of Education Strategy, Ashoka
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Chris PaddenFormer Chief Executive, Assessment Foundation
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Heather Styche-PatelHead of Strategy, Marketing & Research at RSAcademics
WE Services
Across our team we have a wide range of specialist knowledge and expertise. Get in touch if you would like to talk to us about:
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One of our team speaking on your panel or at an event
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Advising you on the design of an event or conference
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Delivering CPD or a workshop to your school or Trust
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Building a self-improving system at a local or regional level
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Or any other forms of bespoke support for whole education provision in your school, Trust or region!
JOIN THE TEAM
We are always keen to hear from people with experience of the education sector who care about making a difference- people who love schools, and want to work with them to give all children and young people a fully rounded education. If that sounds like you then get in touch!