Our ambassadors
The Prince's Teaching Institute is proud to have the following distinguished Ambassadors who support our work:
Kazuo Ishiguro OBE
Author
“The PTI day events are imaginatively conceived, superbly organised, and probably unique in this country. To invite committed teachers to come together and debate with leading experts and practitioners in their subjects - and in such intimate and conducive settings!: it's a brilliantly simple way to inject fresh ideas, new ambitions and sheer inspiration into classrooms. I always feel excited when asked to participate.”
Michael Palin CBE
Actor and presenter
"The ability of teachers to absorb, and more importantly to pass on knowledge with energy and enthusiasm is a priceless gift to the next generation. My love of geography can be traced directly back to two good teachers"
Sir Patrick Stewart OBE
Actor
"My love of Shakespeare and the stage was due to an inspirational English teacher. He said; “Look, Stewart, you can do this.” I was a Secondary Modern School boy and expectations were usually not that high. But I looked and could and did and have! I support the Prince’s Teaching Institute work, encouraging today’s teachers to transform the lives of the next generation - in the same way that my life was transformed.”
Jeremy Irons
Actor
“The late Robert Glen was my English teacher and like most of my teachers found me lacking in motivation but he included me in a small group who would meet in his own home to read poetry and plays. In the quietness of those surroundings, removed from the bustle of the classroom, the magic of the written word began to enter my awareness. I owe him a great deal for planting that seed, for recognizing the seed needed to be planted and for doing it purely through love of his subject.”
David Starkey, CBE
Historian
The Prince's Teaching Institute is the best hope for the survival of History as a school subject. It aims to reawaken teachers to the joys of narrative and personality, so that they can enthuse their pupils in turn. And, from what I experienced on several exciting study days, it is succeeding.
Sir Tom Stoppard OM, CBE
Playwright
“The Prince's Teaching Institute Summer School has established itself as an inspiring reminder of the true purpose of education, to bring the best to the most - to save lives.”
Lennie James
Actor
"I was lucky enough to have had a few teachers who both inspired and profoundly influenced me. If I had to pick one it would probably be Mr. Davis, my physics teacher. In an all boys South London comp in the late 70's/early 80's, where it was easier to fail than succeed, Mr. Davis taught a subject that no-one wanted to take but almost all that did passed. He gave us a chance to surprise ourselves. I never did anything with my physics O level, but I am to this day immensely proud of that grade, almost more than any other. I also remain forever grateful to Mr. Davis for the way he taught me and my schoolmates to think about the world and to wonder at the universe."
Prof Simon Schama CBE
Historian
"History teachers in Britain are a heroic, embattled community, struggling, in state schools with brutally imposed requirements, truncated time for classes and arbitrarily disconnected "modules" that make a coherent approach to a vital subject all but impossible. Against this dismal picture the Prince's Teaching Institute stands as a redoubt of hope, inspiration and commitment. By making lasting connections between writers and scholars on the one hand and school teachers on the other it brings together two families of workers in the field of time who can only benefit immensely from their mutual engagement. Whatever encouragement I might have given teachers in their good work it has been nothing compared to the enormous inspiration and good cheer I have myself got from the wisdom and pleasure of their company. Long may the Institute flourish and go to battle for the future of the past in Britain. Generations to come will be grateful."
Juliet Stevenson CBE
Actress
“I believe that all children should have access to the best of what has been written, said and done, and that the key to this is inspirational, well-informed teaching. so i'm delighted to be an ambassador.”