Speaker Biographies

Keynote Speakers

Wendy Cope OBE

Wendy Cope OBE was a London primary school teacher until the publication of her first book of poems, “Making Cocoa for Kingsley Amis", in 1986. Since then she has been a freelance writer. “Two Cures for Love”, a selection from her first three books of poems appeared in 2008. Her fourth collection,” Family Values”, was published in April 2011. Her books for children include “Going for a Drive”, published in 2010. She recently moved from Winchester to Ely.

Mike Parker

Mike Parker is the author of the bestselling 'Map Addict', which celebrates his lifelong love affair with the humble map. The success of the book led to Mike being asked to write and present a ten-part series for Radio 4, On the Map, which aired in the spring of 2010. He also contributed to the BBC4 television series, The Beauty of Maps. In his adopted home territory of Wales, Mike has written and presented seven series of off beat television travelogues and regularly appears on TV and radio, in both Welsh and English.

Panellists

Jon Coles

Jon Coles has been Director General for Education Standards since September 2010, having been Director General for Schools from April 2008. Before then, he had spent three years as Director of 14-19 Reform, leading work to raise participation post-16 and attainment at 19, reduce NEET numbers and reform qualifications. Previously, as Director for the London Challenge, Jon was responsible for developing and implementing the strategy to improve secondary education in London. Jon was also responsible for various Green and White Papers and for taking the 2002 Education Act through Parliament. A qualified secondary teacher, his previous jobs have included implementing the infant class size pledge, developing future strategy for ICT in schools and, on secondment to the Cabinet Office, a strategy for e-government.

Stephen Hillier

Stephen Hillier, educated at Montem JMI School and Highbury Grove Comprehensive School, is the Chief Executive of the Training and Development Agency for Schools. He received a politics degree from the City of London Polytechnic and an MSc in politics from Birkbeck College, University of London (evening study). Stephen has been in education administration since 1978 and has supported over a dozen Cabinet Ministers. He began at the Schools Council working with schools and Universities on curriculum reform; was a Private Secretary to Chris Patten and the late Angela Rumbold; helped establish the first 1,000 grant-maintained schools; set up the Teacher Training Agency in 1994 and has had several further spells on teacher-related policy issues, including as School Workforce Director in the DfES. 

Jean Humphrys

Jean Humphrys is Interim Director of Education and Care in Ofsted. Over her time in Ofsted Jean has helped to manage major changes in the way Ofsted inspects schools and Early Years provision. As a Senior Manager, Jean helped to shape Ofsted as an organisation. When New Ofsted was created she took on responsibility for bringing together inspectors of early years, Cafcass and social care for children. Jean continued to manage aspects of policy in the early years and maintained her strong interest in the inspection and regulation of social care provision. Prior to taking up her post as an HMI, Jean was a local authority adviser. She has extensive teaching experience and was Headteacher of two schools. Jean has always been interested in finding ways to help children to succeed in life, particularly those who are disadvantaged and carried out extensive research into parental involvement in children’s education.