Tom Atkins, Director
"I try to make a difference for teaching. Educationalists are the most self critical people"
Tom Atkins began his working life as an engineer, and quickly moved into technical sales and export management.
He also became a governor at his daughter's school. 'I was an interesting mix - a governor, a parent, and a local businessperson.'
That led to a career in education. Tom spent five years as a senior manager with the Northamptonshire Inspection and Advisory Service running the organisation’s administration, finance and personnel functions, as well as managing marketing and sales.
He was the project manager for Peakschoolhaus Ltd, the education advice and inspection subsidiary owned by RM plc. Before that, he was a project manager for the very successful Learning Schools Programme in Northern Ireland and Scotland provided by RM and the Open University.
Tom qualified as an an NPQH assessor, and became an inspector for Osted - one of the few primary school inspectors for who progress was through the lay route. He has spent much time on workforce reform in education.
'I try to make a difference for teaching. Educationalists are the most self critical people. They'll get an Ofsted report that is very good, but they will focus on the one weakness of it. I want to help promote the value of teachers.'
Latterly, he has been a project manager with the DCSF on the London Science Challenge, and a strategic adviser on a 14-19 strategy with a local authority.
Married to an ex-headteacher, and with two daughters, Tom is a keen DIY house remodeller who also loves travelling.