Roy Blatchford was Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools (HMI) in England, with lead responsibilities for school improvement and for the national inspection of good and outstanding schools. He was Principal (1999 - 2003) of Walton High & Walton Learning Centre in Milton Keynes, opened in September 1999 and described by OFSTED as 'a first class centre of learning - innovative and inspiring'. He was Founding Director (1996 - 1998) of Reading Is Fundamental, UK a non-profit organisation developing children's reading and family literacy. From 1986 - 1996 he was Headteacher of Bicester Community College, an Oxfordshire comprehensive school serving 1200+ 11 - 19 year old students.

Previous appointments include publishing editor and translator (French/English), 'Time Out' theatre critic, children's book reviewer; and twelve years teaching in inner-London schools, youth and adult services. During the past twenty-five years he has worked as a trainer and key-note speaker with teachers, schools, parents and governors across many Local Authorities on reading and family literacy, the fun and fundamentals of teaching and learning, raising student achievement, primary-secondary partnership, school improvement, leadership and innovation.

He has been an LEA nominated governor on schools under special measures, and been an adviser in Education Action Zones. He has served with the Arts Council, and has worked in a voluntary capacity within both HM Prison Service and the National Health Service. He has served as Chairman to a number of organisations and associations, and was Convenor for many years to the Thames Valley Health Authority. He is currently a director of Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company, Chair of the Oxford Literary Festival Trust and Education Advisor for the Oxford Diocese.

He has broadcast, lectured and written widely on literature and young people's reading in the UK, Europe and the USA. In the Spring Term 1993 he was awarded an English Speaking Union Scholarship to Rollins College, Florida. In 1993 he was invited by the Secretary of State for Education to be a Member of the School Curriculum Assessment Authority, under the chairmanship of Lord Dearing: period of office 1993 - 1997. He has served on a number of other national working groups in education.

He is the author/editor of over 150 books for pupils, teachers and parents including English For You, English Essentials, Managing the Secondary School, The Effective Teacher, Management and the Community, Primary-Secondary Into Practice, Reflected Values, Parents' Guide to Pre-School Education, The RIF Family Guide to Encouraging Young Readers, Visual Literacy, Successful Learning, Different Cultures.

A selection of the Director's journalism can be found at www.tes.co.uk/search

Read Roy's 'Foundation stones for the next Prime Minister' article.

Marc Rowland joined NET as business manager in March 2007, having previously spent 5 years working at Ofsted. Marc is responsible for NET administrative matters, including media contacts, finance, office and event management.
Email marc@nationaleducationtrust.net

Jane Gaber has had over 20 years experience teaching modern foreign languages in comprehensive schools in Inner and Outer London. She has been National Co-coordinator of Children First, a voluntary organisation campaigning on transracial fostering and adoption and co-edited ‘In the Best Interests of the Child’, a collection of essays on that topic. She also works as a freelance writer for the Economic and Social Research Council.