London's 1000 most influential people 2010: Education

5 April 2012

Toby Young, Education campaign
Mischievous journalist turned dad of four has got serious with campaign to build a free school in Ealing. The Spectator columnist, who co-wrote the Channel 4 docu-drama When Boris Met Dave about his Oxford pals, has been using media and political contacts to raise the school's profile.

David Willetts, Universities minister
Nicknamed "Two Brains" because of his cerebral outlook, Willetts is overseeing the Coalition's tuition fees policy. Works well with education secretary Michael Gove. Headed Margaret Thatcher's No 10 policy unit at 28.

Mary Curnock Cook, UCAS, chief executive
Formidable new boss of UCAS has to cope with record numbers of candidates applying to university and a growing shortage of places. Her warnings that thousands will miss out this year have proved accurate. Suggests school-leavers should consider apprenticeships instead.

Sam Freedman, Department of Education adviser
Bookish right-hand man of Education Secretary Michael Gove, Freedman helped devise Tories' free schools policy. Made his name as an in-house boffin for the private schools' umbrella group, the Independent Schools Council. Moved to Tory think-tank Policy Exchange, where he caught Gove's eye.

David Levin, Headmasters' Conference, chairman
The head of City of London School, current chair of HMC representing all private boys' schools, has urged his members to team up with private sector to offer fully-funded places to children from state sector. Says number of pupils in private sector is rising even in tough times.

Zenna Atkins, GEMS Education UK, chief executive
Former chairman of Ofsted, Atkins has joined the private sector as the coalition's reforms open the door to profit-making private schools groups such as GEMS. Increasingly outspoken, the former entrepreneur of the year believes 21st-century education is failing prepare pupils for work.

Gillian Low, Girls School Association, president
Head teacher of Lady Eleanor Holles School in Hampton represents girls' private schools and has warned that a damaging perception of elitism is prompting the departure of some head teachers. Has called for schools to give more time for girls' sport.

Tony Little, Eton, headmaster
An Old Etonian himself, Little has been outspoken in his criticism of low standards in GCSEs and A-levels. Has called for old boy David Cameron's administration to revive the assisted places scheme to help less well-off childen attend boarding schools.

Stephen Spurr, Westminster School, headmaster
The head of one of London's two top boys' schools along with St Paul's, Spurr has maintained Westminster's fearsome academic record, boasting a 50 per cent strike rate at Oxbridge on his watch. Educated in Australia, he has raised doubts about exam standards and has looked at international alternatives.

Lucy Heller, Ark Schools, managing director
Ex-newspaper executive who is a leading player in Absolute Return for Kids, which sponsors academy schools. Poised to take over huge swathes of state education under the Tories' free schools revolution, but has doubts about how many parents will want to run their own schools.

Justine Roberts, Mumsnet, co-founder
Ex-journalist who has made this parenting forum into a must-read with more than 1 million visitors a month. The mumsnet audience became a key target demographic for all the political parties at the general election. Roberts's other half is deputy editor of The Guardian.

Anthony Salz, Education and Employers Taskforce, trustee
Executive vice-chairman of NM Rothschild bank, who has also been a top City lawyer and BBC grandee, has been a keen advocate of strengthening the relationship between businesses and schools. Has called on employers to allow workers to volunteer in schools to inspire children.

Lord Browne, Tuition fees review, chairman
The former BP boss has recommended that universities should hike tuition fees, which caused a serious headache for the Lib-Dems, who campaigned to abolish fees. Browne, who has a portfolio of City jobs, is also advising David Cameron on how to introduce non-executive directors from the business world into Whitehall.

Fiona Millar, Education consultant
The partner of former spin doctor Alastair Campbell is an outspoken Left-wing critic of the Tory free schools policy, calling it "divisive and dangerous". Speaks with hands-on experience as chair of governors at both William Ellis secondary and Gospel Oak primary schools deep in the Miliband heartland.

Lord Harris, Harris Federation of Schools, chair
Tory donor and chairman of retailer Carpetright is close to David Cameron. His charitable federation aims to improve failing schools by sponsoring them to become Harris academies — there are already nine in south London. Parents are beginning to request Harris as a sponsor of their schools.

Sir Michael Wilshaw, Mossbourne Academy, principal
A role model, described by Michael Gove as a "real hero", who has 40 years' experience as a teacher and has a reputation for turning tough schools around. Currently principal of Mossbourne academy, on the site of a failed school in Hackney, which he has transformed into a centre of excellence.

Rachel Wolf, New Schools Network, director
Founded not-for-profit organisation last year to encourage parents to set up their own independent state schools. A Cambridge graduate, she has previously worked on Boris Johnson's mayoral campaign and as an adviser to Michael Gove.

Rachel Carr, Into University, chief executive
Starting with primary school age children, her charity works to boost the number of disadvantaged children going to university and is active in six of London's tougher boroughs. A former university lecturer, Carr's mission is to provide poorer students with the opportunities that many middle class students take for granted.

Russell Hobby, National Association of Head Teachers,
general secretary

A former consultant at Hay Group, Hobby is expected to pick fewer fights with ministers than his bike-loving rock guitarist predecessor Mick Brookes, who orchestrated a national boycott of Sats exams. His 28,000 vocal members will make sure a lighter touch does not let Michael Gove off the hook.

Sarah Teather, Children's minister
The diminutive Lib-Dem minister will have to work out which new playgrounds won't be funded, including flagship projects in her own Brent Central constituency. An ambitious education spokesman in opposition, she was a key player in the move to ease Sir Menzies Campbell out of the
Lib-Dem leadership.

Malcolm Grant, University College London, provost
Born in New Zealand, he is a trained barrister and the second-highest paid university head in England. Led a national review into the radicalisation of students on campus. Recently agreed that all cleaners at UCL would get paid a London living wage, after a successful campaign by the Evening Standard.

Bernice McCabe, North London Collegiate School, headmistress
Top for International Baccalaureate results nationwide for the fifth year running, McCabe believes girls learn better on their own. She has 20 years of experience of working in state schools before going private. A co-director of the Prince's Teaching Institute. Her deep-red nail varnish is said to be copied by half of her sixth-formers.

Find The 1000 iPad App by searching ES Magazine in the iTunes App store.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in