TONY RICHARDS MBE

Tony, who was made MBE in 2000 for services to British Education overseas, has specialised in primary and middle years education in a career that has ranged from teaching in the UK to senior leadership positions in Greece, Germany and Malaysia, where he was Head of Primary at the Alice Smith School. On his return to the UK, Tony became Head of Primary, Deputy Head of the Senior School and the Designated  Safeguarding Lead at Clifton High School. He played a significant role as the school prepared for the introduction of boys into this previously single-sex senior school. The expansion project at Clifton involved the “Diamond-edged model” of teaching, an innovative programme in which boys and girls are taught separately in core subjects during Years 7-9 (Grades 6–8), a unique approach that allows both genders to flourish academically and socially in a co-educational environment.

An accredited safeguarding trainer, Tony has conducted on-site training for new international schools in China and Romania, while recent school improvement work includes supporting schools preparing for inspection and accreditation in Egypt and Romania. Project start-up work includes onsite support for a new school opening in Brussels and social, demographic and economic feasibility research for new projects in Japan and Russia.

Tony was an accredited Independent Schools’ Inspector in the UK from 2010 – 2014.

Specialist Consulting Areas

• Safeguarding – best practice
• Contextual research for new projects
• Change management
• Coeducation and school improvement
• Gender learning differences
• Effective assessment to improve learning
• Making the most of inspections
• Policy development
• Planning residential school trips
• Primary school facilities design