Co-opted Member

John is Head of the New Rush Hall Group, an organization that works with children experiencing behavioural, emotional and/or social difficulties (BESD). The group is made up of an all age day special school, 3 Pupil Support Centres, an adolescent psychiatric unit, and a behavioural support Outreach Team. In March 2008 within the school grounds a multi-disciplinary compensatory Early Years’ Provision opened.

The Group was featured as a case study in the DfES publication 'The Future of Special Schools', and the school is currently one of 12 special schools nationally designated as having ‘Trailblazer’ status by the DfES in the category of special specialist schools. In the school’s Ofsted inspection in January 2008 the school was judged as ‘Outstanding’ with ICT highlighted as strength of the school.

John, who has been granted Apple Distinguished Educator status, is particularly interested in Digital Creativity and its therapeutic use with disaffected and disturbed pupils/students. He still maintains a teaching commitment and was awarded a distinction in last years Teachers Awards, within the Secondary Headteacher of the Year category. John was a member of the DfES BESD Working Group, and has given evidence to the House of Commons Education & Skills Committee. In the January 2007 Honours list John was awarded am OBE for his services to Special Education, and received an Honorary Doctorate of Education for the University of East London last November.

John has presented at a number of national and international conferences including Apple Expo, BETT, BECTA Annual Research Conference and the European Conference on Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Education Settings.

In order to maintain a healthy life work balance John cooks, makes things and enjoys mountain climbing.