YG&T National Champion
Professor John Stannard CBE FRSA
Schools Minister, Andrew Adonis, announced that John Stannard is
the new National Champion for the Young Gifted and Talented
(YG&T) programme on November 1, 2007.
The new YG&T National Champion is an important ambassador and
figurehead for the Young Gifted and Talented (YG&T) programme
in both political and educational circles. Starting November 2007,
the YG&T Champion aims to build and enhance the position of
YG&T as a world leading programme in gifted and talented
provision in the UK and internationally, engaging with learners
aged 4-19 years.
This is a very significant role in gifted and talented education.
With a far-reaching remit, the YG&T Champion works
strategically with key networks for schools, colleges and the
government, strongly supported by a group of YGT advocates to be
drawn from YGT Academy members and young, successful people at
large.
Starting November 6, 2007, the tenure of the YG&T National
Champion will run for one year in the first instance, subject to
review, on a part-time basis. John’s first priority will be to
target the 300 secondary schools which still do not identify any
gifted and talented pupils, so that every school has in place extra
provision to meet their needs.
Background:
John Stannard began his career as a teacher in primary and
middle years education, then moved into teacher education. Further
to the posts of primary adviser specialising in the Early Years of
education for Lancashire Education Authority and district inspector
for primary and nursery schools in the Inner London Education
Authority, John was appointed Her Majesty’s Inspector of Schools in
1987. He then went on to become the specialist English Adviser for
the Office for Standards in Education.
The success of John’s work on the pilot National Literacy Project
gave rise to his appointment as Director of the National Literacy
Strategy in 1997. The Strategy had a significant impact on
standards of literacy in primary schools in England and saw John
awarded with the CBE for services to education in 2000.
Currently, John provides consultancy services to clients in the
field of education. He continues to work as a Principal Consultant
for CfBT, advising nationally and internationally on school
improvement and standards, with particular reference to the
development of literacy in the Gulf, S.E. Asia and Canada.
John has written numerous articles, reviews, publications and
papers on various aspects of education. Most recently is the book
that he co-wrote, The Literacy Game: the story of the National
Literacy Strategy, which was published this year.
Expertise:
- Management of strategic change in education at national and LEA
(school district) levels
- School improvement and leadership
- Standards and pedagogy in Language and Literacy nationally and
internationally
- Early years and primary education