Gus John

Live and Direct

Gus John is a father of 6 children, including a medical doctor, two teachers, a rapper and student counsellor, an Oxford Graduate and PhD student, and a marketing executive. 

He has researched and wrote ‘The Case for a Learner’s Charter for Schools’ which focuses on learners and their responsibilities and rights and is being used by school students in UK and Caribbean, with excellent feedback from students and teachers.  Having ran a community based ‘Future Leaders’ programme for young people aged 14-19 across the ability range for over five years, he was the UK’s first black Director of Education. 

Now a Development Coach and an Associate Professor in the London Centre for Leadership in Learning at the Institute of Education, developing school managers and researching strategies for improving teaching and learning with a focus on learners as leaders in the context of distributive leadership.  Gus has run Saturday/Supplementary Schools since the late 1960s and was a member of the Street Weapons Commission and later Adviser to London Mayor Boris Johnson on serious youth violence in the capital.

A former special adviser to Jack Straw (when Home Secretary) on race and social inclusion, a specialist on race and social policy, race and education policy and practice, widening participation, equality legislation, restorative justice and youth matters and a writer and commentator on social policy issues makes Gus an inspiring and influencial speaker.

Students will learn about:  taking personal responsibility for learning and not erecting or allowing barriers to their own advancement; collaborative working and peer mentoring; strategies for managing schooling and making learning fun; reasons for differential schooling outcomes across the schooling population; progression to university in spite of student fees and the cost of loans; collective action for change and to build a democratic culture; the British labour market in a globalised world.
 

Testimonial

"This was an outstanding session. Professor Gus John was both direct and inspirational".
Pam Fraser-Solomon, Part time Lecturer in Journalism

"I just want to  thank you for the wonderful presentation you did at uxbridge college today it was very inspirational, I loved the idea of somebody picking there self up from no where".
Grace, Sixth Form Student

"Thank you very much for kick starting my BLACK HISTORY MONTH SERIES of events. My students overwhelmingly learnt a lot from your talk.  Again many thanks for your time and effort".
Diana Simpson, Head of Sixth Form, Walworth Academy