Dan Edwards Speaker | Creative & Careers & Well-being & Teacher CPD & Literacy

Dan Edwards

Building the capacity for creativity.

Dan Edwards is the founder and CEO of 52 Stone Film, a TV and film production company based in Leicester.

A company built on two key pillars: filmmaking and education - intertwined to develop compelling stories for film and television audiences, inspire creativity to amplify diverse, unheard and underrepresented voices, and develop pathways to meaningful employment for those who need support.

Dan’s journey began unconventionally—leaving school with just two GCSE passes and not much more. On leaving education, he worked a variety of jobs, from owning a nightclub, cold calling remote farmers to sell them internet connectivity, time as a living statue, a relief care assistant to writing reviews of running shoes.

After some time, he attended night school to secure the qualifications he needed before entering teaching as a mature trainee. Starting as a drama teacher in the inner cities and then concluding his career as a headteacher of a large inner-city primary school in the heart of Leicester.

Dan has always been proud of his working class roots and continues to champion the power of creativity in learning and the impact of arts and culture on social mobility and community cohesion.

Having spent time as a writer, comedian and performer, today, alongside leading 52 Stone, Dan speaks across the UK and internationally on cultural and creative leadership, people development and the impact of the arts, engaging a wide range of audiences.

A lot of his work is around school culture for staff, creative thinking for students but, again, can be bespoke.

Testimonials from Teachers

“Dan is an amazing communicator and has a genuine sense of what makes a positive school culture, based on years of experience as an educator and school leader. He is authentic and eloquent, and was able to work well with the team, building trust and interest from the get go"

– Nigel Fossey, Principal, Kings College, Panama

"Dan's wealth of experience through in his various leadership roles in education is evident in everything he does. Having keenly observed Dan's insight into creating high trust environments and having interviewed him on our Human Centred Leadership podcast, I have experienced first hand his expert knowledge and passion to develop inspired cultures. Dan has so much knowledge and wisdom to bring to the table of any leadership environment"

– Kul Mahey, Director, Ignite your potential.

“Dan presented at our national SSAT Primary Conference in 2021 and shared his insight into effective leadership during challenging circumstances, using a case study of how he kept his school community connected during the coronavirus pandemic. Dan is a confident and engaging speaker, using practical and relatable examples to illustrate key learning points. Delegates commented that they found his input helpful in supporting their ongoing reflection of their policy and practise in their own settings”

– Laura Burton, Senior Education Lead, SSAT