Thomas taught for over 30 years in Maintained and Independent Schools, Secondary and all-through, Day, Boarding, Boys’, Girls’ and Co-ed. His subjects are Physics and Further Maths. Tom was a School Leader for 17 years and his last post was as Founding Headmaster of the West London Free School, the first Free School, to sign a funding agreement with the Secretary of State. He had 92 days to open the school in the spotlight of intense Media debate. Tom also has experience of School Governance serving on 5 Boards including Clerk to the Governors & Company Secretary. Thomas one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors specialising in Science, Maths, Music and Leadership/Governance. He was a member of the MEI Development Group for Further Mathematics A level as well as advising the DfE and the All Party Parliamentary Committee for Education on curriculum and school finance. In 2012 he worked with the NCSL devising modules for the NPQH. In 1986 Thomas first started to lead educational CPD preparing teachers for the Coursework requirements for GCSE prior to its general introduction 2 years later. After leaving full time teaching Tom specialises in providing courses of value to the Education Sector, together with up-to-date resources, tailored to the needs of the group. Thomas is also much in demand as a speaker at National Education conferences.A graduate of University College, Durham in Physics and Maths Thomas subsequently studied Employment and Education Law and undertook research in Musical Acoustics as well as gaining Qualified Teacher Status. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics. He holds the NPQH and held a Commission in the Royal Naval Reserve for 32 years. In his spare time Tom is a keen semi-professional Musician.Publications include Managing Schools in the 21st C, [John Catt 2008]; Dealing with Difficult Parents [innovatED 1 2017], Establishing and leading new types of school: challenges and opportunities for leaders and leadership (as contributor), [NCSL 2013].