Speakers & Panellists

Clare Crowle, Kernow Learning CEO

Clare is an experienced, successful educational leader, having been involved in Academies and Multi-Academy Trusts since 2010. Prior to her appointment as Kernow Learning CEO in April 2022, she was a Headteacher of an outstanding school (Trenance Learning Academy), Executive Headteacher of two schools, a National Leader of Education, Regional School Improver and the Deputy CEO of Kernow Learning.

Clare has been instrumental in establishing the OneCornwall Teaching School Hub, Kernow English Hub and enabling a successful bid for Kernow Learning to become jointly designated as one of the Regional Associate Research Schools for the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF).

Throughout her professional career Clare has made the quality of education and outcomes for the children her focus. She believes that the sharing of best practice is an important strand in the shaping of the new national educational landscape and that the strong, clear systems of Governance at Kernow Learning are key to the Trust continuing to go from strength to strength.

Mary Myatt

Mary is an education adviser, writer and speaker. She curates Myatt & Co where she works with colleagues to develop thoughtful work on the curriculum and wider school improvement. She trained as an RE teacher and is a former local authority adviser and inspector. Drawing on her work with pupils, teachers and leaders she writes and speaks about learning, leadership and the curriculum.

She has worked in small schools, for large trusts, national and international organisations. Her education philosophy is underpinned by several principles: that all children deserve rich demanding work, that high quality talk underpins learning, that human beings are curious and that they find deep work very satisfying.

She maintains that there are no quick fixes and that great outcomes for pupils are not achieved through tick boxes.

Action Jackson

The self-proclaimed ‘UK Ambassador for Happiness’, ACTION JACKSON is an award-winning motivational speaker, best-selling author, TV host and lover of life.

If you factor in TEDx speaker, influencer, multiple marathon runner, London to Brighton bike rider, entrepreneur, husband, son and father (note, the list is not in priority order!), you’ll understand why he’s better known as ‘ACTION Jackson’.

AJ loves simplicity. He believes that life is to be lived fully. He works with EDUCATORS and leaders of the next generation and his message is always the same: Rise up people. Our young people need us! Jackson is passionate about transforming individuals, teams and entire youth cultures. For him, it’s about raising the bar to ‘world class'.

Action Jackson is the most motivated motivational speaker you will ever hear. AJ will leave your audience feeling empowered, rejuvenated, and ready to take on whatever challenges come their way.

A Message to us from Action Jackson!

David Parker

David is a Member and Chair of Trustees here at Kernow Learning. He is a retired former CEO of a local academy trust and before that a secondary school headteacher for fifteen years.

He trained as a teacher of geography and outdoor education and worked in schools in Oxfordshire, Bristol and Devon including advisory work for the local authority and senior examiner roles at A level and GCSE.

Appointed as Headteacher at The Roseland, near Truro, for four years and then Principal of Penrice Academy in St Austell for eleven years. Penrice was recognised by Ofsted as an outstanding provider in successive inspections and designated as a National Teaching School and a Leadership Development School. David then worked with local partner primary schools in St Austell to establish a collaborative academy trust of eight schools.

David was recognised as a National Leader of Education and worked with Cornish schools to improve educational outcomes. Also trained as an Ofsted inspector.

He was a governor for twelve years at Cornwall College and is currently a governor at two local primary schools.

David has always been committed to state education, to raising standards and to ensuring every child both succeeds and enjoys school.

Dr Pat McGovern

Pat is an education specialist with 50 years’ experience of teaching, research, education management and senior leadership in schools, local authorities, universities and now as a consultant in school leadership. This includes 17 years as a Head Teacher of two outstanding schools and 7 years as Dean of Education and Assistant Principal at the University College of St Mark and St John where he led on the introduction of school-based Teacher Training, Plymouth Education Action Zone and the creation of the National College for School Leadership, Southwest Centre. Before returning to Headship, Pat was Chief Education Adviser to Plymouth City Council and has recently been appointed as visiting Professor of Education at Marjon University.

He is a director and Chair of the Rainbow Multi Academy Trust and has been a Governor of both Secondary and Primary Schools. He has worked with schools in difficult circumstances in a systematic, collaborative, and research-led way to improve outcomes for children, young people, and families. In addition, Pat is an experienced Leadership Coach, Mentor and Training Facilitator.

Mohamed Abdallah

Mohamed is a Kernow Learning Trustee.

Mohamed’s career began in youth work and pupil referral units, before spending over a decade leading pioneering inclusive practice at an ‘Outstanding’ all-through mainstream school.

Mohamed’s use of Asset-Based Community Development approach - empowering young people and families - alongside a multi-disciplinary approach to safeguarding and inclusion drove down both fixed term and permanent exclusions across the school.

Mohamed now leads the Inclusive Leadership Course at The Difference supporting school leaders across the country to draw on best practice in trauma-informed approaches, contextual safeguarding, and in taking an Asset-Based Approach to leadership within a local community.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse