Phil has considerable experience of the UK, New Zealand, Australian, French and Algerian education systems with the vast majority of his experience in the UK (as the outstanding Headteacher of an outstanding specialist school, 1993-2008).  In 2003 Westfield became the first special (and specialist) school to achieve Training School status (the forerunner of Teaching Schools); Phil learnt a great deal about teacher training, following this development.

Phil has learnt a great deal about pedagogy, inclusion, how children and adults learn, school improvement, the development of sustainable leadership, the importance of institutional self-review and systems' analysis.  As an outstanding Headteacher, Phil's advice has regularly been sought by government agencies and his peers. Phil began his own consultancy portfolio in 2000; he has worked as a consultant for NCSL, BECTA, SSAT, TDA, the British Council and numerous LAs and government ministries in the UK, New Zealand, Australia, France, Algeria and Montenegro.  Phil is an associate consultant at Ruskin Education.

Phil has worked as a School Improvement Partner (SIP) since 2007 and External Adviser since 2000.  Phil offers a tailored programme of high quality challenge and support to a large number of schools, academies and MATs in the south of the UK through regular visits (with additional visits for specific purposes such as delivering training, governor workshops, leadership development, leadership/academy reviews etc.).  During 2020-22 Phil has become proficient in using MS Teams and Zoom!