Sir William Samuel Atkinson DL (born 9 April 1950)[3] is a Jamaican-born[2] British head teacher who "turned around" Phoenix High School, a secondary school near White City, London.[4][5][6] He also contributed to Channel 4's The Unteachables, and was the inspiration behind Lenny Henry's character in the 1999 BBC TV series Hope and Glory.[3][7] He is a graduate of King's College London (MA, 1980), and has helped many students with their lives.
William Atkinson | |
|---|---|
| Born | William Samuel Atkinson[1] 9 April 1950 |
| Occupation | Educator |
| Years active | 1971–2014[2] |
| Known for | Head teacher of Phoenix High School |
Biography
editWilliam Atkinson was born in Jamaica and moved to England at the age of seven, settling with his family in Battersea, South London.[8]
Atkinson was knighted in the 2008 Birthday Honours for services to Education and to Community Relations.[1][9]
References
edit- 1 2 "No. 58729". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 14 June 2008. p. 1.
- 1 2 "William Atkinson (Sir)". Gordon Poole Agency. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
- 1 2 "Profile - William Atkinson". Association of Teachers and Lecturers. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ Wallace, Wendy (16 January 1998). "The man from Phoenix;Interview;William Atkinson". TES Magazine. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
- ↑ "Phoenix head given a knighthood". BBC News. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
- ↑ Hamilton, Chloe (3 July 2013). "The art of teaching them to love science". The Independent.
- ↑ Wilby, Peter (7 April 2009). "Interview | Practising what he preaches: He's been labelled Britain's most successful headteacher after turning around 'the worst school in the country'. What is William Atkinson's magic formula?". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
- ↑ "Sir William Atkinson: The House I Grew Up In". BBC Radio 4. 16 August 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
- ↑ "Sir William Atkinson appointed as Chairman of the Lyric Hammersmith's Board". IndieLondon. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
External links
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