William Atkinson (teacher)

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Sir
William Atkinson
DL
Born
William Samuel Atkinson [1]

(1950-04-09)9 April 1950
Jamaica
OccupationEducator
Years active1971–2014 [2]
Known forHead teacher of Phoenix High School

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.

Contents

Biography

William 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

  1. 1 2 "No. 58729". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 14 June 2008. p. 1.
  2. 1 2 "William Atkinson (Sir)". Gordon Poole Agency. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Profile - William Atkinson". Association of Teachers and Lecturers. Archived from the original on 25 October 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
  4. ↑ Wallace, Wendy (16 January 1998). "The man from Phoenix;Interview;William Atkinson". TES Magazine. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  5. ↑ "Phoenix head given a knighthood". BBC News. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
  6. ↑ Hamilton, Chloe (3 July 2013). "The art of teaching them to love science". The Independent .
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ "Sir William Atkinson: The House I Grew Up In". BBC Radio 4. 16 August 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  9. ↑ "Sir William Atkinson appointed as Chairman of the Lyric Hammersmith's Board". IndieLondon. Retrieved 30 December 2025.


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