David Cameron

"The line between the real, the possible and the impossible is so fine it’s not worth worrying about."

David Cameron is a highly experienced educator and a fantastic speaker, known to all as the ‘Real David Cameron’ to differentiate him from some guy who used to be in the news. He combines an overview of education, from policy making at national level to knowing what makes children tick in a real classroom and everything in between, with the ability to call a spade a spade.

And he uses this unique perspective to help educators across the UK understand the power they have to cut through the policies and practices that get in the way of simply doing the best possible job they can in a way that makes sense for everyone.

A highly entertaining, engaging and thought-provoking speaker comfortable working at all stages, and in any sector, David has worked across the UK and internationally with teachers, school leaders and governors. He has the knack of showing up the guff thrown at schools on a seemingly daily basis for what it is, combined with the ability to suggest eminently common sense and practical solutions that inspire all audience members to reevaluate their day-to-day work. With his help, teachers and leaders can then get on with the serious job of educating young people properly.

David was instrumental in bringing so many Independent Thinking Associates to Edinburgh earlier this year for the highly acclaimed Portobello Learning Festival. This was an inaugural event which was successful in opening so many teachers’ eyes to the concept of trauma-informed teaching and learning and how to set about bringing  the best out of children unfortunate enough to fall under the ACEs – Adverse Childhood Experiences - umbrella.

Perpetually active in so many influential spheres of education, David has been chair of the York Education Partnership, was a leading player in Scotland’s regular Festival of Dangerous Ideas,  and also helped draft Creative Scotland’s recent manifesto on learning and creativity.

On top of this, he led on Scotland’s Outdoors Education strategy, was involved in the devolved management of schools initiative and was a central player in Scotland’s challenging Curriculum for Excellence project.

What’s more, he also found time to establish Edinburgh’s hugely popular Creative Conversations programme bringing together artists, campaigners and innovators – including many Independent Thinking Associates - with educators from across the city and beyond.

At the heart of all of David’s work is his passion to use education to put right the many wrongs done to so many children and young people living in adverse circumstances and facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Obstacles clearly not of their making. He knows, as well as anyone in education today, that there is always another other way.

If you are looking for a speaker with the ideal combination of wisdom, humour, common sense, a passion for Prince and a rabid intolerance of institutionalised rubbish, then you need look no further than our Real David Cameron.

• David has been with Independent Thinking since January 2014
• You will find David in our Leadership and Teaching and Learning topic areas
• You can watch David in conversation with Ian Gilbert in 2020 here
• You might also want to consider Jaz Ampaw-Farr or Dave Harris
• He is available for an On-Demand Conference in partnership with Dr Debra Kidd