This year marks a special milestone for TTS as we celebrate our 40th birthday. For four decades, we’ve been passionate about supporting educators with tools and resources that help bring learning to life and to give every child, every day, a reason to love learning.
To mark the occasion, we’re shining a spotlight on 40 influential educators who have made a difference in the world of teaching and learning. From pioneering classroom practice to shaping educational policy and thought leadership, these individuals embody the innovation, dedication, and inspiration that have always driven our mission at TTS.
The list is in no particular order and the people within it will span from the past to the present day!
Friedrich Froebel
German founder of kindergarten who pioneered play-based early education, inspiring Montessori and modern preschool approaches.
Mary Carpenter
19th-century reformer who founded Ragged Schools and reformatories, bringing education to poor children and young offenders.
John Pounds
Philanthropic teacher who started the Ragged Schools movement by offering free lessons to homeless children.
William Edward Forster
Architect of the 1870 Education Act, introducing state-funded board schools and compulsory attendance.
Charlotte Mason
Home education pioneer who promoted short lessons, liberal arts, and engaging “living books.”
Rachel Macmillan
Social reformer who, with her sister, championed outdoor play and holistic nursery education for disadvantaged children.
Margaret McMillan
Worked alongside her sister Rachel to establish open-air nurseries, emphasising health, play, and child wellbeing.
John Dewey
Influential philosopher who saw education as a way to develop reflective, socially engaged citizens.
Jean Piaget
Swiss psychologist whose cognitive development theory reshaped how children’s learning stages are understood.
Maria Montessori
Italian physician and educator whose child-centred Montessori method transformed early years teaching worldwide.
Emmeline Mary Tanner
Key contributor to the 1944 Education Act, expanding access to public schools regardless of income.
Lady Bridget Plowden
Chaired the 1967 Plowden Report, advocating for child-centred primary education and smaller class sizes.
Baroness Mary Warnock
Authored the 1978 Warnock Report, leading to mainstream inclusion for children with special educational needs.
Margaret Donaldson
Psychologist whose work on how children think and learn reshaped early years pedagogy worldwide.
Jerome Bruner
Educational theorist who championed discovery learning, influencing UK classroom practice for decades.
Howard Gardner
Introduced the theory of multiple intelligences, broadening how schools assess and value student abilities.
Brian Jackson
Educational sociologist who co-founded the Open University and championed children’s rights and services.
Keith James Topping
Researcher who developed evidence-based interventions such as paired reading, widely used in schools.
Heidi Safia Mirza
One of the first black female professors in the UK, pioneering research on race, gender, and inequality.
Len Garrison
Founded the African-Caribbean Educational Resource, supplying schools with vital Black history materials.
Dame Jocelyn Barrow
Trailblazer in multicultural education and teacher training, tackling inequality in Hackney schools.
Sir Ken Robinson
Internationally renowned speaker and author best known for his TED Talk “Do schools kill creativity?”.
June O’Sullivan, OBE
CEO of LEYF, who grew it into the UK’s largest childcare social enterprise supporting families and communities.
Sir Mike Tomlinson
Former Chief Inspector of Schools who spearheaded post-16 education reform and pathways.
Baroness Sue Black
Forensic anthropologist and STEM role model, inspiring students and championing women in science.
Baroness Anne Longfield
Former children’s commissioner and Sure Start advocate – a long-time campaigner for better childcare.
Daisy Christodoulou
Assessment expert known for evidence-led critiques of curriculum and comparative judgement methods.
Anna Vignoles
Cambridge economist whose research highlights educational inequality and ways to improve social mobility.
Sir Kevan Collins
First CEO of the Education Endowment Foundation, promoting evidence-based teaching practice.
Dame Alison Peacock
CEO of the Chartered College of Teaching, championing inclusive practice and teacher professionalism.
Professor Becky Francis
Leading education researcher bridging policy and practice to address systemic inequality.
Dr Andre Imich
Long-serving SEN and disability adviser at the DfE, awarded an OBE for improving outcomes for children.
Neil Leitch
CEO of the Early Years Alliance, a strong advocate for funding fairness and workforce wellbeing.
Jo Morgan
Maths teacher and blogger behind Resourceaholic, sharing resources and creative lesson ideas nationwide.
Karl Pupé
Author of Action Hero Teacher, specialising in behaviour management and classroom clarity.
David Benson
Headteacher who showed resilience and leadership by supporting those affected by the 2017 Grenfell fire to go on to achieve outstanding results following the tragedy.
Alex Quigley
Former English teacher, now with the EEF, known for strategies on study skills and closing the vocabulary gap.
Alistair Bryce-Clegg, MBE
Early Years author, advisor, and play advocate, widely published and active across media.
Joss Cambridge-Simmons
Founder of Jossy Care and award-winning role model, redefining childcare and gender representation.
Annamarie Hassall, MBE
CEO of nasen, influential in SEND policy, and advocate for every child’s right to quality education.
Thank you for taking the time to read through our list of 40 influential educators who have helped shape learning over the years. We would love to know who has influenced you, so please leave us a comment on our social media accounts, where we will be posting about each of the 40 educators above, once a day!
