Francis Gilbert was educated at Sussex University, Cambridge University and completed an MA in Creative Writing at the University Of East Anglia, studying under Malcolm Bradbury and Rose Tremain. Since the early 1990s, he has taught in a variety of comprehensives in London. He gave up teaching in 1998, but resumed his full-time career in 2001. He is currently Head of English at a comprehensive in outer London. He has published four books, written extensively for the national press, and appeared as a commentator on all the major TV channels and radio stations. His favourite appearance was with Johnnie Walker on Radio 2 when Sally was very nice to his young son, buying him a packet of crisps. All his pupils think his coolest appearance was on the Russell Brand show.

From Books

Parent Power CoverParent Power: The Complete Guide to Getting the Best Education for Your Child

This is the one-stop book for any parent who wants their child to get the most of the British education system. You name it, it’s probably here: choosing the right school, how to help your child get the best results, how to help them settle into school, what to expect from your school, when and how to make a complaint, how to deal with bullying, drink, drugs.

From Blog

6 July 2008
Metal detectors at Paddington Academy
Very interesting to see that Paddington Academy is one of the few schools to bite the bullet -- or pull the knife if you like -- and introduce metal detectors to stop knife crimes in the school. Even more interesting to note, that it was the pupils who wanted it. As I argued previously on the BBC and elsewhere, teachers...

From Journalism

21 April 2008
Mentors for schoolchildren
Of all my pupils, Carly Springham, 17, isn't the sort that you'd think would need mentoring. She doesn't fit the stereotype of the truculent kid who's languishing at the bottom of the class, chucking bits of paper at the teacher and yelling at anyone who annoys her. She's a quiet, hard-working student who's got good GCSEs, comes from a stable...


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