Look Who it Was Random video

Industrialist Turned Educator | Nigel Ward | TEDxLiverpool

2,403 views · Published 20 August 2014 · 20:52 · Indexed 12 October 2026

Channel: TEDx Talks · 2014 · Nonprofits & Activism

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This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. At the behest of Tony Blair, Nigel Ward arrived on the scene in Liverpool in 2005 to consider taking on the task of reforming Anfield and Breckfield Comprehensive Schools. Failing schools are a problem all over the world. Vast resources have been spent and entire careers dedicated to studying this problem and yet turnarounds succeed rarely. What does it take to turn a failing school around? You'll want to hear more from Nigel's story..

What does it take to turn around a failing school? What does it take to create a modern school from scratch? You want to get to know Nigel Ward. He is the Founder and Chairman of the Northern Schools Trust. In September 2013, the trust opened two new schools in Liverpool in the Contemporary Urban Centre, the Life Sciences University Technical College focused on science and healthcare and a Studio School, focused on gaming and digital technologies.

The schools are supported by a large number of partners, including the University of Liverpool, Royal Liverpool NHS Trust, and 2Bio. They aim to re-shape the provision of vocational education and resultant career pathways for young people in the North-West.

Prior to this Nigel created The North Liverpool Academy Trust, a charitable organisation, to bring world class educational establishments to areas of economic or social deprivation.

Nigel’s day job for the the last twenty years has been running international educational publishing companies. Alongside running the Trust, Nigel comments on educational policy and advises both banks and venture capital firms on investing in the educational sector.

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