Anthony Benedict

Anthony has been a qualified teacher for 27 years, starting as an English teacher. He has worked in five authorities and held senior roles, mainly in secondary education, across six schools. Now CEO of a new multi-academy trust built on the principles of Relational Inclusion, he left mainstream education five years ago for alternative provision. It struck him that too many children were being “lost,” even when hidden in plain sight. He recognized that tired, hungry, or scared children couldn’t learn and believed meeting these basic needs could prevent many so-called behavioral issues.

After his first day leading a Pupil Referral Unit, he realized he needed to unlearn much of what he knew about schools and start over. Falling down what he calls a trauma and attachment “rabbit hole,” he hasn’t looked back. Passionate about neuroscience and childhood development, he’s spent four years promoting Relational Inclusion—working with the Violence Reduction Unit, police, universities, and schools. He’s on a mission to change the world.