
John Blake
Head of Education and Social Reform
John Blake joined Policy Exchange as Head of Education and Social Reform in April 2017, after a decade working as a teacher, senior school leader and leading practitioner in English state schools. He previously worked for the Harris Federation, one of England’s most successful multi-academy trusts, as a History Consultant; as an assistant headteacher at the first selective sixth-form free school; and as head of house, department and faculty in comprehensive and selective schools in London and Essex. John founded and co-edited Labour Teachers from 2011 to 2014 and is currently a member of the Advisory Council of the Parents and Teachers for Excellence campaign, and was formerly on the Advisory Council of NAHT Edge. He read Modern History at the University of Oxford, and also holds a PGCE from the UCL Institute of Education, and an MSt in education from the University of Cambridge.

Related Posts & Publications


Skills will be the focus for education reformers in the coming years
by John Blake | May 30, 2018
Since his appointment, the education policy world has waited and wondered what our new Secretary of State intended to do with the office. Hinds is, in the positive opinion of one seasoned watcher of Westminster “a proper politician”—able to project genuine warmth and...
Why new tests will help teachers give extra support to those pupils that need it
by John Blake | Apr 10, 2018
Last Easter Monday, I appeared on Radio 4’s Today programme to debate the motion passed by one wing of the National Education Union at its annual conference which claimed that new assessments the government plans to introduce for children starting school are...
Welcome shift of emphasis to vocational training but big questions for PM’s review of University funding
by John Blake | Feb 20, 2018
The Prime Minister’s speech today, setting out the terms of a review of the funding arrangement for “tertiary” education, is important for a number of reasons. By no means the least is the use of the word “tertiary”—that is, this review will cover not only the funding...
Hinds needs to finish the revolution Blair started
by John Blake | Jan 14, 2018
Probably the most important thing to remember about the challenges faced by Damian Hinds, the new education secretary, is that they go well beyond schools. With the addition of further and higher education to the Department for Education’s responsibilities in the...Support Us
Policy Projects
Policy Areas
- Crime and Justice
- Demography, Immigration and Integration
- Economics and Social Policy
- Education
- Environment and Energy
- Foreign Policy and Security
- Government and Politics
- Health and Social Care
- Housing and Urban Regeneration
- Industrial Strategy
- International Trade
- Security and Extremism
- Space
- Technology
Latest Tweets
RT @MrPaulStott My article in The Times on the #Prevent Review, William Shawcross and the challenge posed by Islamist and far-right extremism. The status quo is not an option: thetimes.co.uk/artic…
Watch the event in full here: policyexchange.org.u…
The UK's fertility rate was 1.59 in 2020 - yet on average women would like to have 2.3 and men 2.2 children. This fertility gap is a tragedy - argues @CristinaOhq at Policy Exchange @David_Goodhart pic.twitter.com/9WFX…
RT @JimBethell 🇬🇧 expertise in cutting-edge specialised services demonstrates #NHS at its most innovative. But its huge success means tough decisions if we are to benefit from these advances. This @Policy_Exchange report from @Robert_WH_Ede is so important. Read it! policyexchange.org.u…
RT @edking_I This is a pretty interesting 2021 piece on #climate risk by ex CIA chief David Petraeus + @BenMcAleenan... excerpt below pertinent given escalating global food crisis policyexchange.org.u… pic.twitter.com/knI4…