President 2022: Kalwant Bhopal, University of Birmingham
President 2019: Andrew Morris, the Coalition for Evidence Based Education
President 2017: Kevan Collins, Education Endowment Foundation
President 2016: John Stein, University of Oxford

Co-Recorder and Treasurer: Robin Hall, National College for School Leadership
Co-Recorder: Richard Churches, CfBT Education Trust

Richard Churches is Principal Adviser for Research and Evidence Based Practice at CfBT Education Trust, the world leading not-for-profit education organisation. He has worked as a teacher, trainer, researcher, executive coach and consultant in the UK and a wide range of countries internationally, including: Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, India, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Malaysia, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

He is author of a number of books on teaching, learning and school improvement and is currently the Technical Director for the National College for Teaching and Leadership: Closing the Gap Test and Learn programme. This programme is leading the delivery of randomised controlled trials in 800 schools in England, as well as training teachers to use experimental research as a lever for school improvement. In 2012, Learning and the Brain by Richard, Ian Devonshire and Eleanor Dommett was an Education Resource Awards finalist in two categories. Richard’s doctoral research explores the relationship between charismatic leadership oratory and hypnosis and was awarded a faculty Pearson Education Prize at the University of Surrey in 2011.

Richard became involved in the British Science Festival because he is passionate about promoting an evidence based approach in teaching and the wider public section, one which does not just theorise but which tests even the most controversial of ideas.