Skip to main content

Influential Educators and Thinkers

Influential Educators & Thinkers

Across the world, a growing community of educators is bridging the gap between research and classroom practice. These are the teachers, writers, and commentators who take the latest findings from cognitive science, pedagogy, and curriculum studies — and translate them into practical strategies that work for pupils and schools.

At EBTD, our mission is to connect Bangladeshi teachers and leaders with evidence-informed approaches that can make a real difference. The voices featured here are among the most influential in education today. Through their blogs and websites, they share clear, accessible insights on literacy, assessment, pedagogy, technology, and curriculum design.

Each thinker on this list publishes regularly, ensuring their advice is grounded in the most up-to-date evidence. By following their work, you can gain both inspiration and practical tools to refine your teaching, lead professional development, and build a culture of continuous improvement in your school.

Alex Quigley — The Confident Teacher

Website: The Confident Teacher

Alex Quigley is one of the UK’s leading voices on literacy, vocabulary, and metacognition. A former English teacher and senior leader, he now works as National Content Manager at the Education Endowment Foundation. His blog The Confident Teacher distils the best of cognitive science and literacy research into practical strategies for the classroom. Known for his “5 Free Research Reads” newsletters, Alex helps busy teachers stay connected to current evidence without drowning in papers. His posts range from how to explicitly teach vocabulary to how metacognition shapes learning. Whether you are planning CPD or simply want to sharpen your everyday practice, Quigley’s writing makes complex research accessible and relevant.


Dylan Wiliam — Formative Assessment Expert

Website: dylanwiliam.org

Dylan Wiliam is synonymous with formative assessment. Co-author of Inside the Black Box, he has shaped how teachers worldwide think about feedback, questioning, and the role of assessment in driving learning. His website curates articles, handouts, and videos that unpack the nuts and bolts of formative practice: hinge-point questions, mini-whiteboard checks, and strategies for activating learners as instructional resources for one another. Wiliam’s blog posts and talks highlight how small changes in classroom practice can yield significant gains in pupil outcomes. A prolific speaker and writer, he is admired for blending robust research evidence with teacher-friendly explanations. If you want to understand how assessment shapes learning — and how to do it better tomorrow — Dylan Wiliam’s site is the go-to resource.


John Hattie — Visible Learning

Website: Visible Learning

Professor John Hattie is best known for Visible Learning, the largest-ever synthesis of education research, spanning over 1,600 meta-analyses and millions of pupils. His work identifies which interventions have the strongest effect sizes, helping teachers and leaders prioritise strategies that truly make a difference. The Visible Learning website hosts regular blogs, resources, and “Gold Papers” — plain-language summaries of high-impact practices such as feedback, direct instruction, and classroom discussion. Hattie’s influence extends from policy to professional development, yet his core mission remains clear: making learning visible so that teachers can see, evaluate, and refine their impact. For educators seeking clarity amid competing fads, his site offers evidence you can trust and strategies you can use.


Tom Sherrington — Teacherhead

Website: Teacherhead

Tom Sherrington is a former headteacher turned author and consultant, whose blog Teacherhead has become a cornerstone for teachers seeking evidence-informed practice. He is especially known for popularising Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction, turning research into classroom walkthroughs and department-friendly checklists. His posts cover everything from curriculum design and instructional coaching to assessment and inclusion. Sherrington’s writing is clear, practical, and rooted in lived school experience. Teachers value his ability to translate abstract research into actionable routines — whether you are a trainee teacher mastering the basics or a senior leader designing whole-school CPD. His blog has become a touchstone for schools worldwide aiming to embed a culture of continuous improvement.


Daisy Christodoulou — Assessment & Curriculum

Website: daisychristodoulou.com

Daisy Christodoulou is one of the most influential curriculum and assessment thinkers in the UK. Author of Seven Myths About Education, she has consistently challenged ideas about “skills-based learning” and argued for a knowledge-rich curriculum. Through her blog and her work as Director of Education at No More Marking, Daisy shares insights on comparative judgement, assessment reform, and the role of knowledge in empowering learners. Her posts and talks are admired for their clarity: she takes complex debates about curriculum and testing and makes them understandable for busy teachers. Christodoulou’s site remains an essential stop for anyone seeking to align teaching, curriculum, and assessment with what the evidence shows actually works.


David Didau — The Learning Spy

Website: Learning Spy

David Didau, known online as The Learning Spy, has spent more than a decade blogging about the complexities of teaching and learning. His work interrogates common classroom practices and asks: “What does the evidence really say?” Didau writes about literacy, curriculum, and the psychology of learning with a balance of healthy scepticism and practical solutions. His posts are valued for questioning orthodoxy — whether it is progress tracking, lesson grading, or misconceptions about memory — and for offering teachers alternative approaches grounded in cognitive science. As a prolific author and speaker, Didau uses his platform to provoke reflection and to help schools think critically about how evidence translates into day-to-day decisions.


Doug Lemov — Teach Like a Champion

Website: Teach Like a Champion

Doug Lemov’s name is synonymous with teaching craft. His blog Teach Like a Champion continues the mission of his bestselling book — to codify and share the best teaching techniques observed in real classrooms. Posts feature videos, routines, and coaching insights on questioning, classroom management, and literacy. Lemov’s writing reflects his core belief: great teaching is not just inspiration but technique — skills that can be practised, shared, and refined. The blog serves as both a library of proven strategies and a training ground for educators seeking to improve their craft. Whether you are new to teaching or an instructional coach, Lemov’s work provides concrete moves that build expertise and confidence.


Oliver Caviglioli — Learning by Design

Website: OliverCaviglioli.com

Oliver Caviglioli is a former headteacher who reinvented himself as a designer and explainer of education research. His blog and publications specialise in dual coding and visual communication, helping teachers transform complex theories into clear classroom resources. With beautifully crafted infographics and evidence summaries, Oliver shows how design principles can enhance retrieval practice, reduce cognitive load, and improve instructional clarity. His posts are practical guides for teachers who want to blend cognitive science with effective communication. Caviglioli’s site is as much about style as substance: it demonstrates that how we present ideas is as important as the ideas themselves.


Sara Hennessy — EdTech Hub

Website: EdTech Hub Blog

Professor Sara Hennessy is Research Director at EdTech Hub and Professor of Teacher Development at the University of Cambridge. Her blog contributions explore how technology and pedagogy intersect, with a focus on interactive teaching and professional learning in diverse contexts. The EdTech Hub platform publishes open-access research, case studies, and guides co-authored by Hennessy and her colleagues. Her posts highlight what works in EdTech and, importantly, how it can be used inclusively in low-resource settings. For educators navigating the hype and hazards of technology, Hennessy’s writing provides a grounded, research-informed voice that prioritises teacher development and real classroom needs.


Rebecca Alber — Teacher, Writer, Coach

Website: Rebecca Alber Blog

Rebecca Alber, an instructor at UCLA and long-time Edutopia contributor, uses her personal blog to share practical strategies rooted in both research and classroom wisdom. Her writing covers retrieval practice, questioning, scaffolding, and literacy instruction, always with an emphasis on equity and inclusion. Alber’s tone is supportive and accessible, making complex cognitive science approachable for all teachers. With decades of classroom experience, she bridges theory and practice, ensuring her advice resonates with what teachers face daily. For those seeking thoughtful, teacher-centred reflections backed by evidence, Alber’s blog is a welcoming and useful resource.


Mary Myatt — Myatt & Co

Website: MaryMyatt.co.uk

Mary Myatt is an education adviser, writer, and speaker known for her blog and platform Myatt & Co. She writes passionately about curriculum design, leadership, and high expectations for all learners. Myatt’s posts blend philosophical reflection with practical advice, often drawing on literature and culture to enrich educational debate. Her blog is regularly updated with thoughtful commentaries on what makes learning meaningful, and her resources support schools aiming to build rigorous, humane curricula. Teachers follow her for her ability to elevate discussion about curriculum beyond mechanics, reminding us that education is also about joy, curiosity, and purpose.


Carl Hendrick — Learning from Research

Website: Learning from Research

Carl Hendrick is an English teacher, researcher, and co-author of What Does This Look Like in the Classroom?. His blog Learning from Research distils cognitive science and educational research into clear classroom takeaways. Hendrick often tackles myths about learning, explores retrieval practice, and shares practical methods for improving memory and understanding. His posts are concise, engaging, and rooted in both research and everyday classroom life. As both a practising teacher and writer, Hendrick ensures his blog is relevant to those at the chalkface as well as leaders designing professional learning.