Sam Strickland is the principal of a large all-through school and has helped to guide its GCSE results from the bottom 20% nationally to the top 20%, and A-level outcomes to the top 5% nationally. Sam began his teaching career as a history teacher in Bedfordshire having completed his PGCE in secondary history at the University of Cambridge under Christine Counsell. His career quickly accelerated and he became head of history and Classics. He then moved on to become a lead professional and worked for a SCITT consortium. During his time as an assistant headteacher, he had responsibility for the sixth form and led a post-16 consortium arrangement. Sam also served as a vice principal where he directly oversaw student care, the sixth form and the curriculum, and served as the safeguarding lead for an entire trust. Sam has served as an associate principal, with GCSE and A-level results under his tenure receiving commendation from the DfE, Nick Gibb and the SSAT. The organiser of researchED Northampton and author of Education Exposed, Education Exposed 2, The Behaviour Manual, They Don't Behave for Me and Is Leadership a Race?, he is a leading voice in the current conversation in education. He has had educational resources and research published, he regularly delivers courses and keynotes nationally and he has served as a lead facilitator for a variety of NPQs.