Until his retirement in 2005, Richard Howard was Head of the School Development Service and Chief Adviser for Oxfordshire County Council. Previously, he had been a primary Headteacher for 15 years.

Richard has written and lectured widely on a range of educational themes - particularly curriculum innovation, primary-secondary links, independent-state school partnerships and outdoor education. He has been a visiting specialist for the British Council in Africa and India. He is an Honorary Fellow of Oxford Brookes University and is Chair of the National Education Trust (NET).