Phil Richards

Phil has over 40 years of experience, working at the chalkface, and motivating students to engage with education. He founded The Complete Works Charity in 1999, which transformed from an Alternative Provision into an Independent School in 2013. During its 25 years of operation, The Complete Works has enabled thousands of young people to successfully re-engage with education. Phil continued as the Artistic Director, CEO and Headteacher until 2016, when he then moved into a more consultative role. In blending creativity with mindfulness, he has developed methods of working with young people who exhibit challenging behaviour and he delivers training to teachers on how to operate in stressful situations more successfully. He was given the prestigious Pearson National Teaching Award for Lifetime Achievement in June 2023.