Deborah Leek-Bailey

Deborah Leek-Bailey is Head of UK Independent Schools at Education Development Trust. She oversees the independent schools which Education Development Trust owns and manages within the UK. Deborah is a former headteacher and government advisor, with experience of advising ministers on multi-stakeholder partnership engagement, focusing on raising aspirations, attainment and social mobility across sectors. She also holds an OBE for services to education.

In addition to her other experience, Deborah chaired the ministerial Independent State School Partnership Forum (ISSP) from 2013-2017, and was previously a National College of Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) National Associate, Chairman and Vice President of the Independent Schools Association (ISA) and a Trustee of Child Bereavement UK. Moreover, along with her OBE, she has been awarded the lifetime Millennium Award for her work on HIV and AIDS awareness in South Africa, as well as a ‘London for Londoners Award’ for her outstanding contribution to the lives of young people in the city.

Alongside her other responsibilities, Deborah is Education Advisor for Child Bereavement UK and Director of DLB Leadership, providing strategic advice to governing bodies, schools, businesses and senior leaders within the Ministry of Defence. She also adjudicates teaching awards, writes extensively on leadership issues, bereavement and social mobility for national media outlets, and is frequently a keynote speaker at relevant events and forums.