Phil Whitehead is the current Director of Learning & Research for the Upper School & Junior School at the International School of Florence. Prior to this, they held various posts at Oxford Brookes University, including Head of Creative and Performing Arts, Principal Lecturer in Education, University Teaching Fellow, and Director of CPD. Phil left in January 2009 to pursue more creative projects and get back to storytelling and writing. From May 1995 to July 2005, they were an inspector for Ofsted, training inspectors of nursery and primary schools. Phil has also been a Company Director for INVIGORWRITE LTD from July 2014 to July 2022, and for Creative Practice Consultancy (Phil Whitehead Ltd). Most recently, they were the Creative Director for Lyme Arts Community trust from August 2010 to March 2011.
Phil Whitehead has a post-graduate certificate in coaching and mentoring from Oxford Brookes University. Phil also has an MA in Education with a focus on Educational Management and Children's Writing from the University of Manchester. Lastly, they have a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in Early Childhood Education and Teaching from Lancaster University.
They are on a team with Guia Del Buono - Director of Finance & Human Resources, Upper School & Junior Schoo, Ylenia De Rossi - Facilities Manager, Upper School & Junior School, and Tanya Bruckner - Director of Communications, Upper School & Junior School. Their manager is David Ottaviano, Head of School.
Current role