Unfinished Business

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Unfinished Business

The life and legacy of Sir Tim Brighouse - a tribute and a call to action

By: Mick Waters , Steve Munby , David Cameron

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Products specifications

Attribute name	Attribute value
Published	February 2025
Format	Hardback
Pages	289
ISBN	9781785837296
Size	9.21 x 6.14inches

Availability: Coming Soon

Edited by David Cameron, Steve Munby and Mick Waters, Unfinished Business is both a tribute to Sir Tim Brighouse and a call to action based on Tim’s approaches, commitment and ideas.

The first part of the book celebrates Tim’s life and achievements. This includes contributions from his son Harry and longstanding colleagues and friends such as Bob Moon, David Woods and Jon Coles. These accounts provide a rounded picture of Tim and, in a sense, make the case for listening to him and commemorating him in action rather than simply celebrating his memory. This part also includes contributions from David Blunkett and Estelle Morris that underline Tim’s national status.

The second part of the book is forward-looking with contributions from close friends, career colleague, policy makers, politicians and the people that Tim thought made the most difference: teachers in schools. Contributors explore what we need to do now in order to continue Tim’s work in their particular area of expertise. Contributors include:

Mel Ainscow	David Carter	Sam Freedman	Lucy Kirkham	Steve Munby
Amjad Ali	Lena Carter	Michael Fullan	Bridget Knight	Mary Myatt
Fiona Aubrey-Smith	Julia Cleverdon	Tony Gallagher	Emma Knight	James Nottingham
Kenneth Baker	Jon Coles	Christine Gilbert	Jim Knight	Alison Peacock
David Bell	Kevan Collins	Ian Gilbert	Priya Lakhani	Hywel Roberts
Melissa Benn	Ellie Costello	Ty Golding	Bill Lucas	Liz Robinson
Louise Blackburn	Leora Cruddas	Mark Grundy	James Mannion	Anthony Seldon
David Blunkett	Ben Davis	Andy Hargreaves	Rachel McFarlane	Rachel Sylvester
Adam Boxer	Colin Diamond	John Hattie	Laura McInerney	Mick Walker
Harry Brighouse	Graham Donaldson	Louise Hayward	Niall McWilliams	Mick Waters
Anna Bush	Ed Dorrell	Javed Khan	Fiona Millar	David Woods
David Cameron	Maggie Farrar	Debra Kidd	Bob Moon
Rosemary Campbell Stevens	Evelyn Forde	Chris Kilkenny	Estelle Morris

Suitable for all educators and readers interested in the future of education.

Mick Waters

A former head teacher, Mick Waters works closely with teachers and leaders in schools, MATs and local authorities to support the development of teaching approaches and curriculum to ensure the best learning outcomes for children. For some years he was Director of Curriculum for England, based at the Qualification and Curriculum Authority (QCA), and before that held the post of Chief Education Officer for the City of Manchester. He is also invited to work at a policy level with government in different parts of the world.

Click here to listen in on Mick's podcast with Pivotal Education - 'Mick Waters on Centralisation, OFSTED and Brilliant Schools'.

Steve Munby

Steve Munby has spent his whole career in education, first as a teacher and then as an adviser and inspector before moving into leadership. Between 2005 and 2017 he was chief executive first of the National College for School Leadership in England and then of Education Development Trust, an international education charity. He is now a self-employed consultant and speaker on leadership and on system reform.

David Cameron

David Cameron has been a teacher, a senior manager in schools and in local authorities, most recently as Director of Children’s Services for Stirling Council. He was President of the Association of Directors of Education Scotland and has been centrally involved in virtually every major development in Scottish education over the last 40 years. More recently he has been an independent speaker and consultant working across the UK and internationally.

Reviews

Richard Gill, MAT CEO, West Midlands
I have just finished reading "Unfinished Business: The Life and Legacy of Sir Tim Brighouse," and I have to say, it’s a fantastic tribute with much to provoke future education thinking akin to the many conversations I enjoyed having with Tim during the time I knew him. However, this book isn’t just a collection of memories; it’s a powerful call to action for anyone who cares about education.
What I loved most is how it captures Tim's vision for schooling. He had such a knack for cutting through the noise and getting to the heart of what really matters in education. His ideas about creating a fairer system for all children and young people—especially those who need a ‘louder’ voice—are more relevant than ever. The book dives deep into his thoughts on rethinking exams and focusing on what will help our current and future generation thrive, both academically and personally.
The contributions from various educators, politicians, and friends add so much richness to the narrative. It feels like a heartfelt conversation among people who genuinely want to make a difference.
"Unfinished Business" is not just a tribute; it’s an inspiring roadmap for transforming education. I believe it’s a must-read for teachers, school leaders, and anyone involved in shaping the future of our schools.This book will spark conversations and motivate action—just like Tim would have wanted!
Highly recommend it!
Chapter 2- Bob Moon, in Unfinished Business
“Tim always had a new idea to share. A few days before he died, he rang me from his hospital bed. ‘Bloody boring in here,’ he said… ‘But, look, the reason I rang was to try out on you a devilishly fiendish plan I’ve thought up to finally deal with Ofsted!’”
Chapter 7 – David Blunkett, in Unfinished Business
“We need more Tim Brighouse’s and, above all, we need to learn the lessons of Tim’s success and inculcate it, in any way we can, into the future of excellent teaching and the routing out of failure.”