I feel very lucky to have been gifted Unfinished Business. It is an inspirational tribute to Tim Brighouse but perhaps more importantly, as part of his legacy, it is a clarion call to action. The range of contributors is impressive, from the great and the good, to the ‘ordinary’ who have just as much wisdom to share. There are contributions from friends and colleagues as well as those who never knew Tim but are inspired by his philosophy and genuine belief that education can do better.

I first heard of Tim Brighouse when I was a student teacher in the late 1970s. I confess his views meant nothing to me at that stage as I was idealistic, probably naive and blissfully unaware of what schools were really like, or how researchers and educationalists could support schools. I know now.

I have spent all my life since I was five years old in schools. As an HMI, I have inspected schools in every local authority in Scotland, and many more abroad. I share the book’s view that we can and must do better. There are many schools and teachers going the extra mile for children. There are schools where children blossom. There are inspirational headteachers who lead their schools with energy, vision, and compassion. The challenge however, is that not every school inspires and not every child has their needs fully met. The call to action is clear. Every learner matters and matters equally.

My thoughts having finished the book are that it confirms my own philosophy; that Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs comes before Bloom’s Taxonomy. Whilst not making direct reference to either framework, the book strongly reinforces the idea that connection must always come before curriculum. Unless we meet children’s most basic needs, learning will be unlikely to succeed.

The range of issues the book identifies is huge, from accountability, governance and the use of data to breaking divides and placing joy at the heart of learning. The leadership section challenges school leaders to think differently and place humanity at the heart of their work.

The inclusion section is particularly poignant with very thought-provoking comments from key figures like Chris Kilkenny, a campaigner and activist working to end child poverty. Whilst the book offers, at times in harrowing detail, the impact of adverse childhood experiences and exclusion, it is ultimately a very hopeful book.

There is a wonderful short section called ‘Twenty things that teachers do.’ If only it were true – that all teachers ‘did’, then our schools would be better places to be nurtured, to thrive and to learn.

At its heart, this book has made me do three things: reflect, rethink and commit to doing better.

There is much unfinished business in education. Too many children are out of school, disengaged, marginalised, failing to achieve, stuck in the learning pit, unhappy or disillusioned. The book offers no snake oil solutions or silver bullets. There are none. However, it offers real rays of hope for those who are willing to think differently, to put children right at the heart of learning in schools. It helps us understand some of the important questions without necessarily, and simplistically, offering solutions. That is appropriate since solutions need to be tailored to each school’s unique context. Where the book succeeds is in showing what alternative structures and approaches might look like.

Unfinished Business is a book about hope while recognising that hope alone won’t change anything. It needs to be combined with action.

By being more like Tim, we can make some progress on that journey. For those of us who keep trying, this book offers renewed energy and optimism. We can and must do better. We can do this.

The contributions to this book reads like a ‘who’s who’ from the world of 21st Century educational experts and as such demonstrates the remarkable reach, respect and ultimately regard with which Tim was held.

Unfinished Business does what it says on the cover. It is a celebration of Brighouse’s life and achievements and a call to action. But it’s more than that too. It’s a source of visionary ideas to adopt, adapt (and debate) – and that ensures it a legacy of its own.

This is a legacy of a lifetime’s work. And he never stopped. As a result, we are left with the tail-end of his last years, his unfinished business; this book should give us confidence that he has many, many champions and acolytes, ready to carry on.

Throughout the book, contributors draw inspiration from Tim’s work to offer advice and guidance on their various areas of expertise. It is full of ideas and insights that will inspire readers to continue the work to which Tim devoted his life.

This is an extraordinary story of quiet, practical change, led by one man who had ideas about how he could make the world more just for the children in his care. It is story that reminds all of us that we could do that too, if we wanted.

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!

“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!’”

“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.”