Jonathan Simons is a Director, and Head of the Education Practice, at the strategy and public policy consultancy Public First, which works with some of the biggest organisations in English education to help them address policy questions, shape their message and engage with government.

Jonathan has spent the past fifteen years working in and with government on education issues– including eight years in government including a spell in the No10 Strategy Unit; as the Head of Education for the think tank Policy Exchange; and working in international education for the global charity Varkey Foundation. In these roles, he has written extensively on all elements of the English education system and is a frequent media commentator and columnist.

Jonathan is a Member of Astrea Multi Academy Trust, a Trustee of Education Development Trust and of the Anthem Multi Academy Trust, and is the co-founder of Greenwich Free School.