Alistair Smith is best known as an author, presenter and developer. He is one of a few individuals who has authentic experience in training and development which has endured. He is constantly developing and refining his work and is unique in bridging education and professional sport.
Alistair has a reputation for innovative thinking, outstanding communication and high energy presentations. He has delivered over 1,000 development events, including school in-service days, in and around education and sport and is considered by many to be the UK’s most experienced trainer. Both the Accelerated Learning approach and the L2 – Learning to Learn approach – have been widely adopted and used with success by schools around the world.
Alistair is the author of a number of best selling and award winning books including High Performers: The Secrets of Successful Schools, The Brains Behind It: New Knowledge About the Brain and Learning and the original Accelerated Learning in the Classroom. He has also co-authored Learning to Learn in Practice, Accelerated Learning: A Users Guide, Coaching Solutions and Help Your Child Succeed. His books have been translated into 12 languages.
His most recent education work has seen him exploring the factors which shape successful schools.
Alistair is the designated learning consultant to the Football Association. His work has been to help the FA improve all their coaching and development provision. He facilitated the World Cup review in 2010 and has been active in helping prepare for the move to St George’s Park, the new home of English Football. Alistair delivers on the UEFA Pro Licence and has contributed to the LMA leadership programme. He has mentored managers working in the top five tiers of English Football.
Alistair is an Honorary Teaching Fellow at St Mary’s University College, London and in 2011 was a speaker at the world renowned Do Lectures in Wales. Now based near Windsor, England he was born, bred and remains a Scot.
“An inspiration, as ever…” Oli Thomlinson, Principal, Paddington Academy, London, 2011
“More than any other intervention the generic tutor training programme which you devised has transformed coach education within the FA.” Danni Every, Head of FA Learning, 2011
“… packed with practical ideas and suggestions and will appeal greatly to school leaders, classroom practitioners, members of the school community and all those who work and advise on school improvement.” Professor David Woods CBE, Chief Adviser for London Schools and Principal National Challenge Adviser on High Performers, 2011
“We look through the eyes of one of education’s undoubted masters and find ourselves nourished and enriched by the account of what he sees. As a result, the seemingly impossible becomes tangibly more possible: without league table tricks or curricular sleights of hand, we could all make our schools like these.” Geoff Barton, Head Teacher and TES Columnist, 2011
“Alistair and his colleagues at Alite have helped transform our school – we would not partner with any other company.” Dave Terry, Head Teacher, Sutton Academy, 2011
