Michael King
Mike has a long background in education and worked as a primary school Headteacher in Suffolk and Somerset, before changing career to work with Sport England as Active Communities Development Fund Manager for the South West region.
He is currently working with the Sedgemoor Learning Alliance (Community Learning Partnership) in Bridgwater, Somerset where he set up Somerset Children’s University, and manages the ‘Give it A Go!’ Extended Schools Disadvantage Subsidy Pathfinder and a QCA Creative Curriculum Co-Development Group.
Over the past two years, Mike has successfully raised more than £500,000 from Trust funds, the DCSF, the Big Lottery and various grant-making organisations, on behalf of the Sedgemoor Learning Alliance.
Mike is passionate about the role of Extended Schools, the benefits of extra-curricular activity and outdoor learning. He strongly believes in learning ‘In the Wild’ as opposed to learning ‘In Captivity’ and its significance in helping to raise aspirations and self esteem, improve well-being and the positive influence on higher levels of educational attainment.
Over 85% of learning occurs outside the school! Children aged 9-14 yrs spend 900 hours a year in school and 1,500 hours a year watching television.
