About Neil

Dr Neil Hawkes, D.Phil (Oxford), MEd, BA, Cert.Ed, ACP, FCollP, FRSA, is an educator, author, TEDx presenter and international speaker whose work asks a foundational question: how can education help people become the best human beings they can be?

From school leadership to an international movement

Neil first gained international recognition as a headteacher in Oxfordshire. Working with his school community, he developed an approach in which positive universal values—such as respect, tolerance, humility, justice and trust—became a lived language for learning and relationships.

Over seven years, while leading the school, Neil researched the impact of this approach for his doctorate at Oxford University. The experience helped shape Values-based Education: a practical way of creating cultures where adults model shared values, learners gain an ethical vocabulary and everyone has time to reflect.

The purpose is not simply to know values, but to live them with awareness.

Neil’s mission

Neil has devoted his work to promoting Values-based Education, ethical leadership and Values-based Living in schools and society. He founded the International Values-based Trust (the IVET Foundation) and its educational dimension, Values-based Education.

His international work has included speaking and training across cultures, contributing to global conversations about values, and presenting at the United Nations in Geneva on Values-based Education as a foundation for values-based leadership.

Professional contributions

• Founder of the International Values-based Trust and Values-based Education
• One of the founders of Living Values Education
• A founder and trustee of the Global Alliance of Values-based Education (GAVE)
• Ambassador for the Foundation for Education Development
• Life Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
• International trainer for the Compass for Life Foundation
• Contributor to work connecting Internal Family Systems theory with schools

Education and qualifications

Neil trained as a teacher at Culham College of Education. During his career he gained a BA from the Open University, a Master’s degree from the University of Reading and a doctorate from the University of Oxford.

Books and current work

Neil’s books include From My Heart: Transforming Lives through Values; The Inner Curriculum, co-authored with Jane Hawkes; and On the Subject of Values and the Value of Subjects, developed with Bridget Knight, Mick Waters, Mark Chater and practitioner contributors.

Connected work and organisations

Neil’s work is part of a wider community committed to ethical leadership, human flourishing and values lived in practice.