William Atkinson (teacher)

{{Short description|British head teacher}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}

{{Infobox person

| honorific_prefix = Sir

| name = William Atkinson

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|DL}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1950|04|9|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Jamaica

| occupation = Educator

| years_active = 1971–2014{{Cite web |url=https://www.gordonpoole.com/talent/william-atkinson-sir/ |title=William Atkinson (Sir) |access-date=2022-04-20 |website=Gordon Poole Agency}}

| known_for = Head teacher of Phoenix High School

}}

Sir William Atkinson {{post-nominals|country=GBR|DL}} (born 9 April 1950){{cite web

| url = http://www.atl.org.uk/atl_en/resources/report/report_archive/Archive2006/december/profile.asp

| archive-url = https://archive.today/20071025131315/http://www.atl.org.uk/atl_en/resources/report/report_archive/Archive2006/december/profile.asp

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 25 October 2007

| title = Profile - William Atkinson

| accessdate = 16 June 2008

| publisher = Association of Teachers and Lecturers

}} is a Jamaican-born British head teacher who 'turned around' Phoenix High School, a secondary school near White City, London.{{cite news

| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7452527.stm

| title = Phoenix head given a knighthood

| accessdate = 16 June 2008

| publisher = BBC News

| date=13 June 2008

}} He also contributed to Channel 4's The Unteachables, and was the inspiration behind Lenny Henry's character in the 1999 BBC TV series Hope and Glory.{{cite news

| url = https://www.theguardian.com/education/2009/apr/07/william-atkinson-teaching-awards

| title = Britain's most successful headteacher after turning around 'the worst school in the country'. What is William Atkinson's magic formula?

| accessdate = 7 April 2009

| work = The Guardian

| publisher = Guardian News and Media

| first=Peter

| last=Wilby

| date=7 April 2009

}} He is a graduate of King's College London (MA, 1980), and has helped many students with their lives.