@TeacherToolkit
Ross Morrison McGill founded @TeacherToolkit in 2007, and today, he is one of the ‘most followed educators’on social media in the world. In 2015, he was nominated as one of the ‘500 Most Influential People in Britain’ by The Sunday Times as a result of…
Read more about @TeacherToolkit
How can teachers influence government policy?
Today, I was invited to Number 10 Downing Street to advise the Labour government’s Opportunity Mission.
What an honour to be invited to Number 10, a moment of great personal and professional pride; sitting opposite the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson.
It was an honour to attend in recognition of my work as @TeacherToolkit, one of the first teacher blogs in the UK, sharing resources, challenging policy, and amplify the voices of teachers over the past ~20 years.
Why I was invited to Number 10?
Alongside other influential people (content creators), senior civil servants and members of the government’s New Media Unit, we discussed the Labour government’s Opportunity Mission: an ambitious plan to break the link between a child’s background and their future.
From early years development to school readiness and attainment, Number 10 wishes to work with me and the content team to reach more people, using material and platforms that matter most to them.
You can learn more about the Opportunity Mission and how I might be involved with No. 10 over the next 12 months.
Why teacher voice matters in education policy
As a free school meals pupil, attending 7 state schools, I never imagined I’d be sitting inside Number 10. Fast forward three decades in the classroom, who knew my blog would resonate with so many—sharing views that echo those of thousands of teachers.
This moment isn’t personal—it’s symbolic. For years, I’ve used TeacherToolkit to platform teacher voices, challenge the inspection framework, and question education policy decisions that damage teacher morale, and recruitment. My story is one of many, and why this meeting matters. It’s about changing the conversation. Teachers cannot be an afterthought in shaping national strategy—we are the strategy, and it’s great to see the government engaging in new ways.
Inside Number 10: Reflections from the Banquet Room
So, what was it like when I walked through that black door? It’s as grand as you can imagine, with a stunning staircase full of portraits of all UK past and present prime ministers. The ‘front of house’ told me that we would be meeting in the state banquet room.
Whilst the conversation was focused around the Opportunity Mission and the Cabinet Office’s New Media Unit, I was equally thinking about teacher workload and mental health. I shared what I’ve learned from two decades of teacher blogging and listening to others across the sector.
In the past, I doubted myself at times as to whether teachers could be seen and heard by policymakers, but let me be living proof; from creating #SLTchat in 2010 to invitations to Ofsted headquarters, and now 20 million readers on this site, teachers can start seeing one another as influencers of government policy.
That influence starts with writing, sharing, and speaking up. You do not need permission to contribute.
Public services are more effective when shaped by those who live and experience them. As I stepped into Number 10, I recognised I had the voices and experiences of every teacher who I’ve had the honour of working with.
Thank you to everyone who’s supported my work through this blog. Your engagement continues to shape me, and the national agenda. Every conversation has led to this moment …
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