Adrian McLean
Personal Profile
Adrian McLean is an educator, speaker, coach, and entrepreneur with deep expertise in leadership, governance, and inclusion. He works with schools, academy trusts, and local authorities to address some of the most pressing challenges in education – from improving SEND provision to reducing exclusions and preventing young people from becoming NEET. His focus is on helping leaders move beyond policy and rhetoric, turning values into decisions that deliver lasting impact for children and communities.
Alongside his work in schools and local government, Adrian has advised the Department for Education on the National Tutoring Programme, ensuring it reached the pupils who needed it most. He has also advised ministers on how to ensure all families have access to a “good” local school, shaping national conversations about equity, opportunity and standards. This balance of system-level influence and hands-on practice gives him a unique perspective that resonates with both policymakers and practitioners.
Adrian is the author of The 10 Character Commandments of Leadership, a distinctive framework that blends leadership principles with culture, values, and lived experience. Known for his straight-talking, engaging style, he cuts through jargon and equips leaders with practical tools they can apply immediately. He offers keynote speaking, workshops, coaching, and consultancy, delivered both virtually and in person. Whether supporting boards, senior leadership teams, or multi-agency partnerships, Adrian’s goal is consistent: to help leaders act with integrity, courage, and wisdom so that education systems can truly serve every child.
Specialism(s): Coaching, Mentoring, Psychometric Testing, Training Delivery, Diversity & Inclusion, System Development/Design, Policy Development/Design and L&D Training
Sector Specialism(s): Education & Public Sector
