Remembering Neil McIntosh CBE, former Chief Executive of CfBT Education Trust (now edt)

Neil guided edt through a period of profound growth, diversification and impact. Previously Director of Shelter and Director of VSO, he was awarded a CBE in 2013 for services to education.  

Under Neil’s leadership, edt began work on landmark international programmes in Kenya (Strengthening of Primary Education in Kenya (SPRED), later the Primary School Management Project (PRISM) and Primary School Action for Better Health project (PSABH)), and Cambodia, building capability in fragile contexts. In the UK, beginning with Ofsted in 1993, we expanded into careers guidance, teacher training, ICT, adult literacy and numeracy, and school improvement, helping to deliver the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies. Neil’s clarity of purpose – putting the learners and educators we support first, insisting on transparency, and enabling colleagues – laid foundations for the global education services provider we are today. 

Neil believed in education as a force for social good and built an organisation capable of delivering it – across geographies, systems and contexts. Many will remember Neil as an inspiring leader, mentor and friend whose values continue to shape our work. His legacy lives on in our programmes, in the thousands of educators we have trained, and in the millions of learners whose life chances have been improved by our work.