About » Keynotes: Paul Dix

 Paul DixKeynotes

Paul Dix: Educational Speaker and Author

  Best INSET I can remember attending today. Fascinating insight into behaviour management from the theatrical & McIntyre-esque Paul Dix
@citizenbutler (Head of Citizenship) Christ's School, Richmond

As a difficult child, relentless teacher and award winning teacher-trainer Paul's voice has echoed through many classrooms. A leading expert in Behaviour Management and Behaviour Change his inspirational perspectives and fascinating narratives reveal a ferocious passion for education. Paul is not just entertaining and highly engaging; his work is rigorous, practical and cutting edge.

Paul speaks on Behaviour, Teacher Training, Alternative Provision, Raising Achievement of Vulnerable Groups, Assessment and Transforming Urban Schools/Colleges.

Recent engagements have included the Future Leaders Conference (England), European Conference of International Schools (Germany), Dutch International Schools Conference (Netherlands), P.A.F. Headteachers (Pakistan), Ulster University Conference (Northern Ireland), London Behaviour Conference (Westminster) and the Pupil Referral Units Conference (Stansted)

Book Training


Paul was absolutely brilliant! I usually get bored in training sessions but there was no time to get bored on this course. Paul kept me engaged all day. The content of the training was very valuable and I am using strategies from the course every day.
Barbara Francis, Lecturer, Harrow College

Paul Dix:

  • National Training Awards 2009 Winner.
  • Royal Television Society Award 2011
  • Member of the Restraint Accreditation Board advising the Minister for Justice
  • Invited to give evidence to the Education Select Committee and Committee for Standards in Teaching
  • Behaviour expert for TES Magazine, Teach Primary, Teach Nursery and Child Education Plus
  • Featured in the Guardian and BBC
  • Commended by OFSTED and HMI.
  • Nominated for a Japan Prize (International Educators Program Award)
  • Leading behaviour author for Pearson Education with 5 titles
  • Founder and Managing Director of Pivotal Education since 2001

This was a brilliant day - a million times better than any other course I have ever attended. Paul is the most energetic and enthusiastic person I've ever seen running a course. It was so entertaining and informative.
Liza Ann Hyland, Class Teacher, Dilkes Primary School

Paul Dix is very proactive and enthusiastic - a showman! I enjoyed the training, thank you - it was worth the effort of trekking through the snow! I like this approach to behaviour management - positive and appreciative. The training was a very positive experience that brings the theory and practice of positive behaviour management together. The trainer is a motivational whirlwind of positivity with excellent use of role play, practical demonstrations through video clips and juggling (!) to make points that can be directly related to our practice and our interactions - with colleagues and students alike. As a college, we reacted very positively to your enthusiastic delivery – motivational.
Alison Tonkin, Programme Area Manager for FE, Stanmore College

Just a quick message for Paul Dix to let him know that myself and staff attended the PRU conference in Stanstead and thought that you were the highlight of the event. You had our full attention from the start. You made us laugh but most of all you inspired us. Brilliant! Hope to get a chance to see you again soon.
Adele Lewis-Chambers, Key Stage 3 PRU Swansea

Just want to email to say how fantastic the INSET session; 'Changing Behaviour' was with Paul Dix this week. Staff were enthused and engaged throughout the 2 hour session. One commented to me that 'this is how INSET should be; entertaining, useful and practical, giving us ideas that we can immediately implement in our classrooms'. The extremely positive messages that it gave were really appreciated by all staff.  I have already highly recommended Paul to colleagues in other schools. Ann Fearon, Headteacher, Hazelwick School

Really enjoyed this morning. Even after 20 years teaching you've got me thinking!
Colin Thimas, @ColinThomas10

 

Paul Dix BEd (Hons) CANTAB

Paul Dix is a leading voice in Behaviour Management in the UK and Internationally. As Managing Director of Pivotal Education he leads a team of thirteen Behaviour Management specialists in training and intervention projects.  Pivotal are currently working with over 250 FE colleges and schools in the UK. Paul is a trainer with an exceptional reputation for designing and delivering training that promotes real change.

Paul trained at Homerton College, Cambridge and has taught, managed and succeeded in a wide range of schools and colleges in challenging circumstances. His work was highlighted by H.M.I. and OFSTED as a key element of the work that led to turning round a school in ‘Special Measures’.

Paul co-founded Pivotal Education in 2001.  As the lead trainer, Paul has been training teachers, advisors, students, mentors, and classroom assistants from early years to adult education. His work on Behaviour and Assessment is being used successfully in colleges, schools (mainstream and special), PRUs and initial teacher training programmes. His 'Taking Care of Behaviour' course and 'Managing Extreme Behaviour' course have both been featured as 'Course of the Week' in the TES Magazine.

Paul is author of  the Government's ‘New Deal Mentor Training Programme’. His work has been featured on ITV, Teachers' TV and in the TES. His first book, the 'Pivotal Behaviour Management Handbook', was reviewed in the TES as 'Terrific'. 

Paul is currently the Behaviour Expert for Teacher's TV and the TES, He also writes for Teach Primary Magazine, Teach Nursery, Child Education Plus, Didactics World and Teaching Expertise. His best selling book, "Taking Care of Behaviour" published by Pearson/Longman has been endorsed by Sir Tim Brighouse:

'This book is rooted in real experience, not theory. You can smell the classroom between its covers. It will be a powerful aid to teachers at whatever stage of their career. Every school should have a copy in their staff library and every leader responsible for professional development will want one at their elbow.'

Sir Tim Brighouse
Ex Chief Advisor for London Schools

You can keep up to date with Paul's work on the Pivotal Behaviour Blog -

Paul's Books

  • The Essential Guide to Taking Care of Behaviour (2nd Edition), Pearson: May 2010. 
  • The Essential Guide to Assessment, Pearson: May 2010.
  • Taking Care of Behaviour: A Learning Support Assistant's Guide, Pearson: 2009.
  • Taking Care of Behaviour: Practical Skills for Teachers, Pearson: 2007.
  • The Pivotal Behaviour Management Handbook, Pivotal Education: 2005.

Paul's Articles

2010

  • Teach Primary Vol.4 Iss.2 - Teaching mask
  • Teach Primary Vol.4 Iss. 2 - Self reflection
  • Teach Primary Vol.4 Iss.1 - Creating the right environment for student centered classroom assessment

2009

  • Education Business Magazine - Taking care of everyone's behaviour
  • Teach Primary Vol.3 Iss.8 - Risk taking
  • Teach Primary Vol.3 Iss.7 - Changing perceptions
  • Teach Primary Vol.3 Iss.6 - Motivating pupils
  • Teach Primary Vol.3 Iss.5 - Beyond the three part formula
  • Teach Primary Vol.3 Iss.4 - Staying the course
  • Teach Primary Vol.3 Iss.3 - Engaging parents and the community
  • Teach Primary Vol.3 Iss.2 - Rejecting a culture of blame
  • Teach Primary Vol.3 Iss.1 - Winning staff's hearts and minds

2008

  • TES Magazine (26:9:08) - Emotional rescue
  • Teaching Drama Magazine - Autumn 1 2008 - Managing behaviour in the drama classroom
  • Australian Teacher Magazine - September 2008 - Siege mentality is crippling British state education
  • Independent Schools Magazine - October 2008 - Friendly but not friends
  • Teach Primary  Vol.2 Iss.8 - 50 days to make a change
  • Teach Primary  Vol.2 Iss.7 - Defusing behaviour bombs
  • Teach Primary  Vol.2 Iss.6 - Wielding a softer stick
  • Teach Primary Vol.2 Iss.5 - The importance of consistency
  • Didactics World - Virtually supporting behaviour
  • Teaching Drama Magazine - May 2008 - Negotiated assessment
  • Primary Choice Vol.2 Iss.4 - Hooking the hard to reach
  • Primary Choice Vol .2 Iss.3 - Positive manipulation

2007

  • Primary Choice Vol.1 Iss.1 - Oh behave!

2006

  • Teaching Expertise Magazine - issue 13 - Line Dancing: Duty at the school gates
  • Teaching Expertise Magazine - issue 12 - Have You Got a Boyfriend Miss?
  • Teaching Expertise Magazine - issue 11 - The Classroom is Not an Arena and the Teacher is Not a Ringmaster

Contributions to Articles

  • TES Magazine (17:6:11) - Behaviour Question: Bad language
  • TES Magazine (7:5:11) - Behaviour Question: ADHD
  • TES Magazine (8:4:11) - Behaviour Question: Aggressive pupil
  • TES Magazine (21:1:11) - Behaviour Question: Unruly students
  • TES Magazine (7:1:11) - The issue: Searches
  • TES Magazine (12:11:10) - The issue - Off-site pupil behaviour
  • TES Magazine (5:11:10) - Behaviour Question: Disruption in the classroom
  • TES Magazine (17:9:10) - Behaviour Question: Smirking
  • TES Magazine (6:8:10) - The issue - Enhanced powers
  • TES Magazine (23:7:10) - Behaviour Question: Dealing with disruptive students
  • TES Magazine (19:5:10) - Behaviour
  • TES Magazine (30:4:10) - The issue - Reasonable force
  • TES Magazine (9:4:10) - Behaviour Question: The kids are running riot
  • TES Magazine (5:3:10) - Behaviour Question: Drawing up a class contract
  • TES Magazine (5:2:10) - Behaviour Question: Positive calls home
  • TES Magazine (29:1:10) - Behaviour Question: Racist accusation
  • TES Magazine (8:1:10) - Behaviour Question: Disability bullying
  • TES Magazine (20:11:09) - Behaviour Question: Moving around the class
  • TES Magazine (23:10:09) - Behaviour Question: Settling down a chatty class
  • TES Magazine (18:9:09) - Meet your new best friends
  • TES Magazine (14:8:09) - Behaviour Question: Keeping authority in the classroom
  • TES Magazine (7:8: 09) - Behaviour Question: Uniform infringements
  • TES Magazine (10:7:09) - Behaviour Question: Teaching assistant's behaviour management
  • TES Magazine (12:6:09) - Behaviour Question: NQT maintaining lesson pace
  • TES Magazine (1:5:09) - Behaviour Question: Racist bullying
  • TES Magazine (24:4:09) - Behaviour Question: Behaviour on buses
  • TES Magazine (17:4:09) - Behaviour Question: Lesson disruption
  • TES Magazine (6:3:09) - Behaviour Question: Banning mobile phones
  • TES Magazine (20:2:09) - Behaviour Question: Persistent lateness
  • Leadership Focus: NAHT Magazine (Nov/Dec 2008) - Defusing bad behaviour
  • TES Magazine (26:9:08) - Emotional rescue
  • TES Magazine (7:3:08) - Gold stars for your efforts
  • TES Magazine (18:5:07) - Good practice
  • TES Magazine (29:9:06) - Transition key issue of exhibition
  • TES Magazine (29:4:05) - It doesn't have to be a lions' den
  • Co-wrote the New Deal Mentor Training Programme and Resources, 2004