Retired headteacher of a large London comprehensive school judged by Ofsted to be outstanding in every aspect.  Sir Alan was headteacher of Seven Kings High School in the London Borough of Redbridge from 1985 to 2008.

In 2005 Sir Alan was asked to chair a group of teacher practitioners to investigate issues of school behaviour and discipline. The report of the group was published in October and immediately endorsed by the government and all the teacher professional associations. A number of the recommendations made were included in the 2006 Education Act. In April 2009 he concluded a further review into pupil behaviour in school with the publication of his report: Learning Behaviour, Lessons Learned. 

From 2001-2003 Sir Alan was a member of a Ministerial working group for Special Educational Needs. In 2004 he worked with the DfES as an adviser to promote personalised learning.  In the autumn of 2007 he chaired the 8-13 age range expert group which made a substantial contribution to the Children’s Plan which was published that December. 

Born in 1948, Alan Steer began his teaching career in Leeds in 1971. Subsequently, he taught in Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire before moving to Redbridge. In 2004 he was knighted for his services to education.  He is married with three grown up sons and an expanding collection of grandchildren.