A ‘colossus’ of education - tributes paid to public servant John Coleman

John Coleman, who died suddenly at his home in Rotherham on Friday, was an educational psychologist for more than 30 years and later commissioner for special educational needs at Rotherham Council.

He was also an active volunteer director and trustee for Nexus Multi Academy Trust, which runs 11 schools, and chair of the management committee of the Rowan Centre, a pupil referral unit in Rawmarsh.

Nexus chief executive Wayne Carratt said: “John gave his life to public service, starting as a teacher before training to become an educational psychologist.

“A bright and capable man, John served as the principal educational psychologist at Sheffield City Council in the 1990s and early 2000s.

“He then moved to the Department for Education as a regional director of the National Strategies programme, a New Labour government initiative aimed at supporting under-performing schools across the country.”

Since his retirement in 2015, Mr Coleman had served with Nexus as well as in a voluntary capacity with the National Governance Association.

Mr Carratt said: “John’s sudden death is as shocking as it is sad.

“He was a colossus of the education system, playing a key role in the development of local and national policy to support children getting the best education they can.

“John had a huge intellect that he committed, throughout his whole career, to public service.

“He was an architect of Nexus MAT and played a pivotal role in governing our schools.

“John was a restless, relentless agitator for making the lives of our learners be the best they can be.

“Personally and professionally, I have learned so much from John and I will miss him terribly.

“He was, he always will be, an irreplaceable human being, whose energy and generosity of spirit will act as a continued inspiration to us all.”

Mr Coleman is survived by his wife, Wendy, and sons Sam and Joe.