Tony Attwood (born 1947 in Southgate, Middlesex, England) is an expert in direct mail, who previously worked as a teacher and lecturer, and has written over 80 books on education. He currently lives in Northamptonshire.
Attwood was educated at what is now the University of Brighton, the Open University, and London University Institute of Education, where he gained an M.Phil for his research in music education. In 2006 he was awarded a Fellowship of the Institute of Administrative Management for his work in setting up the National Certificate in Educational Administration - effectively the first comprehensive training programme for school secretaries and administrators.
His books have been varied, ranging from a Blake's 7 programme guide and novel, a 1986 Doctor Who spin-off novel, a series of music education titles with Oxford University Press, and several works that introduced the notion of using pop and rock music as a serious topic in education. Later work includes The Improving Department, a radical re-working of school improvement ideas in the UK which challenged mainstream views.
In 1981 Attwood set up Hamilton House Publishing, a company which not only published his post-1981 work but also re-issued earlier work. Since 2000 much of Attwood's work has been in advertising and he has acted as copywriter for a number of national companies. As a result of this work he produced the web site http://www.theory.bz which sets out his theory of direct mail.
He continues to work with the School of Educational Administration, with the Hamilton Housegroup, and with Witchwood Records, (including in 2007 as a performer on one of the record company's albums).
Novels by Tony Attwood
Blake's 7 Afterlife (published WH Allen) Doctor Who: Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma (published WH Allen) Making the Arsenal (published Hamilton House) October 2009
Books on education by Tony Attwood
The Improving Department Methods of Teaching From Failure to Excellence
Current book 2009: "Making the Arsenal" by Tony Attwood published Hamilton House. Historical novel set in 1910.
Reference: Arsenal FC official programme 4 November 2009, page 82, article by Tony Attwood, states "contributor to fanzine Highbury High, the Arsenal player database on arsenal.com and the Arsenal History project for AISA."