 He attended Margaret Beavan Special School due to the physical effects of polio, then Liverpool Collegiate School (1961–1963), Wade Deacon Grammar School, Cheshire (1963–1968).He then studied English and drama (Bachelor of Education - BEd) at Bretton Hall College of Education (1968–1972) and completed a PhD in 1981 at the University of London, researching drama and theatre in education.From 1985 to 1988, Robinson was Director of the Arts in Schools Project, an initiative to develop the arts education throughout England and Wales.