Services

Besides school improvement support, I offer INSET training and talks to schools and other organisations on education and leadership. Topics of previous workshops and presentations have included

Having visited more than one hundred schools throughout my career, I know that no two are the same and all have their strengths and weakness. However, whether an inspection, evaluation or accreditation process, schools need to present themselves appropriately and ensure their planning and documentation aligns with expectations. This can be a stressful experience for school leaders, especially those going through the process for the first time. I provide a review of provision and a roadmap to improvement that leaves the school best placed to achieve its inspection or accreditation goals.

From my experiencing of sitting on six different school boards over the years, two of the most commonly asked questions are: ‘How do we know if the Headteacher is doing a good job?’ and ‘How can we support them to do it better?’. I offer a solution to both of these questions. My services include supportive but rigorous Headteacher appraisal and individual mentoring. This can be a valuable tool both for new Heads and those more experienced. For new schools, I also offer guidance on best practice in governing principles and practice, and for aspiring Heads I offer interview guidance and support.

Evaluating what is going on in classrooms is one of the most important elements of a school leader’s role. Obtaining an accurate picture of teaching and learning quality is an integral part of the school improvement process. Many schools tend to over-estimate the quality of their classroom provision so objective evaluation can be an illuminating process. For governing bodies who would like an independent evaluation of teaching quality in their school, or for Heads new in post who would like to test their own hypothesis, I offer qualitative and quantitative reviews of teaching and learning, drawing upon my extensive experience in school quality assurance.

‘Improvements have been disappointing and the carnage has been appalling, with wasted resources and burned-out or frustrated employees’. This was the view of John Kotter, one of the world’s leading voices on change management, when reflecting on how well large organisations affect necessary change. Organisational change is an unavoidable part of school life, whether that be a practical change such as implementing a new Management Information System, to a more cultural change such as moving to co-educational provision, but it is rarely done well. I can support schools in effectively planning, communicating and executing the change, helping to ensure stakeholder support and long term success.

Do you struggle to recruit the calibre of teachers you would like? You are not alone. The COBIS’ 2022 report into recruitment noted that ‘Teacher supply continues to present a significant challenge for the international sector’.
Schools are also struggling to adjust engrained recruitment practices, resulting in unsuitable hires and unequitable outcomes. Behavioural science has continually highlighted that our decision-making is much more prone to sloppy thinking and bias than we would like to believe, yet many school leaders continue to convince themselves that their processes are evidence informed and fit-for-purpose.
I offer support to schools in boosting their pool of applicants and implementing more suitable approaches to recruiting the best candidates in the most equitable way.

Although educators are rightly motivated by pupil outcomes rather than commercial success, pupil roll is the lifeblood of schools. Without a strong admissions process, schools are forced to make difficult financial decisions.
Having grown two start-up schools and overseen a turnaround school where pupil roll grew by 38% during my time in post, I can speak with experience on how to ensure a responsive admissions process, market the school to best effect and maximise pupil retention.