News, Updates, & Blog

Review of College Governance

I recently began an external review of governance at a west London college on behalf of the Association of Colleges. It is always a privilege to engage with those crucial volunteers who are making such a difference to education provision. I am looking forward to...

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School Review

Tremendously enjoyable this week to work with a colleague carrying out a review of The Archbishop Lanfranc Academy. Super students, great team of staff and governors and lots of potential at the school. I look forward to seeing how the school continues to develop and...

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Assessment Centres

Fascinating last week to work with AET and Ambition Institute at the AET Assessment Centres for aspiring Principals. The commitment of AET to developing principals is a crucial commitment to developing leadership in our schools and demonstrates the kind of original...

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Coulsdon Cluster of Heads

It is always great to work with colleagues from my old stomping ground - Croydon. Enjoyed this morning talking to Heads from Coulsdon about "Getting the Best from SLT". I hope to return later in the year to continue a great discussion with some very talented colleagues.

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The Grand Welsh Road Trip – part 2

The research work in Powys has meant driving the full north / south and east / west of the county through some incredible scenery; we even managed a half hour on the coast at Borth, as a detour on our way to the most westerly school in the county at Bro Hyddgen, as we...

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The Grand Welsh Road Trip – part 1

I carried out some work with colleagues from Education-Time just over a year ago looking at post-16 structures and systems in Powys. Delighted now to be following up on that work, and completed over the last week a 676 mile drive to and around the county, visiting 6...

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BOA Creative, Digital and Performing Arts Academy

It was a delight to travel to Birmingham this week and visit BOA, as part of my work for The BRIT School. The energy of the students at Open Evening, the commitment of the CEO, and the passion of the Principal helped me to understand why this 14-19 school is an...

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NPQH

I am looking forward to meeting our new NPQH Cohort today as they continue on their journey to headship. Once again I am privileged to be facilitating with @CEO_TCT on the programme as we support the next generation of school leaders.

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BRIT School

After working with BRIT earlier in the year to develop their new SEF in advance of OFSTED inspection, looking forward to spending quite a lot of time there between now and Christmas reviewing staffing structures. As a local Head and CEO for over 20 years in Croydon I...

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NPQEL

A great day today at University of Warwick for Conference 1 of the @Ambition_Inst NPQEL introductory conference. The privilege of presenting to 160 new or aspiring executive leaders is immense, and the qualities that they demonstrate illustrates how powerful and...

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Appointment of Headteacher

It was great last week to work with the Governors at The Hayes Primary in Croydon in the culmination of our campaign to appoint a new Headteacher. I was delighted that our advertising campaign resulted in 11 potential candidates visiting the school - a real privilege...

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NPQH

It was a privilege to facilitate, along with @CEO_TCT, the NPQH at The Collegiate Trust over the last 18 months. Delighted that everyone of the participants went through to the assessment, and looking forward to seeing their results in a few months. We are now getting...

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Appointment of Headteacher

First meeting tonight with the Governing Body of a fantastic primary school in Croydon, to begin the process to support their appointment of a new Headteacher. Full details will be available early in the autumn term on this wonderful opportunity.

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Appointment of CEO

It was a real privilege last week to support the Fairchildes Academy Community Trust in Croydon with the appointment of their new CEO. As more trusts are now moving into second generation CEOs, it was exciting to have a range of candidates each presenting the...

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Reviewing Strategy in a Single-Academy Trust

I'm beginning some new work with a school - a single-academy trust - to support them in an upcoming Strategy Day. Whilst the DfE's Governance Handbook is a useful background document for such a day, I can't help but feel it underplays the level of challenge borne by...

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Conference / Refresher Season

It looks like the next week will be full of professional thinking and reflection time. Things kick off with a Refresher Day for AQA Trustees and Committee members on Tuesday - I'm particularly looking forward to  the session on Assessment Research. Then on Wednesday,...

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OFSTED Reports

One of the challenging features of no longer being the CEO of The Collegiate Trust is having to wait until publication to see the detail of an OFSTED inspection! However, having now been able to read the report on Courtwood Primary School today (which you can read...

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NPQH

Our current NPQH cohort has their final Peer Learning Group session later this month - meeting with my colleague facilitator this morning to plan the session. It is great to see as the programme progresses how participants are becoming more confident about potential...

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Creating an effective SEF

Interesting to work at the moment with a new school refining its SEF before an imminent OFSTED inspection. The current OFSTED Framework has at its heart two key questions to address on inspection: what is it like to be a student at this school (quality of curriculum,...

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NPQEL Coaching

It isn't surprising that executive leaders - whether leading 2 small rural schools, or multiple large urban schools - are dealing with many of the same problems. When coaching on NPQEL programme this year, each of my participants has outlined similar challenges in...

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Marketing for schools

Marketing for schools

It was good to meet this morning with Vicky from Smarter Reach, an agency based in Purley, Croydon, that specialises in marketing for schools and education. Vicky and I have worked together for many years (including designing and...

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Business Systems Review

As leaders in schools, colleges and trusts it is a mistake to ignore the crucial work of our business support staff and the systems they operate that help deliver wonderful education. I am delighted to be working with talented colleagues at St Mary's Catholic High...

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Review of Post-16 Provision

Incredible 3 days visiting schools and colleagues in Wales, reviewing county-wide post-16 structures and provision. Although the incredible Welsh countryside only briefly appeared through the heavy rain or thick fog, couldn't fail to see the commitment of the students...

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