School improvement consultancy and training for primary schools
Where will your training take you?
Get the help you need to deliver your school improvement priorities by employing a school improvement partner who will help guide you on your journey. From headteacher support and leadership training, to curriculum development and strategies improving outcomes for disadvantaged pupils, I can help provide your staff with the training and support they need.
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School improvement support from anywhere in the UK
I have been a school improvement consultant for the past 9 years and was previously a senior consultant and adviser for Leeds Local Authority School Improvement services. I have been a Chair of Governors for a large primary school and have experience of working closely with headteachers, including being an external consultant for headteacher performance management. I work with schools on both short term and long term projects. I am skilled at developing relationships between leaders across schools making me an ideal partner for MAT and family of schools leadership development projects.
Whilst often in the West Yorkshire region, I deliver my training and support remotely allowing you to be based anywhere and receive the support your need. I provide live courses via zoom, self-paced learning courses online, one-to-one and small group coaching, and bespoke training packages for schools. I meet with leaders to work collaboratively on school improvement projects and work in partnership with headteachers to deliver school improvement support. I can add capacity to your leadership team, provide advice and guidance on key issues, enable you to leverage research, train colleagues and help ensure school action plans are implemented.
Areas of school improvement expertise:
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Supporting schools in their journey of improvement;
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Senior and middle leadership training;
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Coaching, leadership conversations & on-going leadership support;
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Curriculum - leadership for intent, implementation & impact;
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Improving outcomes for disadvantaged pupils;
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Developing teaching and learning;
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Seeking to remove barriers to academic progress;
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Growth mindsets & metacognition.
Experience:
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25 years of expertise and knowledge of schools & education;
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Leadership posts in schools and a large local authority;
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Substantial experience in designing and delivering training;
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Experience of headteacher performance management;
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Over 10 years of school improvement experience;
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Training, co-ordination, support and quality assurance of Specialist Leaders of Education & ASTs;
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Leading & quality assuring city-wide networks.
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Chair of Governor experience for a large primary school.
“Thank you for being so generous in your support. I have been inspired and energised to keep going. Truly a well timed and informative session that I can practically put into practice for IMPACT.” DHT. "I loved this training and found it really beneficial." DHT- Catalyst Programme.
“The training was brilliantly constructed. One of the best courses I have attended in years. I wanted to be challenged and provoked, but also given some new ideas to work with and the day achieved all of this.” Headteacher
"The course has widened my knowledge base in a number of areas including creating visions, setting goals, reflecting on goals, planning and delivering meetings, communication and having difficult conversations. One area in which my knowledge has improved greatly is self leadership and the importance of effective reflection time using various strategies." Middle leader following small group & 1:1 sessions.
"Vicky is warm and engaging and I felt comfortable from the start. A safe space for discussion. A really positive climate in which anything could be shared." Phase leader group and 1:1 sessions.
“Every session has been immensely useful.”
“A very thought provoking and useful day.”
“Vicky is a fantastic trainer – very inspirational and knowledgeable.”
“Excellent. Completely engaged throughout.”
“I know staff are finding the training incredibly useful.”
Primary school improvement partner
School improvement is challenging. Accessing external support can make all the difference. This can be a mix of coaching, professional dialogue, and training for leaders and teachers. It can be short-term support or a programme that spans one or more years. Enjoy an ongoing relationship for school improvement services.
Let me share my knowledge with you. Ask questions, explore possible solutions, leverage research and work out a strategy that is right for your school.
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Headteacher support and type of work undertaken
I design and deliver leadership programmes, e.g. training courses for new Deputy Headteachers; the 'catalyst programme' which is a small group programme for experienced DHTs; training for phase leaders; training for English leaders particularly focusing on removing barriers to achievement; training and support for leaders in relation to pupil premium.
Being a headteacher is a demanding and wide-ranging role. Having someone to work with, to expand the capacity of the leadership team, to engage in frank and honest exchanges about school life, to help with strategy and implementation of improvement is support every headteacher needs.
From small projects to on-going work - contact me to see how I can help.
Do you have a senior leader who would benefit from mentoring, coaching and performance dialogue? Would a senior leader in your school benefit from being able to tap into external knowledge in shaping and implementing improvement strategy? Ask me how I can help.
A large percentage of my work is at a leadership level working directly with schools, e.g.
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supporting headteachers with performance management;
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professional dialogue and coaching for senior leaders;
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supporting strategic planning process;
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delivering training for DHTs, assistant headteachers, phase leaders and subject leaders;
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supporting leaders on issues such as closing the gap for disadvantaged pupils;
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delivering training and supporting projects on themes such as metacognition and growth mindsets;
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curriculum development;
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supporting schools in developing an approach for pedagogy;
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making plans to support an increase in teacher effectiveness;
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analysing and supporting schools increase the impact of their SDP.
Multi-academy trust school improvement support
I am skilled at developing relationships and can build remote and hybrid courses for MATs and groups of schools who wish to work more closely together. For example, perhaps you wish to develop reading leaders across an academy group through a mix of small group training and 1:1 support, or perhaps you have a group of deputy headteachers who would benefit from a hybrid course which includes visiting and carrying out activities in each other's schools. Adding my flexible services to your MAT team adds extra capacity for individual schools or groups of schools. I have extensive experience of working with leaders across groups of schools including remotely.
An example of hybrid training: Some days were delivered with DHTs sitting in their own schools. On other days DHTs travelled to a different school in the programme, visiting 4 schools in total. Vicky worked with the host school leader to ensure input and activities were matched to the leadership theme. Vicky opened the day, attended virtually, facilitated thinking and discussion, provided input within the day itself.
"To meet with others in this DH role has been so valuable. It has allowed me to visit other schools and see their approach to curriculum, behaviour, learning environment and vision. Their experience and knowledge of the role has supported me in the loneliness I have felt in transitioning from AHT. In addition, their advice and encouragement, laughter and honesty have given me the energy and determination to go again and again and again. Vicky is good at facilitating and presenting via zoom. Because of the detail within each day-presentations, walk around the school, contribution from the head teachers and Vicky's ability to draw connections and speak into the sessions they have all been good."
If you are a MAT CEO, primary director of education for a MAT or a headteacher of an individual school, get in touch to find out how I can be of service for school improvement.
COURSES
Live courses delivered to groups of colleagues in different schools via zoom.
Bespoke courses delivered just for your school or a family of schools.
Self-paced courses on reading comprehension, developing nonfiction writing, improving vocabulary and language in EYFS, developing handwriting.
CONTACT ME
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Written correspondence address:
5 Highdale Road
Scarborough
North Yorkshire
YO12 6LL
England
Get in touch by completing the form below. Leave me your details.