After 12 years as an education officer I became an in independent consultant in 2000 so have spent the past 30+ years working on school improvement, helping to achieve better outcomes for children.
I have worked extensively with local education authorities, individual schools and academies, multi academy trusts, the Department for Education (DFE), the National College for School Leadership (NCSL) & SSAT (The Schools Network).
My work has taken me into Primary, secondary and special schools, British schools in Germany and Egypt. I also spent 3 years visiting Uganda for up to a month at a time, supporting the introduction of Universal Primary Education. (UPE).
This work was with the British Council with the focus on upskilling boards of governors of privately owned schools. Their engagement was needed because the state sector lacked the capacity to deal with the increase in numbers. It included training heads and governors from Western Uganda, in Masaka. A fascinating change from usual venues.
A key focus of my career has been on supporting governing boards & leadership teams in addressing and overcoming the challenges they face. In particular I spent 11 years as a tutor and assessor for the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH), achieving Lead Tutor status, and had extensive experience as a performance management consultant and external adviser.
I also devised national programmes for both the DfE and NCSL. (TRA).
Providing advice & guidance at every stage of the recruitment and selection of headteachers & deputy heads.
A comprehensive set of services to help, improve and strengthen organisations including schools & authorities.
Providing services to help chairs of governers and school leaders build & strengthen their working relationships.
Having been a governor of 7 schools (primary, secondary & special) including chairing 2 IEBs prior to their then becoming sponsored academies, my experience is both comprehensive and wide ranging, and I understand the entire scope, and the reality, of governance. My interventions are therefore practical, and as per my various testimonials from highly satisfied clients, they and I repeatedley produce significant, and long lasting results.
For the past 3 decades my greatest passion has been assessing, assisting, guiding and helping my clients deliver and achieve success in UK Education.
Michele Robbins, helping trusts, governing bodies and leadership teams to build strong and effective governance.
Tel: 01235 533 142
Mobile: 07802 284 378
These books are published by Adamson Publishing and can be viewed or purchased by following these links:
A comprehensive audit, originating many years ago in Merton LA, and updated regularly is provided in advance for relevant staff and governors to complete and send to me at least one week in advance of interviews.
The process models a way of schools managing self evaluation in order to foster independence rather than dependence on external support.
The report has been found to be very helpful when preparing for or following up on an Ofsted inspection.
My preparation also depends on a range of documentation relevant to each strand of the audit. Following receipt of the documentation questions are drafted to be put to a variety of groups and individuals. (* A list will be provided secureley via Email).
The interviews may be planned over a full day or two half days. Following the interviews a draft report of findings and recommendations is provided, typically within 48 hours.
The final report is then negotiated to ensure accuracy. The report has been found to be very helpful when preparing for or following up on an Ofsted inspection.
The process models a way of schools managing self evaluation in order to foster independence rather than dependence on external support.
are based on the features of effective governance set out in the Governance Handbook and the Governance competency framework.
For MATs, following a review of each constituent academy I conclude with meetings with members of the Board. Recommendations will be offered about governance structures and systems at local and Trust Board level.
Participating schools are invited to send relevant documentation in advance and they decide the schedule for interviews of specific personnel. The interviews may be planned over a full day or two half days.
Interviews are conducted with the Headteacher, Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board, Committee Chairs and the Clerk. As with the safeguarding audit it highlights good practice and provides models and frameworks that can build further capacity.
Boards sometimes negotiate briefing session(s) for the whole board on issues such as The Public Sector Equality Duty; monitoring and evaluation including Governors' visits; leading in partneship and effective clerking.
Following the interviews a draft report of findings and recommendations is provided, usually within 48 hours. The final report is then negotiated to ensure accuracy.
I no longer visit schools and use Zoom to communicate. Meetings can take place in a full day or split between two mornings. This means that I have reduced my carbon footprint by around 20,000 miles per year. It also means that I spend approximately 6 hours more time on the analysis of evidence gathered. Most recent client accolades you can find below relate to training and guidance carried out in online sessions via Zoom.
By using Zoom I can now re-visit Liverpool, York, Wakefield, Hereford, and many more new places beside.
I have also now completed my new programme Future proofing that was designed for the following scenario's:
These may cover any of the following:
Should you wish to discuss further aspects of a future collaboration such as commercials, or any other enquiry, please don't hesitate to get in touch below, I would be delighted to hear from you.
By providing your email address, you are happy to allow occasional contact from me in respect of my services that may benefit you.
5 Lesparre Close
Drayton
Abingdon
OX14 4FN
Telephone: 01235 533 142
Mobile: 07802 284 378
Company number: 05914973
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