Kaizen Education: Recent Episodes
Phil
What would happen if you ran your school like a world leading car company? Kaizen is the model used by Toyota to ensure continuous improvement. We have a variety of interviewees who have a proven track record of success in the education sector and beyond.
Shine Trust have launched brilliant ideas in education such as TT Rockstars. Think about the best idea you have for disadvantaged children in the North of England and share it today. In this podcast Helen Rafferty shares details about the grant, her top tips, things to avoid and the application process. As Helen says, 'Just go for it!'.
Follow the simple application process here: https://shinetrust.org.uk/.
In this episode, Al shares his vast experience in utilising tech in education.
With over 30 years of experience in this field, Al has much to share. He started his career with Barclays Bank then Unilever, working within finance and management accounting before focusing on the early adoption of new IT technologies in the early 90s.
For the last 25 years Al has been the Group Managing Director of NetSupport, an international software company developing market-leading software solutions used by over 18 million customers, designed to support the effective use of instructional technology in classrooms alongside eSafety technologies to safeguard students online.
Al has a broad knowledge of international business from spending time living in the US whilst establishing overseas offices. During this time Al has worked with Partners and Ministries of Education from around the world.
From his experiences at NetSupport and with his additional responsibilities outside of the company, Al has a unique mix of technical and educational knowledge which allows him to speak nationally on the effective use of technology in supporting educational outcomes and using A.I and Neurolinguistics to detect and support students who may be at risk online from Child Sexual Exploitation, Radicalisation and harm, as well as creating an edtech digital strategy guide.
Al has been a school governor for the last 15 years and is currently Chair of Hampton Academies Trust in Peterborough. In recent years the Trust has secured over £30 million from central government to support the delivery of both a new Secondary and Primary school in the city. In addition to his role of Chair of the Hampton MAT, Al is also Chair of the Richard Barnes Academy, an Alternative provision setting in Peterborough.
With a passion towards Governance and already having key roles in raising organisational performance and delivering project success, as well as his unique mix of education sector and technology insight means that he not only understands what schools want and need and, most importantly, why – but is also able to work with schools to produce indispensable solutions that really add value.
Al writes for a range of international titles on all aspects of education, with a particular focus on Digital Strategy, the use of EdTech, Blended Learning, Safeguarding and broader strategic planning. He is a member the Forbes Technology Council and a Fellow of the RSA.
In this episode, Hannah Wilson and I discuss the unknown strengths and pitfalls of schools around the topic of diversity, equity & inclusion.
Hannah is a leadership & development consultant, coach and trainer. She is a DfE coach for the Women Leading in Education initiative and an advocate for flexible working which was the focus for her MA in Education. She specialises in: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
She is a collaborator and a networker; She is involved in a number of networks which she has co-founded and co-lead for who she delivers bespoke training.
She is passionate about lifelong learning and she is purposeful in how she can support leaders to be the best version of themselves. She believes that everyone has the potential to be a resilient, authentic, empowered leader.
She empowers women in leadership to break through glass ceilings to be confident, to be authentic and to negotiate the conditions they need to thrive. She also empowers leaders from diverse backgrounds to navigate the concrete ceilings preventing them from being seen and being heard.
Of particular use for me, she empowers all leaders to be inclusive allies. She is a critical friend who brings challenge and clarity to my clients.
A lot her work stems from passion projects that she has co-founded and co-created. Hannah is passionate about supporting others to be resilient, empowered, authentic leaders. Finally, her passion and purpose inject energy into the work she does and which fuels how she shows up in the world.
In this episode I speak with the Trust Lead for Emabark. Matt Crawford talks about leading a trust based on real life values. Embark Trust is one of the fastest growing in the country. The reason schools are attracted to Embark is described by Matt. This is a great podcast for anyone considering joining a trust, becoming a CEO or interested in how trusts can work collaboratively to improve a community.
Who is Matthew Crawford?
Matthew is chief executive of Embark Federation which is a trust of 16 schools across Derbyshire. He was designated a National Leader of Education in 2017 for the work he has done as a system leader. Matthew supported over a dozen schools across Derbyshire who are now all judged to be good or better by Ofsted.
He believes that schools are ‘stronger together’ and enjoys sharing practice whilst also learning from others and helping to improve the federation. He also believes that schools should be at the heart of their communities whilst providing their children with the best possible education.
All schools in the federation have an exciting curriculum which is accompanied by a rich diet of wider opportunities in Music, Sport, Science and the Arts. The trust has used sponsorship opportunities and grants to fund aspirational events for the children.
A keen sportsman, Matthew now enjoys a game of golf at weekends and supporting the Welsh rugby team! Family is very important to Matthew. He is father to Sophie and Daniel who are the most precious things in his life.
Vivienne Porritt is an inspirational person, author/speaker and educator. In this fascinating conversation, Vivienne describes her work to date with #WomenEd and shares what we can all do to tackle gender inequality in education. This podcast was one which made me really reflect on my own practice and I am sure it will prompt thought and hope that we can all support the movement to bring about gender equality in our schools and colleges.
Vivienne's extensive experience is detailed in her LinkedIn profile which reads: "I am an Education and Leadership Consultant supporting school leaders with impact evaluation, vision and strategy, professional leadership and development, and bid writing. I also coach leaders, particularly women leaders.
I am also one of the Co-Founders and National leaders of #WomenEd, a grassroots organisation that supports and connects women leaders in education. I am also privileged to be Chair of Governors at Regent High School, Camden.
Previously I was a Headteacher of a secondary mixed comprehensive in Surrey following posts as a Deputy, SLT, Head of sixth form, Faculty Director, Head of Department, English and Drama teacher in Kent, London, West Sussex and Surrey. As a Headteacher I was seconded to the DfES in 2004 as London CPD Advisor."
Chris Dyson is an inspirational school leader and author. In this episode, Chris talks about his incredible school and reveals some news about his future! This is an uplifting podcast I am sure you'll feel inspired by.
In this episode I talk to Carl Ward. Carl is the CEO of the City Learning Trust and also the Chief Executive of the Foundation of Education Development. Carl has previously been the president of ASCL. Listen to this podcast to learn about how you can get involved in the work to bring about lasting change in education.
Ben Wade is an ex-RAF pilot and commander. He is now a director of West Peak Partners and works with school, college and corporate leaders across the country. Having had the pleasure of knowing Ben for over 20 years, I know how true he is to his values in his approach to leadership and generally being a good person!
In this podcast, you'll hear how Ben applied skills and knowledge learnt in the forces to his everyday life as a person, parent and professional. There will be plenty of take aways and an opportunity for you to learn about leadership in education from outside of the sector.
Sir Paul Grant was knighted for his work in education. His sustained improvement of Robert Clack Comprehensive epitomises a Kaizen approach to leadership. He is an inspiring leader of education and an inspiration as a human being. Having got to know Sir Paul, I can see why he inspired so many staff and students. His leadership in challenging circumstances was recognised by Ofsted in their seminal report on the attributes if outstanding schools. Now Sir Paul continues to work hard to improve the national education picture through his work with the Foundation of Education Development and the English Premier League.
Sir Paul is described by FED as follows:
Sir Paul Grant was Headteacher at Robert Clack Comprehensive School in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham from 1997-2017. Previously he had taught in schools in the Australia, USA and in the North of England. Robert Clack is featured in Ofsted’s influential study, ‘Twelve Outstanding Secondary Schools – Excelling against the odds’ (2009).
Paul has served as a National Leader in Education and was a member of Business in the Community’s Education Board for over ten years. He has been actively involved in school and system Improvement having been involved with the London Challenge from the outset. Paul was knighted for services to local and national education, appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for Greater London and was bestowed the Freedom of Barking and Dagenham in 2009. In 2012 he was appointed Honorary Fellow of the Faculty of Education at the University of Hull, and Visiting Professor of the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education at Anglia Ruskin University.
Paul has been a member of the Premier League’s National Advisory Group on Education for over ten years and he has been a coach, leadership and executive mentoring consultant at the Premier League since that time. He is also a Premier League Education Advisor and an Education Advisor for England FA.
In 2017 Robert Clack was highlighted for best practice in a DFE report (Creating a culture: how school leaders can optimise behaviour) on how outstanding behaviour is created and embedded in UK Schools. Paul is Visiting Professor of Global Education and Learning at Coventry University and is the Education Advisor to the Liverpool City Region Mayor. He is also President of the Hull University Alumni.
In this episode of Kaizen Education, Sir David talks us through his personal and professional life. In a very honest interview he shares his journey and advice for leaders of schools in the current climate.
Sir David is a national figure in UK education. He was the product of a comprehensive school in South Wales and was the first member of his family to go to university where he studied for a Music degree. Making a difference to the lives of children has been a huge motivation to him throughout his career. He began teaching in 1983 as a music teacher and over the next 30 years be became a LA music advisor ,a headteacher, an executive head and a CEO.
He was appointed to the post of National Schools Commissioner (NSC) in February 2016 having had the majority of his previous leadership experience in the school system. As NSC, his focus was firmly on building capacity so that the trusts that run our most challenging schools can sustain improvement over time.