What does the tool do?
The tool has been developed with numerous schools over a three year period. It has been designed to facilitate meaningful school leader self –evaluation. It has been used successfully to develop over 180 school leaders.
In simple terms, the improvement tool brings clarity to ‘what good looks like’ and assists school leaders and those that aspire to lead schools, in meaningful, thorough, structured self-evaluation.
This leads to the identification of strengths and developmental need.
Developmental need can then be addressed through relevant professional learning and the provision of opportunities to build experience in identified areas.
The latest version of this tool (3rd Edition) is web based. This brings a number of benefits, most notably the provision of a leader’s dashboard.
The dashboard brings together the self-evaluation of all the leaders and aspiring leaders with in the school/ MAT/Cluster/LA and facilitates analysis.
The analysis can tease out both individual and school/MAT/cluster/LA strengths and developmental need. This in turn can lead to the sharing of good practice and the identification of professional learning experiences that address real need.
The link with inspection frameworks makes it easy for leaders to see how reflecting on their own performance and ‘growing their own’ leaders can impact positively on school improvement and inspection outcomes.
SCHOOL LEADER DEVELOPMENT TOOL (WALES)
The version for Wales links the Welsh Government’s Expectation of Formal Leadership Practice and the Estyn Inspection framework. The version of the tool has been updated to take into account the changes being introduced in 2024.
It also now includes the elements from the English national professional qualifications framework that indicate what senior leaders know and do, and what headteachers know and do, The ability to compare and contrast with the expectations in Wales facilitates greater self- evaluation.
Discount is available for schools that have purchased the previous version of the tool.
The following video provides details including a demonstration as to how the tool for Wales works:
Both videos on this page provide information on the bespoke improvement tool service that Mike offers to businesses, organisations and schools that use frameworks other than Ofsted or Estyn.
SCHOOL LEADER DEVELOPMENT TOOL (ENGLAND/INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS)
The version for England/International Schools links together the Headteacher Standards (2020), Ofsted Framework (2023) and Handbook (2024) and the professional qualifications framework for senior leadership, headship and executive leadership. (2024)
This version of the tool has been trialled with a MAT in England.
The following video provides details including a demonstration as to how the tool for England and international schools works:
Further information on the school improvement tools:
The electronic version enables the construction of a diagrammatic summary of performance. It is then up to school leaders how they use the outcomes. It can be used as a catalyst for school improvement, to use in discussion with those responsible for performance management, or to identify strengths and developmental need, both of individuals and the organisation. This in turn can ensure real need is identified and addressed with targeted, appropriate professional learning/development. It facilitates the sharing of strengths.
Heres what each leader sees:
How Can It Be Used?
The main focus is school leader self-evaluation. Using the booklet or electronic version, school leaders can construct a diagrammatic summary of performance. It is then up to the them how they use the results. They may use it as a catalyst for school improvement or they may choose to use it in discussion with those responsible for their performance management.
Leaders can choose to work their way through the tool standard by standard or they may prefer to merge it with existing school self-evaluation processes, reflecting against the relevant standard at the most appropriate time.
As the tool is linked to inspection requirements, the tool can also be used as a catalyst for school improvement and preparation for inspection.
There are other uses. It has been used help candidates prepare for headteacher interviews and to empower/motivate senior leadership teams to assist the headteacher more effectively in driving school improvement.
As the tool gives such a comprehensive overview of what good schools look like, it can be used to help Governors understand what they should be looking for when evaluating the schools they lead. It has been proven to help Governors fulfil their roles.
If a group of school leaders choose to share the outcomes with each other, whether that be across a MAT or a school improvement group, the tool effectively highlights areas of strength and developmental need in the group, so facilitating the sharing of excellence and the identification of training need.
This is what the Headteacher/CEO/Organisation’s main leader sees.
It’s possible to see individual leaders and a summary of all leaders so facilitating the identification of individuals’ and organisational strengths and developmental need.
What are the main features of the tool?
- Facilitates thorough self-evaluation
- Summary of performance built up in a diagram, facilitating the identification of strengths/developmental need of individual leaders and leaders across the school/MAT/cluster
- Helps school leaders see the link between their own development/performance and that of the school
- Links professional standards with inspection requirements
- Clear, concise and easy to use
- Facilitates thorough inspection preparaion/ follow up
What does it cost? What do schools get for their money?
PRICE: Site Licence: £145 Users: £100 each / year No contract/Tie In For Book Only, please contact Mike
For the cost, the school is provided with access to the tool for the required number of users for one year and a copy of the booklet for each of those users.
The site license is a one off payment.
Schools simply pay £100 per user per year. This ensures that they receive all updates to the digital tool as frameworks etc change,
There is no contract or tie in. Schools simply pay the invoice for the number of users they require at the start of each academic year.
Is the tool available now?
Yes. Simply click on the ‘Buy’ button to access the order form.
If this tool does not meet your needs, it is possible to develop a bespoke tool for you. Ideal for multi academy trusts, local authorities, businesses, international school networks and large organisations such as universities to provide absolute clarity with regards to ‘what good looks like’.