With over 20 years’ experience Bob Harris, Assistant Headteacher at Northwick Manor Primary School, began a strategic school improvement role working across all schools in the Trust. 

"With over 20 years’ experience as an English lead in a variety of schools, it seemed a great opportunity to further develop my skills in a more advisory role without having to leave the classroom itself."

 

Development

"The school improvement role enhances your strategic skills but also enables you to develop important skills in building relationships and trust for and from your colleagues; without which any support or challenge you offer can be undermined. An important phrase to use when offering advice is ‘consider’… "

 

Different challenges
"It is a varied role because, whilst we are one family of schools, like all families, we are full of individuals. Each school is different. With that difference comes each own set of challenges. It is an extremely varied role which involves a great deal of thinking and often research. One school might be looking at how to develop effective sequences of learning; another may be looking to improve its KS1 reading data; another may be looking at specific mentoring of NQTs; another may be following a thread from SLT looking to support a member of staff; another might need help ensure assessments are accurate." 

 

Outcomes
"What is clear is the role is ultimately about improving pupils’ outcomes, not just in data but also in experiences. On a personal level it has been of great benefit as it has enabled me to see all the truly impressive things which happen in other schools and to copy or adapt them in my own as well as in other settings."