College Leadership Services’ Improve service is delivered by an expert team of trained inspectors with skills in diagnosis, coaching, training, change management and best practice in leading continuous improvement.
Improve focuses on enabling rapid and sustainable quality improvement in the education sector, either for potentially failing areas of provision or for potentially outstanding areas. Exemplifying best practice in coaching and solutions-focused approaches to quality improvement, we focus on achievement for learners and value for money.
Improve works across the education sector engaging with providers in a professional dialogue on what excellence actually looks and feels like. We pride ourselves in contributing significantly to learners’ positive learning experiences and we look to link all of our strategies to the well-being and educational development of young people and adults.
Its purpose is to support leaders, managers and others responsible for the quality of a provider’s provision in honestly taking stock of the issues and enabling rapid and sustainable improvement.
In a supportive relationship, we can deliver the necessary tough judgements and then provide the expert support to ensure that quality improvement will follow quickly. We know what inspectors and other external assessors will be looking out for and we can help you to make sure teaching departments and other aspects of provision do themselves justice. We offer a wide range of consultancy support, including:
Critical friend support for senior and middle managers
A senior consultant will undertake a detailed review and analysis of the impact of key strategies and continuous improvement processes. Critical friend support can provide an honest external assessment of the effectiveness of key systems and functions, including:
• Quality improvement systems that work
• Teaching and learning support
• Self-assessment and improvement planning
• Promotion of equality and diversity
• Response to ECM outcomes
• Effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements
• Value for money and impact measurement
• Pre and post inspection support
• Lesson observation process and its link with improvement planning
Curriculum review and/or inspection preparation
Targeted observation, assessment and practical quality support for a potential failing curriculum subject (or other aspect of provision) or for an area that is failing to reach potential.
Specialist inspector/advisors will carry out lesson observations and provide coaching, advice and guidance for staff and managers. Support will include review of the impact of self-assessment, and improvement planning in the subject.
Reports will include recommendations relating to continuous improvement processes and leading and managing change.
SAR Surgeries
Using inspection, coaching and mentoring methodologies, our senior consultancy team of trained Ofsted inspectors will work with your curriculum heads and course leaders across a range of subject sector areas to ensure curriculum SRAs and course reviews are:
• Responsive to CIF, FfE, ECM safeguarding and E&D agendas
• Aligned to key organisational strategic priorities
• Judgement rich
• Supported by appropriate evidence
• Focused on priority areas
• Standardised
To ensure outstanding continuous improvement, we can also work with you to produce Quality Improvement Action Plans (QIPs) which:
• Lead to meaningful and outcome-focused action plans
• Provide clear impact measures
Consultants will deliver a series of one hour surgeries with Heads of Departments and/or Course Leaders. Each consultant will review up to five SARs, course reviews or related QIPs per day.
Teaching and Learning: “Change Agent” Support
Teaching learning is the most vital component to raising achievement of learners and preparing them for the world of work and higher education. Change agent support is tailored to meet your needs, but can focus on helping teachers to use active learning and formative assessment strategies; improve differentiation to meet all learners’ needs; incorporate effective behaviour strategies, assessment for learning and challenge for all learners.
External Lesson Observation Services
Providing external validation of internal observation grades and processes, this service offers both subject specialist observers and generic senior observers as follows:
• Paired observations on curriculum sessions identified by the provider and associated feedback by internal observers to teachers
• Written observation records provided for each teacher observed
• Verbal feedback and advice provided for each internal observer on the accuracy of judgements, quality of feedback and recommendations for improvement made
• Written observation records provided for each internal observer observed
• A report summarising strengths, satisfactory aspects and weaknesses of the school’s internal observation process and team with recommendations for sustainable improvement and best practice transfer.
“Barnsley College has undergone rapid improvement in the past 3 years, culminating with Ofsted grading us ‘Outstanding’ in Nov 2010; with the best grade profile of any GFE in the country since the introduction of the Common Inspection Framework. Over this period Barnsley College has worked very closely with Protocol National’s Head of Observe & Improve and their consultants, using a variety of initiatives to support and enable improvements, with particular emphasis on self-assessment and teaching and learning.
The Head of Observe & Improve’s expertise, integrity and commitment, together with the excellent working relationship, have been instrumental in Barnsley College’s relentless drive towards outstanding and continual improvement.”
Barnsley College
For further information contact Nicola Bacon
tel: 0115 911 1113 or e-mail: nbacon@collegeleadership.co.uk
Our team of senior trainers and consultants are highly experienced with proven expertise and up-to-date knowledge on best practice in the education sector.
Deborah McVey MSc; Cert Ed;
Head of Observe and Improve
Deborah leads, and ensures the quality of all the education support and training services. With an impressive reputation across the education sector, she is a highly regarded consultant and incredibly popular and influential trainer. An inspector for Ofsted since 2002, she is known for her dynamic and engaging interpersonal skills and ‘down to earth’ approach. Her coaching skill is invaluable towards assisting providers to improve and find solutions. Deborah’s training sessions and presentations are much sought after.
Nicola Bacon
Observe and Improve Coordinator
Nicola is highly experienced in providing central support and communications for a wide range of national events and complex projects, and is well known for her outstanding organisational skills and high levels of client care she provides.