Testimonials
Feedback from a training day delivered to teachers from the Oaks Collegiate Group of schools, Birmingham (November 2023)
The workshop was extremely informative and offered a wide range of valuable guidance and resources that I can implement in my teaching Very well delivered by Chris with well-considered examples and great advice - Inspired Really well paced with the right amount of relevant content |
Brilliantly talked through, resources used were really great. Really appreciated the emphasis within certain talking points such as dictation for comps and outcomes for curriculum rather than a generalisation of the topic Very useful, especially as a trainee without much experience. Hearing about alternate methods and activities was very helpful |
Feedback from a Middle Leader coached in 2022-23
I found the NPQSL very helpful in shaping my approach to leadership. I couldn't be more grateful to have such a supportive and amazing coach! Chris, you really have made a difference! Your knowledge, guidance and thought provoking sessions really stretched me and allowed me to self reflect, supporting my development and approach to my own leadership. I am now taking this forward in the work I am doing with SLT on whole school areas.
International Secondary School Head of Department
Feedback from a Senior Leader coached in 2022-23
I cannot thank Chris enough. When he asked what I felt was the thing I got the most from throughout this [NPQSL] course – it is undoubtedly having Chris as my Leadership Performance Coach. He was my coach, my mentor, a support, a sounding board and someone that I could gain advice and experience from during our sessions and I want to thank him for everything, as I feel if I didn’t have Chris as my coach I would not have found the course to be as rewarding as it has been.
International Primary School Deputy Headteacher
Feedback from a Middle Leader coached in 2022-23
I want to thank you for having an impact on my life. I have developed as a leader due to your questioning. You are authentic and you create a space where people feel comfortable opening up and being real. I think this is your strength as it means that I could develop more because of you.
International Primary School Year Leader
Feedback from a GCSE Music Composition training day (June 2023)
Excellent and very informative. Such good ideas and tips to revolutionise how I teach composition in future Head of Music
Fantastic - very informative - good for networking and useful information for the music department in general Music Teacher
Well thought-out course with appropriate skills addressed. Lots to think of and implement Music Teacher
Well organised. Upbeat. Well paced. Nice balance of participants being able to ask questions and share experiences, best practice / suggestions. Good examples Head of Music
Very informative. Lots of useful tips on how to get better composition pieces with students struggling in theory and notation Music Teacher
Very informative: lots of great examples and plenty of time for constructive discussion with colleagues Graduate Assistant
Excellent, detailed, with practical applications Leader of Music
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Hugely informative. Really thought provoking for how to improve composition at KS4 and ensure [it is] accessible for all learners Head of Music
Very good day. Lots of Examples. Lots of discussions. Look[ed] over a variety of exam course and marking schemes. Light-hearted and personable. Safe environment to share experiences and support Music Teacher
Great interactive course - great for networking Music Teacher
Great - very informative and lots to think about Music Teacher
Really good - enjoyed the content and structure Music Teacher
Very helpful with great tips. Good discussions and lots of examples Music Teacher
Very good. Clear objectives and open discussion for development Head of Music
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Feedback from a Leadership training day (June 2023)
Fantastic course that is well-considered and structured. A wide variety of tops and plenty of opportunities for discussions. Speaker: Excellent Head of Music
Lots of useful tips for budding/new HODs. Really knowledgeable and experienced course leader and plenty of time to share experiences Head of Music
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Very well structured and excellently delivered Head of Music
Very good. Well planned and clearly presented. Lots of good info/tips Head of Contemporary Music
Very useful: some great issues discussed and helpful tips. Well paced and interesting Head of Academic Music
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Feedback from a GCSE Music Composition training day (November 2022)
Fantastic course. Very detailed and informative across the whole day. I will use a range of different strategies from today Head of Co-Curricular Music
Very professional and very detailed. I will be able to create and provide resources for students I have struggled with. I'm filled with more confidence Subject Lead for Music
Informative and engaging with some good, useful examples. I have ideas to take back to the classroom and more confidence that I can get those extra marks out of my students! Head of Music
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Very insightful; materials immediately applicable for my lessons; well organised Lead Teacher for Music
Very useful. Overview of a variety [of exam boards] proved a very useful comparison. Strategies for improving compositions are a clear toolkit [which] I can use straightway Subject Leader for Music
Very useful -- lots of helpful ideas for supporting students with limited skills Music teacher
Really great tips for helping lower ability students get started. I will use them Head of Music
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Feedback from a Leadership training day (June 2022)
Very well organised, included some very useful tips. One of the most useful pieces of CPD in 10 years of teaching! Thank you Head of Music
Enjoyable and informative -- good topics Director of Music
Great: some thought-provoking discussion Music Teacher
Well prepared and clearly presented... excellent discussion... thought provoking Assistant Director of Music
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Very well presented and interesting, useful information and insight. Approachable style and relevant Director of Music
Really useful to talk through the scenarios, but also just to hear from someone who has done it before -- particularly from an SLT perspective Acting Director of Music
Well informed, varied, lots of useful chances for discussion Head of Music
Absolutely fabulous Music Teacher
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Feedback from six training sessions (GCSE and Primary Music) delivered over two days (April 2021)
I would like to thank you for two brilliant workshop days on Monday and Wednesday. All the Composition material was well-conceived, appropriate to our curriculum and extremely useful. I am positive our teaching staff left the sessions with valuable new skills and tools that they can use straight away in the classroom environment, either face-to-face or on-line.
We would like also to acknowledge the excellent AQA GCSE focused sessions -- the lack of published materials in this area is notorious and we were very impressed with the amount of resources presented during the workshops. This will certainly make our life easier when teaching the updated syllabus and new set-pieces.
Dr Zezo Olimpio -- Head of Music, The British School, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
As an Education Consultant, I worked with Chris at Bishop Challoner over a three-year period (2011-2014). His clear thinking, creative and rigorous approach ensured that the school made great strides forward. He can synthesise a wide range of evidence and data to identify priorities and uses this information to draw up detailed strategic plans. I have been consistently impressed by his ability to find innovative solutions, even in the face of difficulty.
Working in partnership is a key feature of Chris’s work: he possesses considerable skill in using his expertise to guide and coach staff. He has the skills necessary to help busy school leaders plan and deliver initiatives and strategies, and his meticulous approach and attention to fine detail will help you ensure nothing is overlooked. He is well organised and intellectually rigorous, bringing an energy which both supports and challenges leaders and practitioners in their drive to raise standards. Chris is also flexible: he will support you when it is right to change strategy/direction.
When Chris became a headteacher, I welcomed the opportunity to join the governing body of his school. In all aspects of his work he demonstrated commitment to the highest standards and made significant changes to bring the school up to date in a short space of time. His proven expertise in such areas as quality review, curriculum design, staff development, policies, and safeguarding would be of benefit to any school seeking support from an Education Consultant.
Chris is calm in periods of difficulty and has considerable experience of working in a range of diverse communities. He quickly forms excellent rapport with students and staff, and his experiences stand him in good stead to work with a wide range of practitioners and schools in their pursuit of excellence. He is dependable and cooperative and is able to meet tight deadlines. Furthermore, he has a passion for education, is adaptive to change, and is an excellent analytical thinker.
In summary, I have every confidence in commending him as a true and inspirational professional, and an asset to schools who engage him as an Education Consultant.
Beverly Dobson -- Retired Secondary School Headteacher, Independent Educational Consultant
I have known Chris for many years since he trained as a teacher. His commitment to education and realising students’ potential is unfailing. He has a wealth of knowledge through superb school leadership experience.
Matthew Glenn -- Independent Education Consultant, former Principal of an all-through school
- The quality of teaching is impressive. A significant amount of teaching is outstanding. Its high quality inspires students to do their best and make rapid progress.
- Senior leaders and governors carefully analyse all aspects of the school’s work. This has helped to secure outstanding teaching through improved training. A detailed analysis of data has led to improved target setting which has improved achievement so that it is now outstanding.
- Students and their parents praise the quality of teaching. Many students, of all ages, showed great enthusiasm when talking about the quality of teaching. Teaching in subjects as diverse as English, French, history and mathematics was highly praised, with some sixth form students highlighting the quality of teaching in physics. As one sixth former commented, ‘We are so lucky to have so many such good teachers.’
- The quality of teaching has improved well since the previous inspection. The school has many gifted teachers who are highly committed to the students they teach. Excellent procedures are in place to ensure that the quality of teaching remains high and improves further.
Bishop Challoner Girls School & 6th Form Ofsted Report (Outstanding in all areas)
