Appraising

We all learn by making mistakes and leaders need to create a safe environment for staff where this can happen. An effective appraiser motivates people to perform, love their jobs and be satisfied with what they achieve through training and development. I can support leaders who have the role of appraiser / performance manager to be successful in this area of responsibility.    *This can be planned and delivered using the school's / academy trust's own performance management procedures*

Focus areas for this support and development with appraisal can include: 

• techniques for effectively and ethically performance managing support staff / teaching staff
• motivating
• objectives setting
• evidence gathering
• carrying out difficult conversations 

'A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader. A great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves.' Eleanor Roosevelt, longest serving first lady of the United States and committed women's rights campaigner

'Leadership should be focused on extending the ladder of opportunity for everyone.'   Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

This includes for the Principal Leader themselves, and their appraisal is one of the most important responsibilities held by a Board of Governors or Trustees. The National Governance Association recommends that all Boards appoint an external advisor for this and it is a legal requirement to have one in place for maintained schools. The NGA explains that the role of the external advisor is to:

• provide advice and support on the legal process
• support with interpretation of performance data and other information
• advise on appropriate objective setting
• complete the necessary paperwork (reducing administrative workload for the panel)

When I provide this service as an external advisor I include:

• a meeting with the Headteacher / Head of School / Executive Headteacher / Principal / CEO
• a meeting with Governors / Trustees
• facilitation
• a detailed written report

I also offer an interim review service. 

Full details of these services are available on the Fees page of the website.

Governors or Trustees form part of the overall Leadership and Management of an education setting and are therefore open to scrutiny. The most effective Boards welcome regular external and internal reviews and are confident to self-evaluate themselves to ensure they are:

• meeting statutory and legal requirements
• Safeguarding compliant
• financially competent
• focused on a long-term, strategic vision for the education setting
• aware of current areas for learning and development
• accessing appropriate training 
• aware of their vacancies on the Board and the skills they require
• continually planning and motivated as a Board to further improve their impact on pupil / student outcomes

I can provide this service as a 'lead', 'support' or 'facilitator' role, planned in liaison with the Chair of the Board.