“What I have done has made me what I am.”

In 1970, I started teaching English in comprehensive schools. After progressing through senior leadership and advisory work, I became Deputy Chief Inspector for Nottinghamshire Local Education Authority in 1993. Later I realised that externally imposed school improvement, especially Ofsted Inspections were often counterproductive. I wanted to work from within,

In 1998 I chose freelance consultancy to work alongside colleagues in schools, colleges and local authorities. My consultancy widened from education to encompass leadership, mentoring and partnering within businesses, charities and community groups. I worked with small and large organisations nationally and internationally. All of this broadened my view and experience of leadership.

Career highlights

Writing and publishing ‘The Evaluation of Pastoral Care & PSHE’, together with regular articles and posts on leadership, evaluation, wellbeing and success.
Executive headships improving schools requiring support (I reject the label ‘failing’).
Lead Facilitator and Consultant Leader with the National College for Teaching and Leadership
Regional Curriculum Adviser for the Department for Education.
International leadership consultancy work in Cyprus, Gibraltar, Greece and Kenya.
Mentoring over 1,500 start-up consultancies and businesses around the UK.
Creating iAbacus online self-evaluation and strategic planning tool.
Improvement and Transformation cabinet member for Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2015-2023

I'm was proud to be chair of Kenyan Educational Support from 2010 until 2023 when we closed because Kenya funded secondary education. The charity provided over 200 scholarships to gifted, disadvantaged Kenyan youngsters who would otherwise have little, or no education. Our scholars, o 100+ through University, are now making a huge difference to our world.

I was very pleased to be elected chair of governors at Ripley Infant School in 2018. In 2022 I was asked and volunteered to be a Lead Governor for Derbyshire Local Authority.

Personal highlights

Publishing my anthology of poems and short stories ‘Desire Lines’.
Chairing the Kenyan Educational Support charity.
High altitude trekking and climbing: Dhaulagiri and Manaslu circuits in the Himalaya and Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

I’m often found in my workshop restoring, repairing and creating items following my family’s tradition. I also enjoy blacksmithing and creating metal sculptures in a forge I built in 1993.