Primary Headteacher for sixteen years in two schools.
Local authority primary school adviser for 12 years including two years as senior LA adviser for schools in Gravesend and Dartford
Ofsted Inspector from 2000 to 2007
Educational consultant from 2012 to the present, working with contracts from the Kent and Medway LAs, the Aquila MAT as well as numerous individual school projects
Ofsted: Kennington good outcome with outstanding elements from a start in serious weakness, Kingsnorth: Good with outstanding elements, St Georges: Good with outstanding elements.
Supporting Kingsnorth as they take up the role as Lead for the English Hub for Kent and the South East region.
As an LA consultant, I have extensive experience of school improvement most recently in Dover, Thanet, Canterbury and Swale. This has included working with schools causing serious concern. Where necessary Headteachers have been removed, recovery plans put in place, support brokered and the school’s progress regularly monitored.
When I was the LA adviser for Thanet, Thanet had the highest percentage of primary schools above floor standard in Kent in 2012. Progress in English resulted in Thanet in 8th position from 12th, and 6th place in Maths from 12th in 2012
Sheila Wilding and Simon Molony are the directors of Knights Educational. They are educational consultants of many years’ experience.
Both are ex- Primary Headteachers, Ofsted inspectors and local Authority advisers who have a very successful track record in School Improvement. Their track record of raising standards in school is exemplary.
We are happy to tailor professional development to individual school needs as we offer a personal approach to school improvement as every school is different. The following will give you an idea of what we can offer:-
Helping senior leaders and teachers understand and interpret data
Preparation for Ofsted inspection including school self-evaluation
School reviews
Supporting the development of good and outstanding teaching by undertaking joint lesson observations with SLT/middle leaders, highlighting and supporting development needs
Strategic development of SLT/middle leaders
Mentoring and coaching
Performance management advice to governors for the headteacher process
School Improvement planning including the use of data to inform planning
Governor training and development including governor self-evaluation
Development of effective assessment systems including pupil progress meetings and all aspects of assessment for learning (A4L)
Use of assessment information to inform lesson planning
Appointments of senior staff including Headteachers
Curriculum review, design and implementation