Achieving Excellence

Hallam Learning is proud to be appointed as Managing Partner for Governor Mark.

Governor Mark is a national award. It is a quality mark which provides external evaluation of the quality of governance in schools and academies.

Governor Mark was developed to recognise the difference governing boards make to school and academy leadership and management. It is a mechanism to achieve accreditation against an agreed quality standard. There are many evaluation tools available which focus on process and actions, but Governor Mark is the only quality assessment process that clearly identifies the impact of the governing board on school improvement and outcomes for children and young people.’

Find out more about Governor Mark, how to apply and the benefits for your school or academy.

Our highly skilled team at Hallam Learning has over 20 years’ experience undertaking board evaluations.

We work with clients to tailor the evaluation to organisational needs and deliver rigorous impartial advice. We offer a flexible approach and assess carefully the needs of each client to design and develop a relevant review framework for your context.

We have particular expertise in school and academy governance and conduct professional external reviews for all educational establishments, including maintained schools, independent schools and multi-academy trusts We aim to work with boards in a supported self-evaluation process based on a forensic objective assessment of the quality of their work using governing board documents, online questionnaires and conversations with staff and board members. Our team includes National Leaders of Governance and those holding Department for Education (DfE) accreditation in External Reviews of Governance through the Teaching Schools Council.

Our experience means that we have the skills to undertake board evaluations across public sector and commercial organisations.

When undertaking governance reviews, we draw on good practice from ICSA, The Governance Institute and from sector specific organisations.

Please contact us for more information.

We design and deliver governance and leadership programmes that develop the confidence of individuals and teams to make a difference to educational outcomes and business performance.

We support local authorities, multi-academy trusts, and individual school and education settings. We work closely and collaboratively with clients to develop a complete understanding of their aims and to provide bespoke workshops and events with practical application that will provide leaders and board members with skills and knowledge to make a difference.

Our programmes include, for example:

• Induction for governors/trustees/directors
• Effective recruitment/HR for board members
• The board’s role in delivering effective quality of education
• Understanding multi-academy trusts
• Effective governance in multi-academy trusts
• Clerking in maintained schools
• Clerking in multi-academy trusts
• Delivering rigorous and effective support and challenge
• Visiting educational settings and learning walks for board members
• Understanding the curriculum for board members
• Preparing for Ofsted
• Safeguarding
• The role of the chair
• Governor Mark and board self-evaluation
• Strategic reviews and growth strategy
• Effective and efficient governance

Please contact us for more information.

We conduct complex, challenging and sensitive workplace investigations often in respect of senior leaders and Board members, into grievances and allegations of misconduct as well as wider investigations into complaints and other issues.

An independent investigation ensures no bias or pre-conceived ideas; we explore the real issues, look at the facts and evidence to understand what has happened in each individual case. Our review reports will ensure that you have everything you need to make the right decision about what to do.

We have conducted investigations for large corporates as well as schools, academy trusts and small businesses.

Investigations and disciplinary interviews by someone independent from the organisation and completely independent from the senior executive team help to ensure that the employee or board member receives a fair hearing, whilst ensuring that the employer also receives effective independent advice on the next steps.

Our investigations have included:

• bullying and harassment, including at Board/CEO/Headteacher level
• disciplinary issues
• collective grievances
• bringing the organisation into disrepute
• maladministration of exam/test papers
• whistleblowing
• breach of trust and confidence

For more information on how we can support you or your team please contact us.

Coaching is the art of accessing and then improving the performance, learning and development of another.  It is one of the most effective tools to use in organisations to improve performance and productivity or educational outcomes. It differs from more traditional training and development programmes because the individual being coachedtakes control of their actions and makes the changes required to improve.

Coaching is not only a remedial process; our aim is to use coaching to improve performance for executives, school leaders and other managers. In a rapidly changing environment even top performers will benefit from the chance to reflect on what works well for them, how to remain positive and to sustain excellence.

Coaching represents a just-in time, cost effective development option that is also geared tostrategic objectives.

Our coaching provision is led by Maxine Ward who ensures that executive leaders and board members receive coaching in a confidential environment and receive personal attention.

Our approach to coaching is based on a sound understanding of different organisational contexts.

Maxine describes her coaching proposition...

As an Ashridge developed coach, I will work with you, taking strategic, collaborative and innovative approaches that will help you to enhance your personal and professional relationships, your commercial awareness and your contribution to improving organisational performance that has an impact on outcomes.

For more information on how we can support you or your team please contact us.