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Our Associates

As well as Judith, Lesley and Vicky, we have small team of associates who do regular work for us. All have worked alongside us, so we are confident of their approach and skill. We also use a range of individuals and schools to provide specialists support when needed. If you are interested in becoming an associate, please do contact us. If you are a school with something wonderful to share - please do let us know. We would love to hear from you!

Andrew Evans

Andrew has enjoyed the privilege of working in primary education since 1991. Andrew holds a PGCE, NPQH and an MA in Primary Education, in addition to post-graduate qualifications in Law. Andrew has led a number of  schools successfully, in both London and in the South West. He has extensive experience in providing consultant school improvement support for schools, local authorities and trusts, across a wide range of community contexts and needs.

Andrew currently works as a consultant headteacher, school improvement advisor and as an Ofsted South West Inspector.

Professional experience

  • Current Ofsted Inspector:
  • 2-3 inspections per month to support current advisory practice.
  • Specialisms include Maths (hold MA in Primary Maths Education); evaluating leadership at all levels; assessment of curriculum impact across core/wider curriculum and exploring how schools support the personal development of all pupils.
  • Extensive experience around small school / mixed-age class inspections.
  • School Improvement Advisor:
  • Supported over 40 schools in a variety of settings.
  • Specialisms include coaching middle leaders, developing sustainable models of leadership and succession planning.
  • Experienced at ‘walking’ alongside new heads with regular, bespoke support programmes, supporting interim leaders and working with groups of school leaders eg small school Heads
  • Significant faith school background in teaching, as a Head and an Advisor; sat on Southwark Diocesan Board of Education for 5 years and council SACRE for 3 years.
  • Primary Headteacher:
  • Over 15yrs across three schools
  • Led schools to Good, to Outstanding and improved Outstanding schools
  • New school builds and supported schools into trusts
  • Staff restructuring and curriculum re-design.
  • Led both faith and community schools in urban and suburban/rural settings.

Laura Bromburgh

Laura is passionate about improving the life chances of all young people through improved education, health, and care. She supports schools, academies and Trusts across the South West in strategic leadership (including Business Planning, SEF and SDP writing), school reviews and evaluations and improving Governance. Laura is a trained Independent Investigator for resolving complex complaints – aiming to achieve a positive outcome for all.

Professional experience includes:

  • School Improvement Advisor 
  • Gloucestershire Primary Head teacher for 12 years
  • Chief Executive Officer of a secondary school MAT
  • Trained Ofsted inspector
  • DFE trained External Advisor for Head teacher Performance reviews
  • ACAS trained Independent Investigator for school complaints
  • Current Director / Trustee of a Worcestershire MAT
  • Independent consultant working with Local Authorities, MAT CEOs, DFE, Diocese and Catholic Schools.
  • NPQH Trainer and Assessor
  • Regional Director, Achievement for All

Having gained a wide range of educational leadership experience over 30 years, Laura provides a range of specialist leadership support to schools in all phases of education (0-18).

 

Louise Norris

Louise is a qualified, professional coach with more than 20 years’ experience in education, school leadership and school improvement.

She has been a headteacher of both small and large schools where  she developed coaching approaches and conducted research into their application in supporting teachers’ professional development and wellbeing.

Since 2018, Louise has been based in a large local authority working as a school improvement advisor, leadership coach and facilitator. Louise supports leaders in education, including headteachers, NPQEL candidates and executive leaders, through 1 to 1 and group coaching. She works with school and MAT leaders to grow their coaching skills and personal resilience, and to implement programmes of coaching that improve the practice of leaders and teachers. As an advisor, Louise works closely with headteachers to evaluate and improve school effectiveness and to strengthen teaching, curriculum design, and leadership capacity and impact. 

Areas of Expertise

  • 1 to 1, group and team coaching for school leaders, across hubs and with executive and governance teams
  • Coaching training and development of coaching programmes including peer coaching to strengthen pedagogy (instructional coaching) and to support peer reviews
  • Facilitation for leaders and governors establishing shared values, vision, strategic aims and action plans
  • Middle leadership development, for example enabling subject leaders to effectively monitor teaching and learning, provide feedback and drive improvement
  • Curriculum development particularly in art and design, and design and technology

Catherine Nyman

Catherine is a highly experienced education professional and qualified coach/supervisor with a diverse background in school leadership, coaching, and school & system improvement. As the founder of Nyman Coaching Associates (May 2016), she specialises in coaching individuals, groups, and staff teams, focusing on relationship building, subject expertise development, challenge management, and inspection preparation. Her approach is centred on solution focused, trauma informed practice, emphasising the power of strong teams within organisations.

 

Catherine has led schools in challenge, including those in special measures. This demanding work has provided her with invaluable insights into school turnaround strategies. Her expertise in school improvement is further demonstrated through her work as a Local Improvement Officer (LIO) for two local authorities and as a private LIO for schools ranging from "Requires Improvement" to "Outstanding" in six counties. In this capacity, she develops bespoke programmes, leads CPD, engages in all types of monitoring and evaluation- formal and informal, conducts Performance Management Reviews, works with governing bodies, and creates other exciting opportunities for development

Helen Sowden

Helen is an experienced Education and SEND Consultant with over thirty-six years in primary education, including fourteen years in senior leadership and seven years as a headteacher. Her career has centred on securing sustainable school improvement, strengthening leadership and championing inclusive practice. She has led three diverse primary schools — small rural, large community and church settings — across different local authorities. In addition to this she has worked in an International School and British Service School abroad and led a Behaviour and Language Unit .
 
In her most recent substantive headship, the school achieved a ‘Good’ Ofsted judgement. Prior to this, in a seconded headteacher role, I successfully led a school from Requires Improvement to Good, embedding clear strategic direction and building leadership capacity to sustain improvement.
 
She currently work part-time as a Local Authority School Improvement Adviser, supporting sixteen schools through challenge, support and strategic development planning. She has trained to conduct NASEN SEND Reviews and provide additional oversight and guidance to strengthen SEND provision, leadership and inclusive systems. Alongside this, she works independently as an Education Consultant, offering bespoke support including leadership coaching, SEND and Inclusion reviews, inspection preparation and school improvement planning. She is recognised for her ability to build open, honest professional relationships, understand context quickly and balance support with constructive challenge.
 
She is also a voluntary Trustee and Governor for The Mulberry Bush Charity, contributing to governance and strategic oversight.
 
Her work is driven by a strong moral purpose: ensuring inclusive, well-led schools enable every child to thrive.

“As a newly appointed Acting Headteacher two years ago, I was incredibly grateful for the support and guidance provided by Judith and Lesley in their roles as School Improvement Partners. Their extensive experience in leading school improvement has been invaluable on my journey, and I am delighted to now be the substantive Headteacher. I have achieved so much within my school thanks to their unwavering guidance and support. Their contribution has been genuinely invaluable.”

- Liz - headteacher