Leadership Development
At Turner Schools, we believe that by empowering leaders at all levels, we will create great schools.
In order to achieve this, we support all staff to realise their leadership potential through providing high quality Leadership Development opportunities, thereby enabling colleagues to develop their talents and discover exciting new career paths.
We are committed to providing a wide range of CPD opportunities, including online learning and, where relevant, access to external, nationally recognised leadership training and qualifications through the Ambition Institute. In addition, we offer more bespoke, practical in-school training, including the chance to shadow other leaders, receive high quality coaching, or undertake whole-school Change Management projects, supervised and supported by expert leaders. Furthermore, our standardised approach to providing high quality line management ensures that each meeting provides the chance for professional challenge and personal development.
We offer a variety of pathways, based on international leadership expert, Andy Buck’s, Leadership Matters approach, and underpinned by our Trust Leadership Principles, which provide a comprehensive path from Aspiring Middle Leaders to Trust Leaders. Currently, our training pathways range from the Aspiring Middle Leader pathway, through New and Expert Middle Leader training, to courses for Aspiring Senior Leaders and Expert Senior Leaders.
Chartered College of Teaching
Turner Schools is proud to have been issued with Institutional Member Status as part of the Chartered College of Teaching.
This status recognises and celebrates our Trust as an organisation who is committed to ongoing professional development, empowering our People to be knowledgeable, passionate and well respected in their profession through membership, accreditation and evidence informed practice.
MATT TATE
Acting Director of Secondary Education
Matthew started his career as a Religious Education Teacher before joining the London Challenge Future Leaders programme, a fast-track training programme that sought to identify talented leaders and place them in challenging schools.
Through this programme, he worked as part of leadership teams in London Challenge Schools. Moving to Kent he joined a School in Special Measures seeing it moved to Good in 24 months.
After successful work with Kent County Council supporting two schools in serious difficulties, he gained his first headship as the founding Headteacher of a Free School, securing the school’s building, good Ofsted judgment and its status as the 5th most oversubscribed school in Kent. He was then appointed Headteacher of a challenging school in serious difficulties and has overseen sustained improvements, including the school being in the top ten most improved schools in the country and being awarded “Best School” In the National Social Mobility Awards.
Matthew has expertise in school improvement, SEN, Safeguarding and Behaviour and is an Inclusive Leader of Education working across schools to improve inclusion.
Outside of school, he is passionate about motorbikes and cars and serves as the Chair of ThinkForward, a national charity that empowers young people through long- term coaching that gets them ready for the world of work.
DEAN JONES
Director of Primary Education
Dean has extensive experience of primary leadership, having been a Headteacher since 2008. Dean has also been an executive headteacher for 4 years and set up a multi-academy trust where he was the Chief Executive Officer for 3 years. Dean is an associate member of the Association of Education Advisers and has a wide range of experience in supporting schools and academy trusts in their school improvement journeys. Dean has particular interests and strengths in primary leadership, safeguarding and inclusion. Dean has QTS and holds the NPQEL.
Dean is passionate about water sports, walking his dog and travelling. Dean has visited every country in SE Asia and is aspiring to tick off most of Africa.