Education Leadership and Safeguarding Consultancy
Providing specialist safeguarding and leadership support to organisations and schools enabling them to reduce risk, strengthen culture and tackle difficult issues head-on
With first-hand experience of how schools really operate, I help leaders to find pragmatic, workable solutions in a challenging and fast-evolving landscape.
As a former deputy head pastoral and DSL, I have led complex pastoral and safeguarding systems in high-stakes environments. My extensive experience in the independent sector including my work as an inspector, alongside serving as a trustee in a large secondary academy, gives me a clear, current understanding of effective practice in reality, not just in theory.
My career spans more than 25 years across the commercial and education sectors, giving me a strong blend of strategic and operational insight. After a decade as a buyer and trading manager for the Kingfisher Group and Sainsbury’s, I moved into education, working as a teacher, head of department and head of year before progressing into educational senior leadership.
I bring high standards, warmth and humour to serious work. My strengths lie in building high-functioning teams, and challenging assumptions to achieve better outcomes. An experienced speaker and facilitator, I deliver insets, assemblies, workshops and thought leadership for schools and organisations across the sector.
Whatever your brief, you can expect integrity, insight and practical impact.
about me
Professional supervision, workshops and training
Structured 1:1 or group safeguarding supervision for DSLs (NSPCC trained)
Wellbeing supervision for executive and senior leaders
Safeguarding training for staff, governors and trustees, aligned with the ISI and new Ofsted frameworks
Insets, workshops, talks and training, aligned with statutory guidance and KCSIE
services
Strategy and compliance
Audit and advice on inspection readiness and compliance
Policy review and development
Independent investigations and reviews
Developing measurable pastoral and wellbeing strategies to support students
Integrating inclusion and belonging into core practice
Leadership and performance coaching
1:1 or group team building and development sessions
Executive and performance coaching for senior leaders and those new to leadership
All consultancy work is tailored to meet the need of the individual setting. Please get in touch to discuss a package to meet your requirements.
Examples include:
Safeguarding insets including start of year KCSIE updates
Training for new safeguarding governors and trustees including the workshop How to work effectively with your DSL
Workshop When Global Conflict Enters the School Gates (includes tackling misinformation and disinformation)
Working together with Parents – Keeping Conversations Open
Pastoral care: What’s coming next?
training, talks and workshops
testimonials
“I was fortunate enough to hear you speak and share the incredible and important work you are engaged in. You provide a model for us all in how we can better facilitate dialogue, discussion and debate within our own schools - especially regarding world events which impact upon our own communities so deeply. Hearing how you have cultivated approaches that enable students to ‘disagree agreeably’ was truly inspiring.”
— Executive Headteacher
“Your inset presentation to staff was really clear and engaging. The session flew by and that is testament to how you designed the session. Thank you.”
— Independent School Senior Lead
“The coaching sessions have been exceptionally valuable, particularly in facilitating reflection and supporting self-discovery through thoughtful prompting and constructive questioning. Claire has demonstrated considerable understanding and empathy during a particularly challenging period in my professional life. She has provided a supportive environment in which I have been able to explore situations from multiple perspectives, enabling me to gain greater clarity and insight and a renewed sense of direction.”
— Executive Client
“Thank you very much for the excellent webinar you gave this week – the time and effort you have put into it was clearly evident and the event was well received by those present.”
— Director of Professional Learning
“The coaching sessions have been incredibly valuable, creating a supportive space where I’ve felt comfortable reflecting openly on my development… Claire’s insight and experience have given me greater clarity and confidence in my professional journey.”
— Education lead
“I can’t recommend Claire’s safeguarding supervision enough. Our sessions have been an invaluable source of support to reflect on active casework and stay up to date with changing guidance. Claire is warm, friendly and knowledgeable. She strikes a much-needed balance between offering reassurance and challenging me to trust my own instincts. I genuinely look forward to our sessions and see them as a crucial part of my professional practice.”
— Designated Safeguarding Lead
blog
Pastoral care has always been unpredictable, but the pace and complexity of today's challenges are increasing rapidly. As we look to the future, a new wave of pastoral issues is emerging — some issues familiar yet intensifying, others we’ve yet to fully understand. Informed by student voice and several years working in pastoral leadership, here are five key pastoral concerns that I believe will define the next phase of student support in schools.
contact me
Please get in touch to discuss a package to meet your requirements.
contact details
claireshooterconsulting@gmail.com