GLK commenced working with The Burgate School and Sixth Form in 2021 along with four secondary school looking to explore creating a new multi-academy trust. This was a new project for the group of schools who were keen to explore the various options, consider impact and benefit, and to formulate a plan going forward. Throughout the project we were keen to support the group to find the best possible outcome for each of the schools and to ensure the necessary collaboration and governance was in place.
GLK Solutions led several workshops with the schools to discuss and develop the MAT offer further. As part of the project we create a series of working groups to consider all aspects of being within a trust such as curriculum collaboration, finance, and governance. Throughout the project we responded to the needs of the group, identifying their priorities and ensuring the project moved at the pace required of all stakeholders. In addition, we provided:
- Support and contact with the Regional Directors Office.
- Knowledge and guidance in respect of the aspects of forming a trust, effective governance, due diligence, policies, and structure.
- Led and co-ordinated workshops with wider stakeholders representing the schools to present outcomes and agree forward actions.
- Acted as a conduit between the schools, managing actions and delivery to move the project forward.
- Provided templates and resources to further develop the project such as action plans, options appraisals, business case, core offer summary, and trust action and strategic plan.
As a group of five headteachers working together on an ambitious project to form a brand new multi academy trust, we quickly developed a great partnership with GLK solutions and their dedication to our project was evident from the outset. GLK Solutions has a unique team of professionals whose project management was interpersonal, knowledge rich and able to stimulate significant output.
Working to our agenda, Gemma and her team were able to professionally steer the project when challenges were met. They remained flexible and responsive throughout and their careful management ensured that the project remained on track. Their approach was carefully built on appreciating and understanding what we hoped to achieve through our project. The bespoke systems and processes put in place to support the project meant that we could easily keep track of the myriad documents and resources we needed to develop and refer to.
I particularly appreciated their attention to detail and creative approach which helped to draw out our ideas, enabling us to develop them and synthesise them in a coherent way. Their astute interactions stimulated meaningful conversation within our team and expedited the decision-making process.
GLK’s knowledge and expertise was dynamic and broad, encompassing key strategic developmental areas from educational ethos and culture through to structural design as well as technical detail and the finer elements of due diligence. GLK has the distinct advantage of a wealth of first-hand experience and inside knowledge which added real value to our project. GLK were able to apply their own network connections to the advantage of our bespoke project where inside knowledge made a real difference and saved us valuable time. GLK facilitated the whole process from the macro to the micro, enabling us to furnish the project with our own ideas and collective strategy.
Ultimately, GLK helped us to never lose sight of the key purpose of our project – improving the quality of education for the pupils/students in our schools. Overall, I would strongly recommend GLK and not hesitate to use them again.
David Pover
Headteacher | The Burgate School and Sixth Form