The performance review of the school trust CEO or Executive Leader is one of the Board’s most significant responsibilities. It is key to the Board’s leadership of strategy and values, its accountability for educational outcomes and financial health, and supports the development and well-being of the trust’s most senior employee.
Continuing the conversation is the final part in a series of three guidance notes on the performance review of chief executives. The series provides robust sector- and role-specific guidance on the principles and practices of executive performance review to support your trust’s process from end-to-end, whatever its size or stage of development.
The guidance has been developed by the Confederation of School Trusts (CST) in partnership with BlueSky Education, experts in appraisal and professional learning, and Browne Jacobson, experts in education HR and law.
What you will learn in this guidance paper
Conversations with purpose: Earlier parts of these guidance pieces demonstrated that it is helpful when setting objectives to consider milestones that can be useful to indicate progress towards the agreed goals. This final part will explore the very best ways to maintain these conversations, ensure they are positive, and lead to effective outcomes.
Using strength-based models: If developmental conversations are to be built into regular interactions then it is useful to keep in mind some of the well known models used today to help do that. This Guidance explores a selection of these models, including GROW and OSKAR.
The importance of listening: Additionally, the guidance document emphasises the rarity and importance of deep listening in effective communication, drawing insights from the books “Co-active Coaching” by Henry and Karen Kimsey-House, Phillip Sandahl and Laura Whitworth & “Radical Candor” by Kim Scott. It categorises listening into three levels of depth and encourages the practice of Level 3 global listening for genuine understanding, noting that this approach can reveal new insights even in long-standing relationships.
Putting it into practice: Repeating supportive feedback in anticipated situations and fostering strength recognition among a leadership team and beyond builds resilience, while utilising a 360-degree feedback tool, like BlueSky’s Opal Review, in a trust environment enhances resilience and performance.
Please complete the form to download the full Information paper.
Executive performance review enables the Board and the Executive Leader to develop clear objectives that align with the trust’s strategic priorities, agree how they will be measured, and define what good outcomes look like. This creates a framework for the Chair’s work with the Executive Leader across the year to hold them accountable for achieving the agreed goals and provide the ongoing support that will help them to succeed.
BlueSky Education is a CST Platinum Partner for Appraisal, Professional Learning, Quality Assurance and Strategic Development.
