Backdrop's team - Backdrop Leadership

Meet the Team

Knowledgeable, Experienced and very Human

I am really pleased to introduce you to the Backdrop Leadership Group family.

They are a warm, talented and experienced team of:

– executive and leadership coaches and mentors

– well-being and life style coaches and mentors

– educational consultants

– school improvement advisors and so much more

As some one who was born in the 7o’s I cannot help but draw upon analogies based on war movies and westerns. I like to think of us like ‘Kelly’s Heros’ and ‘The Magnificent 7’ (the one with Yule Brynner), but also functional, trustworthy and honest.

We at Backdrop work together as a family unit and we invite you to become part of that brethren.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Jon Gibson, Director, Coach & Consultant

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Jon Gibson – Lead Consultant & Executive Coach

Jon is an educational consultant, ILM Level 7 executive coach and SEND mentor who has conducted over one hundred reviews in secondary, primary, middle, first and special schools. Jon has worked/led projects in Education Opportunity Areas and their equivalent in Wales.

Sara Alston – Safeguarding & SEN Consutant

Sara is an independent SEND and Safeguarding Consultant and Trainer with over 30 years teaching experience. She works as a multi-agency trainer for Surrey Safeguarding Children’s Board. She is accredited by CEOP and the Safer Recruitment Consortium. She is also a published author of books on SEND and TA deplotment.

Sue Allingham – EYFS Consultant

Sue is an EYFS consultant with expertise and passion for teaching and learning in the Early Years sector. She started with her classroom experience and Senior Lead role as Early Years Co-Ordinator in the late 1980’s. Moving into research Sue gained an MA followed by a Doctorate, both in Early Years Education from Sheffield University.

Kate Browning – SEND Consultant

Kate is a well-regarded lead professional in school improvement for SEND. She has over 25 years of experience as a teacher, SENCo, Local Authority School Improvement Officer for SEN and Education Officer for NASEN. She teaches the NASENCo course and facilitates SENCo Networks across the Midlands. She also lecturers on SEND for Warwick, Northampton and Derby Universities.

Myles Pilling – Assistive Technology Consultant

Myles has been a special schools teacher for over 30 years. He was Wiltshire’s ICT SEN Advisor for 10 years where he ran a loan bank of ICT equipment to support individual pupils with special needs in mainstream schools. He is a well-known speaker both in Wiltshire and Nationally. Myles is a part-time, external lecturer to Bath Spa University inputting expert ICT information within their BA and MA Dyslexia courses.

Michael Purchase – Leadership Consultant

Michael is a former special head teacher of 19 years with a number of successful chnage projects. He is a successful school improvement partner, coach and mentor. He is also a teacher trainer with a well-regarded university. He specialises in SEND and inclusion, working with single schools and multi-school projects (local authorities and MATs).

Yola Jacobsen – FE SEND Consultant

Yola’s career started as a practitioner and manager of provision for people with learning disabilities returning to the community from long-stays in hospitals. Her work for national education organisations focussed on SEND reforms policy and project management covering supported employment, apprenticeships, person-centred working, and transition to college for young people with autism. Yola is the manager of Natspec’s specialist CPD service.

Andrew Steward – Executive Coach & Leadership Consultant

Andrew has a masters in education and a considerable depth & range of experience in leadership (up to Headteacher level). His experience includes strategic planning at school, MAT and system level, and complaints investigation. In addition, his has expertise in curriculum, safeguarding and vulnerable children work. He is on the ILM L7 executive & leadership coaching award and is a qualified mediator. Not forgetting that he is also a C-Me colour profiling facilitator.

Catherine Pearce – Executive and Well Being Coach

Catherine is a highly-skilled ICF-accredited coach (ACC). She has extensive business experience with a natural empathy and positivity which provides practical support for executives and any other established and emerging leaders. She particularly benefits those in times of transition and challenge, focusing on growth and new possibilities. Helping organisations to create inclusive cultures, where individuals can thrive, she works with leaders to improves wellbeing and performance.

How Would You Like To Work With Us?

Education Consultancy

I want to know more about your consultancy, coaching, mentoring or supervision services for education professionals.

Education Consultancy

Leadership coaching or mentoring

I am looking for leadership coaching or mentoring and would like to know more about your offer.

Leadership Coaching

Wellbeing support

I am looking for wellbeing or personal coaching or mentoring and would like to know more about your offer.

Wellbeing and Personal Coaching

Get In Touch

Have Some Questions?

Almost everyone can benefit from coaching or mentoring.

If you are ready to set yourself professional or personal goals, want to make a positive difference in your life (at work or at home) then the coaching and mentoring team can help you.

The short answer is yes.

The Backdrop team have a wide range of experience in mainstream, independent and special schools and have supported hundreds of settings.

Whatever your issue, we will introduce you to the right person for your needs. Contact us for an initial chat

Contacting us is one click away.

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As you’d expect, the exact cost depends upon the service you need, but we will endeavour to work to your budget.

Please contact us and we will discuss your needs and give you a great cost effective quote.

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'An excellent process. Challenging but very supportive. Lots of new ideas, even when we are doing very well, we could do better...'

- Headteacher

'[Backdrop} has provided me with valuable guidance in how to raise the attainment of PP children in our school. [The] advice has been incredibly important in shaping our PP policies and plans, giving us a solid base on which to build on."

- Primary Assistant Headteacher and PP lead

"As with any "audit" type process there is anxiety and trepidation. Can I go on line as saying any concerns I had were diminished immediately by the warm, disarming nature of [Backdrop]. I found the whole experience enlightening and informative and certainly backed my mantra of "everyday is a school day". Many thanks"

- Assistant Headteacher, Secondary

Following our positive Ofsted inspection in 2017 we were keen to continue to drive improvements, especially to have a cohesive system in place to develop our strategic aims and development plans across education, therapy and care provided at St Rose’s for students with physical disabilities and complex health needs. Jon was recommended as someone who might be able to support us, and we were lucky enough to engage his services in 2018. At the beginning he listened to what we wanted and was able to translate our thoughts into a Strategic Plan and corresponding development plans. This has grown over the last 5 years and we now have a clear process that our self-evaluation feeds into as well as performance reviews for all staff. He has helped us to work with education, therapy and care staff to quality assure our offer. As well as this he has helped us to focus our governance and has provided support and training to our governing body. Jon has supported us to keep up to date with changes in legislation and continues to suggest ways that we can make improvements. He continues to challenge us during each visit and there is no doubt that the quality of what we do has improved as a result. This was borne out in a recent care inspection when we received outstanding for leadership and management. We appreciate the approach he takes which is collaborative and non-threatening and supportive, allowing us to develop processes and strategy.

- Principal

Jon was an excellent coach, he encouraged me to think about problems from a different perspective and, through coaching models, was able to provide me with a valuable framework for communication.'

- Coachee - School Leader