Mark Randall Email and Phone Number

Regularly led Section 8 inspections on behalf of Ofsted. Responsibilities included gathering and evaluating pre-inspection evidence to identify key lines of enquiry, leading and managing the inspection in order to gather and evaluate robust evidence, ensuring effective communication and engagement with school leaders, summarising of key evidence to form judgements and writing the report.

Act as the lead professional for education and inclusion; leading on the Council’s strategy for education and inclusion, in all areas of the sector, from early years to post 16. Provide support and challenge to education specific services and schools, including leading the Council’s schools focused traded services. Lead the Council’s statutory obligations to report on school performance, monitor school standards and broker support for schools identified as requiring additional support to improve standards.

Responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction to four primary schools. Work closely with individual principals to develop and sustain a culture that promotes excellence in all aspects of the school’s work. Support and challenge leaders through quality assurance to ensure high quality teaching leading to strong outcomes for all children. Involved in coaching and mentoring to grow leaders at all levels. Work closely with key Trust leaders to lead and manage the Trust’s primary SCITT. Fully involved in all aspects of the sponsorship, conversion and free school application process. Work with a range of stakeholders, including members of Local Governing Bodies, LA Officers, DfE and Regional Schools’ Commissioner.

Led a large ethnically diverse primary school (NOR 420) in an area of significant deprivation (50% FSM / 30% SEN) Worked with stakeholders to realise a vision of high standards and achievement for all children and developed a high performing team of professionals. Fully involved in setting strategic direction, development planning to ensure improved provision and outcomes, monitoring and self-evaluation, data analysis, personnel and finance and working with the community. In January 2012, national press identified Hillcrest as ‘the worst school in the country with out of control children.’AS PRINCIPAL I LED THE SCHOOL FROM AN OFSTED JUDGEMENT OF ‘INADEQUATE’ IN MARCH 2015 TO ‘OUTSTANDING’ IN SEPTEMBER 2016.

Responsibilities included leading a team of School Improvement Advisors who worked alongside Headteachers of schools across the district offering targeted challenge and support to secure rapid improvement in schools causing concern or sustain excellence in good and outstanding schools. Provided leadership development opportunities to senior and middle leaders, supported and challenged schools using my experience as an inspector to validate school’s judgements, identified clear priorities and plans for improvement. Worked strategically to plan and implement strategies to secure improvement in outcomes and Ofsted judgements across the district. Line management responsibilities included governor services, school improvement advisors, early years, professional development (traded services) and Wakefield SCITT. Worked closely with DfE and MAT Leaders to ensure the success of all schools. Led significant improvement identified by Ofsted (School Improvement moved from being judged as ‘ineffective’ by Ofsted in November 2013, to a position of great strength in December 2014.) During my time in post, the proportion of good and better schools improved at a faster rate than found nationally and outcomes improved across primary and secondary.

Led a large primary school (NOR 550) in challenging circumstances (65% FSM / 30% SEN) Worked with stakeholders to realise a vision of high standards and achievement for all children. Fully involved in setting strategic direction, development planning to ensure improved provision and outcomes, monitoring and self-evaluation, data analysis, ECM, personnel and finance, working with the community. AS HEADTEACHER I LED THE SCHOOL FROM AN OFSTED JUDGEMENT OF ‘SATISFACTORY’ IN JANUARY 2009 TO ‘OUTSTANDING’ IN MARCH 2013.Designated as a Local Leader of Education (June 2012) and as part of this role supported other schools causing concern as Executive Headteacher in Wakefield LA.