As Imandeep writes, "The first few years of this decade were periods of intense instability for all schools and the school that I was taking the helm of in September 2023, as a headteacher for the first time, bore witness to this. I quickly saw the impact of the times on the overall effectiveness of the school and I saw an opportunity to learn about myself, how to effectively lead others and to learn deeply about what levers have most effect to enact sustainable change.

"From busyness in the corridors to a need to increase trust between school and the community, the range of priorities emerged very quickly.

"After two years in post, however, the school’s transformation is visible and measurable.

• Suspensions are down by 89% year on year

• Parental complaints have reduced by 78% year on year

• Attendance has risen to national average

• We passed an unannounced local authority safeguarding visit

• The school is fully staffed, without reliance on supply

• Staff sickness is down by 54% year on year

• And, crucially, Ofsted kept our “Good” judgement, with recognition for our high ambitions

"These shifts weren't magic or from quick fixes and flashy interventions; they were the result of a deliberate focus on what I've come to call my five transformational drivers.

"These are five drivers that have been influenced by various other school leaders, authors, children, community members and more; five drivers that continue to build the school culture needed to bring about change. It's through consistently applying these principles that we've fostered an environment of trust, shared responsibility, and ambition for every child."

To find out what these five drivers are, continue reading here: https://inspirepartnership.my.canva.site/the-five-drivers-imandeep-atwal