Our Interim Leadership Services for Schools and Schools Groups

Steed Education supplies experienced School Leaders in interim senior leadership roles of up to one year.

Interim heads work best when they have a familiarity with the school’s context and is aligned with its ethos. Running a rural boarding prep school can require a different skill set from a busy prep in south London, or indeed from a prep school in Dubai. Prior knowledge and experience is essential. Above all, heads need to have a good understanding of the concerns of staff, what parents are looking for; and, in the context of international prep schools, of the regulatory framework in which they are operating.  

We have a number of experienced colleagues on our books:

• Principals and Executive Principals

• Senior Headteachers

• Prep/ Primary Headteachers

• CFOO/ Bursars and HR Professionals

We work in two contexts:

• International Schools - our team have experience of various school curricular in different countires across the world.

• UK Independent Schools - both Prep and Senior.

It is not surprising that Boards and owners have begun to look beyond asking the deputy to step up and hold the fort; instead they are choosing to draw on the growing pool of former headteachers and school leaders who are willing bring their experience to the role for the short-term. 

More than a safe pair of hands

At Steed Education we believe that an Interim Head should be more more than a safe pair of hands.

We all know from inspections that seasoned professionals can get under the skin of the school very quickly, accurately weighing up a schools strengths and weaknesses. How much more can an interim head do this over a period of one to three terms? 

• An inter-regnum provides a valuable opportunity for a school to take stock of where it is and perhaps to do some of the hard yards that it would be more difficult or a permanent appointee to tackle. 

• An interim head should be able to offer the 𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒚 that will provide their permanent successor with an objective evaluation of what issues need to be addressed.

Every head brings a range of expertise that is borne out of their career journey and the school which they have led. Some are great at raising standards in numeracy, whereas others have experience in driving the use of technology in the classroom.  

For an initial conversation and further information about our Interim Leadership Services
please email enquiries@steededucation.com.

Why Steed Education? Case Study

Samantha was appointed via Steed Education as an Interim head at Repton Dubai Junior School for two terms from January to July 2024, supporting the school as it transitioned to being part of the Cognita family of schools.

During her tenure at Repton Dubai Junior School she prepared and led the school through a DSIB [Dubai Schools Inspection Board] Ofsted-style inspection. She also designed learning environments beyond the classroom to increase opportunities for 21st century learning. Furthermore she reviewed the use of digital devices and, working with Edruption, a digital technology specialist, upgraded the school’s digital literacy curriculum.