EducentricUK Limited is registered in England and Wales No: Registered Office: Osprey House, Friary Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 9HD, UK Erica Briody & Ann Haydon Optimising Talent Through Engagement Managing Director EducentricUK Executive Principal Surbiton High School (UCST)

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change” Charles Darwin

Agenda Introductions Case Study: Optimising Talent Through Engagement The Context: EducentricUK & Surbiton High School (UCST) The Aim: Developing the Right Diagnostic Tool The Process: Creating a Bespoke Staff Engagement Survey The Outcome: Data Analysis & Communication of Results The Benefits: Knowledge is Power Q & A

The Setting: EducentricUK Translating business concepts and best practice into the thinking and practice of education leadership to create competitive advantage. Optimising Talent through Staff Engagement

The Setting: the client partner UCST: a leading Educational Trust in UK Embracing both private and public sectors of UK education (11 Schools and 21 Academies / 4,500 employees & 25,000 pupils) Key commitments to: Providing outstanding education Providing a new generation of school leaders Attracting outstanding individuals to the Group Surbiton High School: 1,300 pupils; ranked in top 100 schools in UK; dynamic head valuing positive links with business

The Aims To develop a diagnostic tool to measure both general and specific levels of staff engagement To obtain data about staff engagement which can be used as a sound basis for developing competitive advantage

The Process Listen with care Engage with enthusiasm Collaborate with challenge

The Outcome: data

The Outcomes: overview Clear overview of : (i) general levels of staff engagement (ii) levels of staff engagement with different areas of the school’s operations

The Outcomes: by question In order to help this school be successful, I am willing to put in a great deal of effort beyond what is expected

This school provides me with good QUALITY opportunities to develop my leadership skills

What is your level of satisfaction with the initial induction to the job / on the job training you received

It is hardly a revelation to think that it makes good business sense to engage staff by informing them of what the company is trying to achieve, & involving them in developing appropriate solutions’ (Brookes & Palmer, 2004)

My opinions on school issues are sought and valued by senior management “I want staff, pupils and new employees to be influenced by the content of the strategy plan when making day to day decisions in school.”

90% of the staff stated that as a direct result of the process they felt more engaged with the school’s strategy plan and how they could contribute to its successful implementation. Within a week of the feedback to all staff, 38.6% said they had already taken positive action in relation to the survey findings and 55.7% said they intended to do so. The Benefits: a positive experience

The Benefits DATA EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE BASE-LINE DATA POSITIVE MARKETING DIALOGUE COMMON SET OF REFERENCE POINTS AMONG DIVERSE STAFF FOR DISCUSSION & ACTION DIRECTION STAFF ENGAGEMENT IS ON THE AGENDA! ENHANCED MOTIVATION & TEAMWORK IMPROVING BRAND RECOGNITION Knowledge is Power

Exceptional schools, like any exceptional organisations, require the engagement, retention and attraction of exceptional talent. Concluding Comments “The best companies have stimulating workplaces where their staff feel motivated and valued. But they do not end up that way by accident... (rather)... a deliberate act by top management” [Mullins, 2006]

EducentricUK Limited is registered in England and Wales No: Registered Office: Osprey House, Friary Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 9HD, UK EducentricUK: Translating business concepts and best practice into the thinking and practice of education leadership to create competitive advantage.