Product reviews for High Performers

High performers is a fantastic school improvement text for use with teachers, middle leaders and senior staff in schools. It is a lively and insightful read. It can be read in one go, or dipped into. Its layout, in three distinct sections, means that different parts can be recommended to colleagues with different roles in the school. The summary lists and recommendations are useful signposts and reminders of the core messages. I love the metaphor of the circus troupe that runs throughout. And, importantly, it is a visually stimulating and uncluttered book!

I have recommended this text to many colleagues. I have used excerpts with Aspiring Headteachers as a starting point for a discussion about how new Heads align staff around a core purpose and implement a vision for the school.

I have also designed 2 self-assessment tools, one based around the middle leader recommendations and one around the senior leader recommendations, which I have used with Heads of Faculty / Heads of Year and senior leaders respectively. The exercise gets colleagues to look at reach recommendation in turn and decide whether it is high or low impact and whether it is something they do well or need to work on.

I have yet to introduce this book to a colleague who has not found it insightful, honest and of value in developing them as a leader and performer.