- “The sharpest eyes in education”
Jeevan Vasagar - Education Editor- The Guardian - “Timely, collaborative and effective”
Social Impact Report 2012 - “The ability to get our team excited about stats!”
Social Impact Report 2012 - “Readiness to share; enthusiasm for learning and commitment to young people"
Social Impact Survey 2011 - “A remarkable way of keeping us focused on what's really important”
Nikki Coupe- City Gateway - “Fantastic support, unquestionable knowledge delivered consistently"
Matt Skaife - City Gateway - “Kindness, understanding, intelligence, honesty and openness”
Jane Chiodi- Head of Yr, St. George’s RC School - “The sharpest eyes in education”
Jeevan Vasagar - Education Editor- The Guardian - "Sophisticated understanding of the field”
Social Impact Report 2012 - "Thorough, supportive, interested and knowledgeable”
Social Impact Report 2012 - “Informed, honest, pragmatic, evidence-led & challenging, a breath of fresh air”
Social Impact Report 2012 - “Foundational to our Ofsted success”
David Howard - City Gateway - “The sharpest eyes in education”
Jeevan Vasagar - Education Editor- The Guardian - “A measurable improvement in Teaching and Learning”
Jon Skaife- City Gateway - "A strong bridge between people working on the ground and current ideas in policy”
Social Impact Survey 2011 - “Excellent education professionals who share best practice”
Social Impact Survey 2012 - “Tireless commitment”
Jane Chiodi - Head of Yr 9, St. George’s RC School - “Great staff who are incredibly friendly and know lots”
Social Impact Survey 2012 - “Adaptability and can-do attitude”
Social Impact Survey 2011
Areas of Expertise
LKMco works in 3 interlinked areas: Third-Sector, Schools and Policy
LKMco works with Charities, Social Enterprises and Youth Organisations on product and project development as well as strategy development.
Product and project development
Case Study: The National Youth Agency approached LKMco to design a national volunteering program for staff at Barclays Bank so they could participate in a £5 million 3 year peer education program on financial awareness for NEET young people. LKMco designed 3 volunteering pathways and a training program, managed relationships with a range of national charities and took the program from pilot to national roll out.
Identifying niches for social enterprise and charity projects in an overcrowded sector requires an overarching understanding of the sector- this is exactly what LKMco can offer. We can then help you articulate a focused vision and to target the right groups for support. Clients also benefit from LKM’s large press, policy, school and third sector network.
Strategy Development
Case Study: A client came to LKMco seeking to explore franchising strategies as routes to scaling up a social enterprise. LKMco researched different methods of replication, which organisations the different strategies suited and made recommendations based on the evidence. This work has since been featured on the Guardian Social Enterprise Network .
LKMco offers three main school programs:
- 4-3-2-1
Mentoring and coaching raises standards of teaching and learning. It keeps staff motivated and stimulated by giving them control of their own development and can also be valuable tools in addressing under-performance.
- Mentoring
Case Study: Between October and December 2010 Loic worked with a promising teacher to help him achieve AST status and prepare to become head of department. As a result of the mentoring, the teacher learned to deliver consistently outstanding lessons and built up the skills they would need to be a successful subject leader. They achieved AST status in late December and became joint head of department in January.
Mentoring helps teachers and leaders achieve specific goals. A friendly but challenging relationship is built up, areas for development identified, training and advice provided and progress monitored.
- Coaching
Case Study: In one school Loic has coached teachers ranging from NQT to long serving members of staff. In feedback 100% of them agreed with the statements “I understood the steps I needed to take to improve,” “pupil learning has improved as a result” and “I felt supported by my coach/mentor.”
In Coaching teachers identify their own goals and LKMco works with them to develop a clear plan for how they can achieve their goal. Teachers then set their own success criteria and a follow up visit allows progress to be tracked.
Case Study: Whilst working with a client preparing for their first OFSTED Loic observed teachers and identified the key areas for improvement which would help each of them to make one level of progress. He worked with them on these areas in detailed feedback sessions and provided training where necessary. The strategy paid off creating a “measurable improvement in teaching and learning” and the client was judged outstanding for teaching and learning by OFSTED.
We believe that one of the most frequent flaws of CPD is that teachers are bombarded with all the possible ingredients of an outstanding lesson. Instead, we focus on incremental progress, identifying the big wins in observations and finding ‘low work-high return’ strategies that will meet individual teachers where they are so that they can move forward step by step. This program can also involve training teachers to observe and feedback to each other. Common needs can be identified across the school and tailored support provided. A 4-3-2-1 program is equally valuable for good teachers seeking to become outstanding as for underperforming teachers facing capability.
Case Study: Loic has worked with an underperforming 6th form to identify priority areas for improvement, set targets and plan approaches that go to the crux of the problems. He is now carrying out half termly reviews which show that the 6th form is progressing quickly and is on track to become “good” next year. He has also worked on projects such as developing a Teaching School Application, a Free School bid and preparing a Self Assessment Report which helped the client be judged ‘outstanding’ in every category by OFSTED.
A rigorous approach to development planning lies at the heart of school improvement. LKMco works with departments and whole schools to quality assure provision and plan improvement.
We pride ourselves on constructive but critical responses to policy and advocacy which are based on our experience across the youth and education sectors.
In February 2011 LKMco's publishing arm L.K.M Publishing released the “6 Predictable Failures of Free Schools…and how to avoid them”. The booklet has been featured on the front page of the TES and in the Guardian Education editorial.
Laura and Loic are members of regular focus groups which meet with both the Labour and Conservative Party officials. We have published articles in the Times Education Supplement, School Leadership Today, New Statesman and Professional Development Today. Loic spoke at all 3 party conferences in 2010. He has presented papers at The Teacher Education Advancement Network and British Educational Research Association conference. He has also spoken at Teachers TV, Teach First and National College events.
