Hello!

I’m an experienced leader of specialist provision for students with SEND.

I have been the Headteacher of effective special schools for pupils diagnosed with SEMH, autism and complex needs.

I’ve set up brand new schools and led staff teams through periods of rapid school improvement. I’ve also developed Trust wide systems for supporting and monitoring special schools.

I grew up in a family with a disabled sibling and understand how to support parents, carers and families.

I completed my PhD research on how Headteachers of special schools maintained school effectiveness through periods of change. This highlighted the importance of Headteacher values and creating positive relationships with pupils, staff, families and other agencies.

Having worked with some very vulnerable young people, I’m also experienced in managing safeguarding investigations and complaints.

Please do get in touch if you feel that my professional expertise would be helpful for your school improvement journey. I’m available for short-term or longer term projects and would love to discuss ideas with you.

Dr Debbie Bailey

Services to Support School Improvement

Headteacher / School Leader Coaching

Leading a school can be the best job in the word, but it can also be lonely, frustrating and overwhelming.

Make the positive decision to set aside time to talk it through with someone who understands the joys and the sorrows of creating an effective school.

Our conversations can be virtual or face to face (if distance allows.) We can meet fortnightly / monthly / termly - whatever works best for you.

Together, we can find a way through all those insurmountable obstacles (well most of them anyway!)

Do your school improvement processes make you feel as if you need to be wearing protective headgear?

Let me help!

I’ve been creating school improvement plans for over 25 years - often in very challenging circumstances. I can help complete the self evaluation process with you, asking questions that support your own analysis of priority areas.

I then work alongside the school leadership team to construct a plan - in a format that works for you!

We would then think together about communicating the plan to different audiences, staff, Governors, parents and pupils.

This can be a one-off piece of work or I can commit to regular updates with you and your team.

I’m experienced in supporting individual schools and delivering this process across a whole Trust too.

Support for School Improvement Processes

Other types of support are available!

Please do get in touch to discuss other forms of support.

Recent projects have included;

  • leadership support for a newly appointed Lead for Behaviour within a mainstream secondary school.

  • reviewing a school environment and producing a report to influence external decision-makers.

  • additional support around SEND for ECT teachers (individual and group delivery)

I’m based in the West Midlands but happy to discuss supporting schools in a wider area.

Why the apple logo?

My younger sister, Abigail, has complex learning needs and very few words. However, one of the words that she can say clearly is “apple.”

I’ve grown up sitting with Abi at home, in cafes, hospitals, waiting rooms, travelling. When her attention starts to wander, we find a scrap of paper and a pen and I draw this picture for her. She always smiles and says “apple!” - delighted with the moment of recognition and the opportunity to communicate. We’ve repeated this exchange thousands of times and it’s now become a reassuring reminder of our shared history and of family love.

For me, this scrappy little image is about a genuine connection and forming relationships. That’s the basis of my professional support for schools.

Contact Us

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!