Tracey France

Tracey France 2020

School Effectiveness Lead, Executive Leadership Coach

School Effectiveness

Contact Details

email: t.france@worc.ac.uk
tel: 01905 542950

Tracey is passionate about the transformation of senior people and her expertise lies in the development of honest, powerful and enabling relationships. She specialises in one-to-one coaching, team leadership coaching and leadership development.

Prior to her School Effectiveness role at the University of Worcester, Tracey has 15 years of leadership and consultancy experience working across the education and skills sector for a Local Authority and as an Inspector of schools. She has led on the implementation of strategic policy, interacting with regional and national organisations across public, voluntary and private sectors, gaining a reputation as someone who delivers organisational goals that meet the needs of local people. She is recognised as being a highly effective practitioner in the leadership of strategic partnership work across the education and skills landscape throughout a period of unprecedented change and transformation of services and structures.

In her current role she designs and delivers bespoke leadership programmes for the education and health care sectors, providing a range of leadership coaching and facilitation of systems leadership with a focus on building capacity between organisations and securing impactful collaborative systems and networks. Over the last five years, Tracey has been the lead for the assessment and moderation of DfE National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) for School Leaders.

Her personal experience of working in highly accountable, pressurised environments has led her to develop a pragmatic attitude that recognises the realities of corporate life today. She takes a systemic viewpoint, always considering the impact of the organisational environment on the individual, and vice versa.

Tracey has a supportive, focused and practical edge to her coaching, helping individuals develop their awareness, confidence and motivation to change. She draws on transformational leadership approaches, research and coaching techniques to add depth to her work. She uses a variety of tools, and theoretical models to help clients make changes to their mind-set or behaviour, adapting her style to suit the circumstances.

Her clients describe her as warm, professional and down to earth, able to work collaboratively to get the best results, helping her clients to see the bigger picture as well as deal with the detail.

Qualifications

  • Level 7 Executive Leadership Coach, Institute of Leadership and Management, 2019
  • MA Education 2006
  • Advanced Skills Teacher Accreditation 2001
  • Post Graduate Certificate in Education 1994

Teaching & Research

Teaching

  • Leadership within organisations and across communities
  • Securing high quality middle leaders and future leaders

Research

  • Systems leadership, Team Leadership Coaching
  • Securing sustainable and effective systems of professional development
  • The Role of Group Coaching in Professional Learning Communities

Professional Bodies

  • Association of Coaching – current
  • The Henley Centre for Coaching - current
  • ASPECT - Association of Educational Inspectors and Advisers
  • Ofsted - Additional Inspector 2008 - 2014
  • Gatsby Fellowship 1999 – 2002

Publications

Publications

Stephenson, M., Solvason, C., France, T., & Sheehan, P. (2022). Developing Effective Professional Learning Communities for Senior Leaders. In: Fowler, D., & Raehll, M. B. (eds.) On Leadership: An Interdisciplinary Approach. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing Inc.

National Strategy Publication: Effective Teaching of More Able Pupils in Design Technology, (2005) CD Training Materials

France T, Raising Parents Levels of Confidence with Supporting a Childs Learning in the Home Environment (2005) MA Education Thesis, University of the West of England.

Hamaker A, France T, Edminston A, Backwell J, (2001) The Design, Development and Implementation of CATE at KS3, The Journal of Design and Technology Education.

Developing Thinking Skills Through Technology Education, (2000) Just for Teachers Website.

Presentations and Conferences

 February 2020: School to school Collaboration, Peer Review and Team Leadership Coaching, Worcestershire Teaching Schools Alliance

November 2019: Impact of Collaborative Professional Learning Communities in Primary Schools, Erasmus Exchange, KPZ University, Holland

September 2019: Collaborative Leadership Series for Middle Leaders, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust, West Midlands Leadership Triumvirate

June 2019: Using Academic Research in your NPQ Assignment, Online Webinar

May 2019: Catalysts of Inspiration, The Role of Facilitators in a longitudinal School Effectiveness Project, TEAN Conference

February 2019: Strategic Education Consultation Event, University of Worcester

February 2019: Teaching and Leadership – Professional Learning Opportunities, UCET CPD Forum

December 2018: Collaborative Professional Learning Communities, Worcestershire Education and Skills Strategic Board

November 2018: Successful Schools, Successful Learners Masterclass, St. Bart’s Teaching School, Stoke-on-Trent

October 2018: Leadership Behaviours Seminar, West Midlands Regional Training for A&E Registrars

April 2018: Knowledge Exchange and the Industrial Strategy, Staff Training, University of Worcester

October 2016: Strategic Partners - Strengthening Strategic Partnerships in Adult Learning

May 2016: Post 16 and FE College Leadership - Establishing a more sustainable and innovative pattern of secondary and Post 16 provision

May 2016: Strategic Partners - Devolution: People and Skills Priorities

February 2016: Post 16 and FE College Leadership - Closing the Gap for Disadvantaged Students

November 2015: Post 16 and FE College Leadership - Curriculum Pathways and progression routes for middle and lower attaining students

November 2015: Strategic Partners - Impact of educational reform on disadvantaged learners

June 2015: Deputy Head Teachers - Creating curriculums that meet the needs of complex labour markets

June 2015: Strategic Partners - Raising the Age of Participation Strategic Review

April 2015: Strategic Partners - Maximising Skills and Employment Opportunities for the 50+ age group

March 2015: Deputy Head Teachers - Pupil Premium Conference

November 2014: Strategic Partners Conference on Skills Meeting Demand, Shaping Demand

November 2014: Employer Engagement Launch Digitech Studio School Curriculum Development

April 2014: LEP High Tech Sector Group - Overview of a Studio School :Employer Sponsorship

April 2014: Business Breakfast for Employers - Overview of a Studio School: Sponsorship and Collaboration

2007 -2014: Secondary Schools (Multiple INSET and Conference presentations)

  • Middle Leaders: Quality Assurance and Performance Management
  • Senior Leaders: Introducing the New Ofsted Framework
  • Whole School: Good to Outstanding Teaching

External Roles

  • Prince Henry’s Teaching School Hub Strategic Board, Member, 2021 - current
  • Governor/Vice Chair – Bishop Perowne C of E College, Worcester, 2017 – current
  • Worcestershire County Council Education and Skills Strategic Board, Member, 2018 - 2020
  • Academy Councillor - Digitech Studio School, Bristol, 2016 - 2017
  • Chair of Academy Council - Digitech Studio School, Bristol, 2014 - 2016
  • Board of Directors - Cabot Learning Federation, 2015 - 2016
  • Board of Directors - LEACAN National 14-19 Advisory Network, 2013 - 2016
  • Parent Governor - Himbleton First School, 2010 - 2012