Sarah Plews
Sarah Plews, founder of SP Consultancy, specialises in co-creating collaborative leadership development
and inclusive professional learning in international education.
and inclusive professional learning in international education.
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What is Sarah's area of expertise?
Sarah's extensive experience has led her to understand the joys and challenges of leadership at all levels and the joined up thinking that leaders need for integrating performance management and professional learning to reduce workload and have greater impact.
Performance Management & QA
- Annual Performance Improvement Cycles & PD Reviews (Appraisal) – Establishing structured cycles for professional growth.
- Observation Cultures – Fostering a culture of continuous improvement through observations for development and accountability.
- Coaching & Feedback Cultures – Implementing transformational approaches for professional growth.
Professional Development & Learning
- Evaluating PD & Impact – Assessing the effectiveness and outcomes of professional development initiatives.
- Planning PD, Implementation & De-implementation – Strategically designing and refining professional learning structures & systems.
- Professional Learning as a Habit of High-Performing Teams – Utilising proven practices.
Leaders & Teams that Thrive
- Identifying Leadership and Team Challenges – Diagnosing common leadership and team-related issues.
- Strategies for Tackling Leadership and Team Challenges – Developing targeted solutions for overcoming obstacles.
- Approaches for Leaders and Teams to Thrive – Enhancing effectiveness, wellbeing, and intercultural sensitivity.
Leading and Managing Change
- Frameworks & Tools – Equiping leaders with practical strategies to navigate and implement change successfully.
- Visions for Excellence & Planning Strategic Initiatives – Aligning leadership vision with actionable project planning
- Systems & Processes – Building sustainable structures that drive long-term organizational improvement.
What will your consultancy sessions include?
Session 1: Introduction, Vision and Goal Setting
Key question: What is your vision?
Key focus: Vision, goals, needs assessment, introduction, expectations, agreement
- Introductions, expectations & agreement
- Consider your vision of excellence for PM & PL
- Discuss PM and PL context-based challenges
- Establish content-focused goals for the consultancy journey
- Outline structure and flow of sessions
Key focus: Vision, goals, needs assessment, introduction, expectations, agreement
Session 2: Initial Assessment and Analysis
Key question: What needs to change?
Key focus: Strengths, assessment, analysis, high quality evidence, areas for improvement
- Reaffirm a shared vision of excellence
- Consider what is working in your school’s current PM and PL system
- Discuss preliminary needs analysis and the range of high-quality evidence needed to identify what is not working (observations, perceptions, numerical data)
Key focus: Strengths, assessment, analysis, high quality evidence, areas for improvement
Session 3: Strategy Development
Key question: How do you know change is needed?
Key focus: Strategy, action plan, milestones, initial findings, development, interventions
- Discuss initial findings from the range of high-quality evidence gathered to inform PM & PL areas for development
- Develop a goal-focused action plan with intervention strategies (positive developmental approaches)
- Identify stakeholders, required resources, timelines, and responsibilities
Key focus: Strategy, action plan, milestones, initial findings, development, interventions
Session 4: Implementation Planning
Key question: What evidence needs to be gathered?
Key focus: Implementation, stakeholders, resources, timelines, responsibilities, challenges, solutions, blockers, enablers
- Define clear and measurable milestones and dates
- Outline steps for implementing the developed strategies & consider de-implementation
- Discuss potential blockers and enablers / challenges and solutions
Key focus: Implementation, stakeholders, resources, timelines, responsibilities, challenges, solutions, blockers, enablers
Session 5: Monitoring and Adjustments
Key question: How will you know it is working?
Key focus: Impact, high quality evidence, monitoring, progress, feedback, adjustments, outcomes
- Review progress of implementation with fidelity to active ingredients (behaviours, structures, strategies)
- Monitor outcomes and gather feedback based on impact levels (enjoyment, KSU, school, staff, students)
- Make necessary adjustments to strategies and your PM & PL action plan
Key focus: Impact, high quality evidence, monitoring, progress, feedback, adjustments, outcomes
Session 6: Evaluation and Next Steps
Key question: How will students, staff and the school benefit?
Key focus: Reflect, sustainability, continuous improvement, follow-up, next steps, focus, summary
- Reflect, Evaluate and celebrate wins
- Discuss long-term sustainability and continuous improvement
- Reflect, plan for next steps and needs-based follow-up
Key focus: Reflect, sustainability, continuous improvement, follow-up, next steps, focus, summary
Learn more about Sarah
Sarah Plews founded SP Consultancy to play her part in fostering school cultures of excellence and belonging through co-created leadership development and professional learning. Rooted in the belief that collective work inspires positive change, her approach fosters cultures of collaboration and curiosity for lasting impact.
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Sarah is an associate, advisor and board member of multiple highly regarded international education, leadership and professional learning focused organisations. As President for the European League for Middle Level Education (ELMLE), a non-profit organisation spanning Europe and beyond, as school accreditation team and peer evaluator (CIS/COBIS) and as National School Reform Faculty Coach (CFG), Sarah continues to have proven impacts in multi-level capacity building projects. Building on her Masters from Edinburgh University and Post-Graduate Certificate in Education from Newcastle University, Sarah iis an alumni of the ICA International Leadership and Management Programme for Senior Leaders.
Building on more than two decades of experience as senior leader, middle leader and teacher working in diverse international education and business contexts, Sarah is recognized for her impact. She is committed to equipping aspiring and experienced leaders with the confidence and competence to foster learning, resilient and thriving teams who prepare students as socially responsible global citizens in an ever-evolving world.
Website: spconsultancy.org
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