This episode discusses effective appraisal and performance management practice in primary schools. Three experienced school leaders discuss the principles of effective appraisal systems, including elements of a successful appraisal, and tips for setting objectives.

How can we place CPD at the heart of performance management and make the process collegiate and collaborative? We also ask how we can identify a teacher’s strengths and what actions should we take if a teacher is underperforming, especially to support new teachers?

The podcast touches on issues including building trust, preparing for appraisals, whole-school culture, the importance of getting feedback right, how to sweat the small stuff, and creating the right conditions for professional learning.

And we ask how headteachers can best demonstrate the impact they are having as part of their own performance management.

The podcast is hosted as ever, by Helen Frostick, a National Leader of Education and semi-retired primary school headteacher. Her guests are:

  • Ruth Hurcombe is director of performance and standards St Thomas Aquinas Catholic MAT in Leicestershire and Rutland, which comprises of 21 schools (17 primary schools and 4 secondary schools).
  • Paul K Ainsworth has held director of school improvement roles in four multi-academy trusts and currently works with Infinity Academies Trust in Lincolnshire. He has supported leaders of small rural secondary schools to large 11 to 18 urban ones, working intensively with those in Ofsted categories. He is the author of No Silver Bullets: Day-in, day-out school improvement and a TEDx speaker. Read his previous articles for Headteacher Update via http://bit.ly/htu-ainsworth
  • Sophie Powell, executive headteacher and director of school improvement and professional learning at The Compass Partnership of Schools. She has worked in education for 24 years as a primary teacher and leader, including four years as a headteacher a nine years as an executive head.

You can listen to this episode of the Headteacher Update Podcast above. To hear other Headteacher Update podcasts, or to subscribe for free to new editions, search for 'The Headteacher Update Podcast' in your podcast streaming application of choice. Or visit www.headteacher-update.com/knowledge-bank/podcasts/

For details about The Headteacher Update Podcast, or to suggest future topics, email editor Pete Henshaw at pete.henshaw@markallengroup.com