Expertise

Ben’s primary interest, and a common theme in his consultancy, is navigating complexity in professional development and school improvement. His research focusses on applying theories of complexity to classroom teaching and learning and his books and other published works address the reality that education is complex and that only through skilful leadership at all levels can learners, teachers, leaders and institutions progress productively

Ben supports school leaders on strategic planning, teacher professional development and balancing autonomy and control in school leadership. A particular feature of his consultancy is supporting leaders to find ‘sweet spots’ between encouraging individual creativity and strategic uniformity, what Ben calls ‘Judgement Leadership’. Through individual coaching, group workshops and larger seminars, Ben encourages school leaders to develop adaptive mindsets as they consider the best ways to lead whole school change.
Ben is an experienced former class teacher and has been a teacher educator for fifteen years. He understands how to nurture professional growth in novice teachers and how to inspire (and re-inspire) experienced teachers. Ben works with individuals and teaching teams, as well as early career teacher (ECT) mentors to develop professional capacities including teacher judgement, critical classroom decision-making and organising learning.
For almost thirty years Ben has worked with teachers and school leaders in rural and township communities in South Africa. This includes establishing international school and university partnerships, sustainable infrastructure development projects and intercultural exchange. Working with primary, secondary and SEND schools, local authorities and universities in multiple locations, Ben has decades of firsthand experience leading on international development, project management and school improvement. For more information about this area of Ben’s work please visit the Project Zulu website. [insert Project Zulu website link www.projectzulu.org]

“As we move through the twenty-first century, education systems will need to equip young people with new approaches to problem solving, systems thinking habits and increasing comfort with uncertainty. Their teachers and school leaders will need to possess these skills too!”

Expertise

Education Leadership

Teacher Professional Development

International Education Partnership

“As we move through the twenty-first century, education systems will need to equip young people with new approaches to problem solving, systems thinking habits and increasing comfort with uncertainty. Their teachers and school leaders will need to possess these skills too!”