Our core team has a wide range of experience managing schools, local education authorities and commercial education services. We are all experienced teachers and have worked across all phases from primary, special and secondary to the teaching of adults. We have worked in many different kinds of schools, colleges and HE institutions. We have undertaken professional assignments throughout the UK and in challenging education environments overseas.
Colin McLean is BPN's Managing Director responsible for the strategic management and leadership of the company. He has a proven record of establishing and growing successful organisations responsive to the changing requirements of government departments, agencies and local authorities. Colin has wide ranging experience as a consultant and facilitator including the Leadership Programme for Serving Heads (LPSH) and an Ofsted Registered Inspector. He has also conducted a review of the inspection and advisory service for the Government of Jamaica and an evaluation of Teacher Training in Barbados.
Contact: colin.mclean@bestpracticenet.co.uk
Maureen Lee is Director of Development and Learning and leads on our preparation and training for the HLTA status and EYPS. She has been instrumental in BPN becoming the leading provider of both of these programmes. Maureen has trained and quality assured our team of tutors and developed the training programmes for EYPS assessors, trainers and preparers. Maureen has made a strong contribution to developments of both programmes at national level and works closely with CWDC and TDA.
Contact: maureen.lee@bestpracticenet.co.uk
Helena Evans is our Head of Delivery with a particular responsibility for Continuous Quality Improvement and leads our Leadership Pathways programme. She has extensive experience of NCSL programmes and has also managed Leading from the Middle and is a Lead Facilitator for New Visions and a tutor for the National Professional Qualification for Headship. Helena has held varying roles within different Local Authorities including Headteacher of a challenging inner city school, Numeracy Consultant and School Improvement Advisor.
Contact: helenaevans@bestpracticenet.co.uk
Vanessa Rowe is our programme leader for the Multi Agency Team Development Programme. She also runs workshops on 'Spirited Leadership' and has published research in the field of exclusion, spirituality and leadership. Vanessa has worked closely with the Church authorities to develop bespoke induction processes for new headteachers.
Contact: vanessarowe@bestpracticenet.co.uk
Julian Thompson leads our two team programmes - Working Together for Success and Developing Capacity for Sustained Improvement. Julian is a former headteacher with experience of working in multi-lingual and multi ethnic schools. He has extensive knowledge and involvement with NCSL programmes. He is a consultant for The Centre for Leadership Studies and Leadership Southwest at the University of Exeter. Julian's excellent facilitation skills were demonstrated recently when he hosted the South Gloucestershire Leadership Symposium.
Contact: julian-thompson@bestpracticenet.co.uk
Phil Holden is Director of Development and Learning. He has overall responsibility for all our NCSL programmes and is currently leading our work on Succession Planning, and Coaching and Mentoring. Phil was, until October, Senior Advisor with Sandwell MBC and has strong links with the Black Country and West Midlands LAs. Phil is also an experienced LPSH and NPQH facilitator. He has extensive experience in management training both in education and the private sector, working with Unilever on creative leadership.
Contact: philholden@bestpracticenet.co.uk
Chris Rippon is Lead Assessor on the HLTA programme and oversees the management of all aspects of the assessment process. He has worked with Essex Local Authority as a School Development Advisor and has experience as an assessor on the NPQH programme.
Contact: chrisrippon@bestpracticenet.co.uk