Quality Assurance, Quality Improvement What are the difference and the connections

Jo began her career as a teacher. She quickly progressed to Deputy Principal of a large school in London, and later became a school principal in Manchester where Jo also worked as Head of the Language and Learning Support Service for 9 years. She managed over 200 teachers and worked with over 100 schools, to improve English language and raise students’ achievement. From there she became Director of one of the government’s flagship Education Action Zones, which piloted new ways to improve students’ achievement and raise educational standards. Following five years as Director she has since worked extensively in senior posts in international systems.

Jo was founding Chief Inspector of Schools in Bahrain (BQA), after which she joined GEMS, UAE, working with schools across the Middle East including Abu Dhabi, Saudi and Jordan. She moved to the Cayman Islands in the western Caribbean Sea, where she was the Chief Policy Advisor for Education. In the UK she was Head Reviewer and Quality Assurer for the Buckinghamshire Learning Trust.

Jo worked with senior staff in the Ministry of Education (formerly SEC), and the Education Training Centre in Qatar, where she led on the new Professional Standards for Teachers and School Leaders which has been successfully implemented.

Jo currently works with Quality House Consultancy in Bahrain on quality assurance projects. She supports school principals and governors, works with teachers in classrooms, delivers training and sets up sustainable improvement systems.

Relevant Experience

Jo has relevant experience of the Bahraini education system having worked for the BQA for 3 years, and more recently with private schools. Her experience with schools across the GCC, carrying out inspections/reviews, as well as school improvement has provided her with in depth knowledge and understanding of the issues that face schools in BAHRAIN. Her experience of working internationally tells her that adapting improvement strategies to meet the Bahraini context is essential to success. She is completely committed to understanding the schools and their needs and designing a support plan that works for them.

Jo draws on a wealth of experience from school reviews, international education systems, teacher training at the University of Manchester and knowledge of international best practice and research. She holds the UK National Professional Qualification for Head teachers (Principals).