Lisa Smith
York,North Yorkshire
Summary
Strategic and visionary education leader with over two decades of experience driving improvement across schools, local authorities, and regional partnerships.
Highly skilled at fostering partnerships across public, private, and voluntary sectors.
Proven track record in driving school improvement and inclusion strategies, alongside performance management and service transformation.
Passionate about lifelong learning, inclusive education, and employability, with extensive experience in cross-sector collaboration, policy development, and stakeholder engagement
Skilled in budget and resource optimisation, policy development and implementation, safeguarding, and governance. Exceptional communication abilities facilitate effective stakeholder engagement. Committed to advancing educational excellence through innovative strategies and collaborative efforts.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
2015
2015
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Alternative Provision Strategic Development Lead
Birmingham City Council
Birmingham
08.2024 - Current
- Oversight and responsibility for the delivery of section 12 Alternative Provision of the SEND and AP Improvement plan
- Carried out day-to-day duties accurately and efficiently.
- Coordinated staff and services to deliver and preform against the plan, creating new processes, developing the partnership and communication with our AP providers, improving productivity
- Writing a clear position statement for the SEND and AP Inspection.
- Successfully delivered on tasks within tight deadlines..
School Improvement Strategic Development Lead
Birmingham City Council
05.2023 - 08.2025
- Leading a city-wide school improvement and leadership model
- Establishing Birmingham Education Board
- Redefining our relationship with our MATS and Birmingham Education Partnership
- Developing the councils communication and partnership to support teams around schools through the use of Pendulum
Headteacher, Birmingham Virtual School
Birmingham City Council
09.2019 - 05.2023
- Led service transformation from ‘Requires Improvement' to ‘Good'
- Developed a 5-year improvement plan and KPIs
- Built strong partnerships across education, health, and social care
- Undertaken two service redesigns and assimilations
- Holds the strategic responsibility for the design and delivery of the Trauma Informed Attachment Aware Schools and Setting programme delivered by BCC. Including the employment of school Lead Partners to deliver school to school support
Deputy Headteacher, Virtual School
Hampshire County Council
04.2015 - 08.2019
- Improved outcomes for children in care and previously looked-after
- Supported strategic planning and service delivery
- Was responsible for the quality assurance of personal education plans and performance of the service
- Designed and led the Trauma Informed Attachment Aware School Programme
Senior Advisor – Teaching, Learning, Behaviour & Attendance
Hampshire County Council
09.2008 - 03.2015
- County lead for attendance and behaviour
- Delivered training and audits for school improvement
- Supported school leaders in schools and alternative provisions judged requires improvement or special measures on their journey to improve
- Wrote all county guidance on attendance, penalty notices, alternative provision and behaviour for learning
- Designed and delivered school training and consultancy on teaching and learning, behaviour and raising attendance
Behaviour and Attendance Consultant – National Strategies
Hampshire County Council
09.2003 - 03.2008
- Delivered the National Strategies training to all schools in Hampshire for Foundation subjects, Teaching and learning, behaviour and attendance
- Delivered DfE-funded projects to reduce inequalities such as gypsy, roma traveller children access to education, Education Challenge areas
- Supported Behaviour Improvement Pilot Programmes
Deputy Headteacher (Pastoral)
Carterton Community College
09.1997 - 08.2003
- Led pastoral care and safeguarding
- Developed school policies and improvement plans
- Designated Teacher for Children in Care
- Leader for all Heads of Year
- Head of PSHE and citizenship programmes
PE Teacher
Carterton Community College
09.1992 - 08.2003
- Delivered PE curriculum and organised school events
- Ran school expeditions and trips
Education
Advanced Professional Certificate - Improving Education Outcomes for Vulnerable Children
Bath Spa University
10.2018 - 10.2019
National Professional Qualification in Headship -
National Leadership College
09.2004 - 07.2008
National Professional Qualification in Headship -
National Leadership College
Master's - Education Studies
Oxford Brookes University
09.1999 - 06.2001
BA (Hons) - Teaching
Leeds Metropolitan University
A Levels - English, Sociology, PE
New College
GCSEs - English, Maths
Crawshaw Secondary School
Skills
- Strategic leadership in education
- Partnership development across public, private, and voluntary sectors
- School improvement and inclusion strategy
- Performance management and service transformation
- Budget and resource optimisation
- Policy development and implementation
- Safeguarding and governance
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement
Certification
2008 completed the 6 month Aspiring ADCS course - National Leadership College 2023
2 day Designated Safeguarding Lead training - passed March 2022
Affiliations
I am a Trustee and chair of the Finance and Governance Committee for the West Midlands Children in Care Foundation Charity
I have been a school governor for a school in special measure converting to academy status in Oxfordshire
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Alternative Provision Strategic Development Lead
Birmingham City Council
08.2024 - Current
School Improvement Strategic Development Lead
Birmingham City Council
05.2023 - 08.2025
Headteacher, Birmingham Virtual School
Birmingham City Council
09.2019 - 05.2023
Advanced Professional Certificate - Improving Education Outcomes for Vulnerable Children
Bath Spa University
10.2018 - 10.2019
Deputy Headteacher, Virtual School
Hampshire County Council
04.2015 - 08.2019
Senior Advisor – Teaching, Learning, Behaviour & Attendance
Hampshire County Council
09.2008 - 03.2015
National Professional Qualification in Headship -
National Leadership College
09.2004 - 07.2008
Behaviour and Attendance Consultant – National Strategies
Hampshire County Council
09.2003 - 03.2008
Master's - Education Studies
Oxford Brookes University
09.1999 - 06.2001
Deputy Headteacher (Pastoral)
Carterton Community College
09.1997 - 08.2003
PE Teacher
Carterton Community College
09.1992 - 08.2003
BA (Hons) - Teaching
Leeds Metropolitan University
A Levels - English, Sociology, PE
New College
GCSEs - English, Maths
Crawshaw Secondary School
National Professional Qualification in Headship -
National Leadership College
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