“With our recruitment process fast approaching the final stage, I write on behalf of the Governing Body to thank you for all your help, support, advice and encouragement over the last three months. An enormous amount has been achieved, culminating in an excellent appointment, and we do not underestimate for one minute the key role played by you in the whole process.”

“James Barnes delivered his whole-day INSET on ‘Excellence in Inspection’ to our staff yesterday. I booked him having experienced this training in a previous prep school, where we went on to receive ‘Excellent’ across the board. Yesterday’s INSET was a tremendous success and staff left smiling and full of confidence, ready to face the new term. James clarified the expectations of ISI, made everyone aware of the excellent work around them and inspired them to recreate that elsewhere. One member of staff said: ‘It was the best INSET day I have ever had.’ Thoroughly recommended.”

“James Barnes has been working for the PSB group of schools since September 2012 as Communications Director. This role involves meeting a variety of people in prep and senior schools, explaining the Prep School Baccalaureate and answering questions. He also plays an important role in coordinating the work of the PSB schools and indeed the associated PSB senior schools, attending as secretary the termly meetings for Heads and PSB Leaders, the annual Trustees meetings and also the various meetings for subject leaders. All this he has accomplished with tact, humour and kindness. He has a strong eye for details and is excellent at getting things done. I commend his work highly.”

““My recently reshuffled Management Team required full and frank feedback from the staff they were managing. James Barnes carried out this delicate task with thoroughness, good humour and a lightness of touch. The process enabled the school to identify the perceived strengths and weaknesses of senior staff, thus allowing roles to be clarified and training needs to be confirmed. It was a very positive experience for all and I am looking forward to working closely with a
more closely knit senior team in the coming years.””

“I found James’ approach, manner and professionalism first class in all our dealings. The quality of the INSET was outstanding and the amount of support he gave me was beyond what I would normally expect from an outside agent. James brings wide ranging experience from a variety of schools and he just gets it! All very reassuring for a young and inexperienced Head. I will be using James again in the future.”

“Having heard of his excellent reputation as a speaker, we asked James Barnes to host an INSET training session on lesson observation. Staff were hugely complimentary about the relevance of what he covered, as well as the engagement and enjoyment they got from his session.  As a Head I was delighted – James’ training was just what I was after to motivate and enthuse my staff.
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“‘James conducted my appraisal professionally, thoroughly and with sensitivity. It was certainly the most positive and productive appraisal process I have undergone. That is not to say we agreed on everything: James challenged my thinking and my perception of the school with its various constituent groups. James understands Prep Schools as a breed but a great
strength of this appraisal was his desire to get beneath the surface of this particular school and my own leadership style.’”

“James invested considerable time and effort visiting the school during my appraisal, speaking with staff and parents as well as observing, so that he gained a genuine understanding of our school community. Drawing on this knowledge and also his own considerable experience as a Head, James afforded me invaluable advice for the ongoing development of my leadership skills. The whole process was highly beneficial for me personally as well as in a wider school context.”

“James has a wealth of experience upon which to draw, complemented by an understanding of what a modern prep school should be offering to its children and their parents; I have greatly valued his advice on a number of important issues. He conducted my Head’s Appraisal, which was a highly positive experience for me and my staff and provided impetus for significant improvements to be made to the school’s administration.”

“With an ISI Inspection impending, James Barnes and his team were invited to conduct a ‘Mock Inspection’ with a specific brief of looking closely at our Teaching and Learning and raising the confidence levels of our staff with regard to the experience of being observed and meeting lesson observation criteria. This work was completed with the highest standards of professionalism and a great deal of sensitivity and empathy. James and his colleagues were rigorous but fair and demonstrated an excellent and immediate understanding of the KAS unique ethos. Our teachers were left feeling empowered by experience. I have no doubt that the success with which KAS came through the real ISI Inspection was due in no small part to the sense of clarity and focus James’ feedback gave both SMT and the staff as a whole. Subsequently we invited James back to work with SMT, HoDs and staff on developing our appraisal system, which has resulted in a step change in how we review staff. I hope to have the opportunity to work with James again in the future.”

“James has worked with St. Hugh’s School to undertake an appraisal and to deliver appraisal training.  James brings unquestionable professionalism in his interactions with parents, staff, governors and pupils. In addition James’ knowledge and understanding of the sector together with his empathy of all matters within the prep school environment have ensured that his interactions with us have been tailored and met our individual needs.  ”