Independent educational leadership & organisational support
I provide practical, independent support to school leaders, governing bodies, academy trusts and local authorities.My work includes leadership and organisational review, financial sustainability, curriculum and workforce planning, and complaints investigations.Whether you need focused advice, additional leadership capacity or an independent perspective on a complex situation, I bring a calm, constructive approach grounded in school and executive leadership experience.
Who I support
Support is tailored to your organisation, the challenge you face and the outcome you need. The examples below give a flavour of how I can help. We begin with a conversation to agree the right approach.
School leaders
Confidential, constructive support for headteachers and senior leaders seeking experienced challenge, additional capacity or an independent perspective.This may include leadership mentoring, improvement planning, organisational review, support during transition, and aligning curriculum and staffing plans with available resources.
Governing bodies
Independent support for chairs, governors and governing boards seeking to strengthen governance, clarify responsibilities or work through a sensitive or complex matter.This may include governance review, board development, understanding budget pressures and scrutinising recovery plans, alongside support with complaints and matters that have reached chair or governing-body level.
Academy Trusts
Flexible support for trust boards, chief executives and executive teams seeking additional capacity, independent review or experienced project leadership.This may include interim leadership, organisational and operational review, school-improvement diagnostics, resource and workforce planning across schools, and independent complaints investigations.
Local authorities
Independent capacity for commissioned work involving schools, education services or sensitive organisational matters.This may include school budget and resource reviews, complaints investigations, complex case reviews, project leadership, and policy and process review, supported by constructive engagement and clear, evidence-based reporting.
School financial sustainability & resource planning
Sound financial planning supports a school’s educational ambitions. I help leaders and governors understand financial pressures, examine assumptions and consider how curriculum, staffing and available resources fit together.Support may include budget and forecast reviews, integrated curriculum and financial planning (ICFP), workforce planning, and the review or development of financial recovery plans.An assignment might involve a focused review, a discussion with leaders and governors, or an agreed programme of support. We establish the scope and intended outputs at the outset.I provide independent analysis, advice and constructive challenge, with decisions remaining with the organisation’s leaders and governing body.
Complaints and investigations
Complaints and sensitive issues can become difficult for everyone involved. An independent person can help establish what has happened, ensure that people are heard and provide a clear, balanced view.
I can support schools, governing bodies, trusts and local authorities with complaints or complex matters that require careful handling and an objective perspective.
Depending on the assignment, this might involve reviewing the relevant information, speaking with those involved, considering how policies and procedures have been followed, and preparing a clear evidence-based report.
The scope and process are agreed at the outset. I work carefully, maintain appropriate confidentiality and aim to provide findings and recommendations that are fair, understandable and genuinely useful.
How I work
I begin by listening carefully and understanding the context, the people involved and what would be genuinely useful.
Where we agree to work together, the scope, timescale and intended outcome are made clear from the outset. I bring an experienced and independent perspective, ask thoughtful questions and work constructively with those involved.
My approach is calm, proportionate and practical. I communicate clearly, handle sensitive information carefully and aim to leave organisations with greater clarity and something they can use.
About me
I am an experienced headteacher and executive leader with a background in school improvement, governance and trust-level leadership.My experience includes primary education, organisational change, financial recovery, and aligning curriculum and workforce plans with available resources. I understand the challenge of balancing educational priorities, financial pressures and the needs of staff and communities.I also support organisations with complaints, investigations and sensitive reviews, bringing careful listening, independent judgement and clear, evidence-based reporting.Through Matthew Parrott Consulting, I provide focused advice and additional leadership capacity to schools, trusts, governing bodies and local authorities.
Start a conversation
If you would like to discuss a situation, an assignment or simply whether I might be able to help, please get in touch. The first conversation is informal and without obligation. If I do not think I am the right person, I will say so.
Leicestershire · Working across the UK
[email protected]
© 2026 Matthew Parrott Consulting · Privacy notice
Privacy notice
Last updated: 28 August 2026Who I amMatthew Parrott is a sole trader trading as Matthew Parrott Consulting and is the controller of personal information used to run the consultancy.Email: [email protected]
Location: Leicestershire, United KingdomA postal correspondence address is available on request where there is a legitimate need.Information I collectIf you contact me through this website or by email, I may collect your name, role, organisation, contact details and the information you include in your enquiry. My website and hosting providers may also process limited technical information, such as IP address, device or browser information and access logs, to deliver and secure the website.Please do not send sensitive case material through an initial website enquiry. If we decide to work together, appropriate arrangements for securely transferring information will be agreed first.How and why I use informationI use personal information to respond to enquiries and discuss possible work; take steps at your request before entering into a contract; manage professional relationships and provide agreed services; administer contracts, invoicing, tax and business records; protect my systems; and establish, exercise or defend legal rights.The lawful bases I normally rely on are taking steps before a contract, performance of a contract, compliance with legal obligations and my legitimate interests in operating and protecting the consultancy and responding to professional enquiries.Client assignments and investigationsThis website notice primarily covers enquiries and the administration of my consultancy. Where I handle information for an assignment, the arrangements will depend on the agreed role.If I process complaint or investigation material solely on an academy trust's or other client's documented instructions, that organisation will normally be the controller and its privacy notice will apply. If I determine any aspect of the processing as a controller, the relevant lawful basis and any additional condition required for special-category or criminal-offence information will be documented before processing begins.Sharing informationI share personal information only where necessary. This may include the commissioning client, approved IT, website, domain and email service providers, professional advisers, insurers, regulators or public authorities where required by law. I do not sell personal information.My website is hosted using Carrd and my domain and business email services are provided through Porkbun. Providers may process limited information needed to operate, deliver and secure those services.International transfersSome service providers may process information outside the United Kingdom. Where this occurs, I rely on the provider's lawful transfer arrangements and appropriate safeguards. Client case material will not be placed in a service outside the agreed arrangements without the required authority and safeguards.Retention and securityEnquiries that do not lead to an assignment will normally be retained for no longer than 12 months after the last substantive contact, unless there is a good reason to keep them longer.Contract, invoice and tax records are retained for the periods required by law and legitimate business needs. Assignment material is retained, returned or securely deleted in accordance with the engagement terms, the client's instructions and any applicable legal or insurance requirement.I use proportionate safeguards including device encryption, multi-factor authentication, access controls, secure transfer, data minimisation, encrypted backup and confidential disposal.Your rightsDepending on the circumstances, you may have rights to access, correct, erase or restrict your personal information, object to its use, or receive certain information in a portable form. These rights can be limited by law and may depend on whether I or a client organisation is the controller.To exercise a right or raise a concern, contact me using the details above. If the information forms part of a client-controlled assignment, I may refer your request to that client.You may also complain to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk, although I would welcome the opportunity to address your concern first.Cookies and changes to this noticeThis website does not currently use analytics, advertising cookies, embedded media or a contact form. If non-essential cookies or similar technologies are introduced, the website will be updated with appropriate information and a consent mechanism before they are used.I review this notice at least annually and sooner if my services, website or use of personal information changes. The next scheduled review is August 2027.