Appraisals can either build confidence or quietly erode it. Drawing on my own experiences as a teacher, senior leader, and Trust Lead for CPD, this blog explores how appraisals reveal a school’s true culture — whether it’s rooted in trust, fear, or genuine growth. It offers practical insights on setting SMART, emotionally intelligent targets, developing staff through the C.R.A.F.T. Framework, and turning appraisals from a compliance task into a meaningful conversation that motivates, supports,

AI will never replace the richness of human coaching, but it can widen access to structured reflection. That’s why I created TalkSavvy™ Coach, an evidence-informed reflection partner built on my C.R.A.F.T. framework and 25 years of coaching and leadership experience.

Reflecting on effective communication & how often leaders get it wrong. It’s not that we’re not capable—we’re expected to know how to do it