"This guy's walking down a street, when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep. He can't get out. 

A doctor passes by, and the guy shouts up "Hey you! Can you help me out?" The doctor writes him a prescription, throws it down the hole and moves on.

Then a priest comes along and the guy shouts up "Father, I'm down in this hole, can you help me out?" The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on.

Then a friend walks by. "Hey Joe, it's me, can you help me out?" And the friend jumps in the hole! Our guy says "Are you stupid? Now we're both down here!" and the friend says, "Yeah, but I've been down here before, and I know the way out."


(Quoted with affection, and with apologies to Aaron Sorkin, from The West Wing episode "Bartlett For America".)


Our Vision

We believe that these are extremely challenging times for those who lead. Senior staff are expected to achieve more in shorter timescales and often with fewer resources. Throughout the education world and in charitable organisations the challenges of restructuring organisations to meet the changing landscape while continuing to focus relentlessly on our primary functions is placing huge demands on leaders. RMCeducation has an experienced team of associates with proven track records across these sectors (but primarily in the education world) who can support the development of leadership capacity and assist in restructuring, managing change and project management.

All too often professional consultants lack first hand experience as senior leaders; our vision of consultancy is that those who have done the jobs themselves are best placed to offer support. In terms of supporting schools, academies, LAs, governing bodies and MATs our company could have been called 'Headteachers Direct'. Our associates have also got experience within LAs and charitable organisations. The leadership challenges across sectors are often the same: maintaining strong moral purpose, communicating a clarity of vision, aligning organisational priorities, developing strategic plans, managing conflict and maximising individual commitment and performance. Whereas many consultants enter a contract, give advice and walk away, RMCeducation stands alongside leaders to assist in the development and implementation of goals and strategy.

Our MD Ros McMullen personally oversees the work of all our associates.


What We Offer:

Leadership Support

  • Interim executive leadership. Ros McMullen, and other associates experienced in working as executive principals, are able to provide interim leadership at this level in the short term to assist newly appointed executive leaders, to fill any short term vacancy and to advise and support a recruitment process.

Our interim executive leaders are also able to provide mentoring, support and performance management for senior leaders, including headteachers.

  • Interim leadership / headship. RMCeducation has a number of headteachers, with proven track records of success, from both the primary and secondary sectors who are able to:
    • work as interim leaders / heads
    • provide mentoring and support to newly appointed heads
    • assist in performance management of senior staff

  • Coaching. RMCeducation can provide one day courses designed to give participants an experience of how to distinguish themselves as leaders within their field and how to go about producing extraordinary results as a consequence. We can also work longer term with groups and individuals through a coaching relationship based on transformational learning. This gives people an awareness of the basic framework from which they know, think and act. From this an awareness can come a shift which makes them far more aware of their own potential and capacity and enables them to think, behave and act beyond existing views and limits.
  • Senior leadership supervision. This involves RMCeducation providing an experienced professional colleague to develop a working alliance with the senior leader. The senior leader is provided with regular protected time for facilitated indepth reflection in order to offer an account of their work, reflect on it and receive constructive feedback. Senior leader supervision provides constructive and empathetic support with someone who understands the challenges and conflicting demands of the role but who works outside of formal performance management and who has no line management responsibilities for the senior colleague. Senior leader supervision has been found to be hugely beneficial when provided individually for all members of a team in both maximising team performance and in supporting individuals maintenance of a healthy worklife balance.

Management Support

  • Organisational Review. RMCeducation can work with all stakeholders in the organisation and client base to:
    • develop and realign vision
    • determine strategic priorities
    • develop strategic plans
    • assist in implementation of strategy

  • Advise and Support in Staff Restructuring, including:
    • determining appropriate structure
    • producing job descriptions and person specifications
    • working with relevant professional associations and trade unions to support restructuring process
    • devising bespoke performance management processes
  • Project Managing the Development of New Schools and Academies. RMCeducation does not  project manage new build, but can support all other aspects, including:
    • developing appropriate curriculum
    • devising staffing structure
    • budget planning and resourcing
    • managing consultations
    • preparing policies and procedures
    • legal compliance   
  • Advice and Support in Curriculum Restructuring, including:
    • review and analysis of existing curriculum
    • consultation with stakeholders
    • planning for accountability measures
    • curriculum costing
    • development planning

  • Support to Governing Bodies and Boards in:
    • headteacher performance review
    • headteacher selection
    • performance analysis
    • policy development