Standing alongside senior and middle leaders in schools, colleges and academies on the journey to great school leadership.
Working with you to raise standards whatever the circumstances or context.
- Jointly developing strong school improvement strategies tried and tested in the best schools.
- Galvanising and motivating leadership teams to deliver improved outcomes and the vision for the school.

Sir Michael Wilshaw
Founder, Headline Consulting
Mentoring and School Leadership
Direct, hands-on mentorship for CEOs, headteachers, senior leaders, and middle leaders to raise standards and add lasting value.
View mentoring
Helping leaders to prepare for inspection
See mentoring in practiceDeveloping leaders to withstand the rigours of high-stakes accountability.
Providing a strong narrative of school improvement during inspection (rehearsal and role-play)
Leadership style is as important as substance. How to come across when the going gets tough during inspection.
Lies, damn lies and statistics!! Using data to support your case.
Ensuring that leadership teams focus on what matters and are not distracted by insignificant issues.
Supporting leaders to evaluate and review their own performance
Who we work with
Delivered online or in person, tailored to every level of school leadership.
CEOs & Principals
Strategic direction for trusts and colleges navigating rapid growth or underperformance.
Headteachers
One-to-one mentoring to sharpen leadership, culture, and inspection readiness.
Senior school leaders
Aligning senior teams around a robust, no-excuses behaviour culture and consistent standards of teaching across every classroom.
Middle leaders
Developing the engine room of the school — the leaders who look both above and below.

The founder behind Headline Consulting
Sir Michael Wilshaw served as HMCI and Head of Ofsted between 2012 and 2016.
Before taking up the post of Chief Inspector, Sir Michael was known as a transformative headteacher of a number of outstanding schools in London (see Biography).
40+ years in education leadership
Former HMCI, Director of Education and Executive Headteacher.
National Policy Impact
Shaped inspection standards for schools across England as head of Ofsted.
What leaders say
“Sir Michael brings an exceptional breadth and depth of experience from across the education sector, spanning school leadership, system-wide improvement and his tenure as His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education. What distinguishes him is his ability to translate that considerable experience into clear, purposeful and practical guidance for leaders. His insight, challenge and support would be invaluable to those navigating the complexities of educational leadership, particularly at executive and trust level. A mentoring programme led by Sir Michael would offer a rare opportunity to benefit from his strategic perspective, candour and deep understanding of what it takes to build strong, sustainable organisations that deliver the very best outcomes for children and young people.”
Diana Owen CBE
Chief Executive, L.E.A.D. Academy Trust
“I have worked with Michael for almost 20 years as a fellow Principal in Hackney and latterly as trust improvement and leadership consultant, coach, and trainer. I have always valued the clarity Michael brings to complex leadership contexts which he is able to provide because of his vast experience of authentic and sustained system improvement. He has always been a passionate advocate for disadvantaged young people and provided support, as well as challenge, to leaders in the pursuit of improved pupil outcomes. Indeed Michael has so much knowledge and experience that I continue to consult him regularly when there are significant strategic and system concerns which we need to resolve.”
Mark Emmerson OBE
Chief Executive Officer, The City of London Academies Trust
“I have worked with Sir Michael Wilshaw across schools in both London and Liverpool, where he provided mentoring and support to school leaders during periods of significant challenge and change. Michael is an exceptional communicator — direct, insightful, and always rooted in practical experience of what works in schools. Leaders found his guidance genuinely transformative, not just advisory. He has a rare ability to combine high expectations with real support, and his insights consistently translated into measurable improvement. I would not hesitate to work with him again and recommend him without reservation to any trust or school seeking leadership support.”
Paul Smith
CEO, East Midlands Education Trust
Speak directly with Sir Michael Wilshaw
Leadership teams can request a direct, confidential briefing on mentoring support. We respond to every enquiry personally.