1. Steven Popper Educational Consultancy Services Ltd
Steven Kurt Popper
Curriculum Vitae
Steven Popper is a freelance educational consultant and inspector. He achieved
QTS in 1983, and has a range of post-graduate qualifications including an Advanced
Diploma in Early Childhood Studies and an MA in The Expressive Arts in Education.
He taught children from Nursery upwards for a period of 11 years, and held senior
leadership posts in several infant and primary schools. Steven established and led
the University of Chichester’s highly successful Early Years initial teacher education
route between 1996 and 2013. He was also the Deputy Co-ordinator of the
university’s well-regarded Masters-level Primary PGCE programme for the final three
years of this period. Steven was seconded to HMI from September 2012 to August
2013 before becoming a freelance Additional Inspector and Tribal Complaints
Investigation Officer. He now leads inspections of Early Years provision on behalf of
Tribal Group and leads inspections of independent schools as a Reporting Inspector
on behalf of the Independent School Inspectorate. He has also been recruited as a
trainer by Tribal Group.
Steven has led over 80 inspections of primary education provision to a high
standard, and many schools, both mainstream and independent, have thanked him
for his professionalism and level of courtesy to staff. He has also successfully led
inspections of initial teacher training providers and advised schools previously
graded as inadequate. Steven has particular expertise in school inspection, initial
teacher education, quality assurance, high quality Early Years and primary teaching
and learning, meeting the needs of the most able pupils and creativity in education.
He is also an authority on children's engagement with superheroes and how this can
impact upon their moral development, and in 2013 the Open University Press
published his book on the theme. Steven Popper has been subject to enhanced DBS
disclosure.
Personal details
Nationality: British
Date of birth: 10/09/1959
Teacher Registration Number: [Available to prospective employers]
National Insurance Number: [Available to prospective employers]
Address: [Available to prospective employers]
Company: Steven Popper Educational Consultancy Services Ltd
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2. Steven Popper Educational Consultancy Services Ltd
Home / office telephone number: [Available to prospective employers]
Mobile phone number: [Available to prospective employers]
E-mail address: specsltd@talktalk.net
Current employment
Job Title: Freelance Educational Consultant
and Inspector
Employer: Steven Popper Educational
Consultancy Services Ltd
Address:
Acorns, Poplar Lane, Bransgore, Christchurch, BH23 8JE
Employed from: 1
st
September 2013 Employed to: Ongoing
Notice Required: None
Main current duties and responsibilities:
• Undertaking the lead inspector role in Early Years and Independent School Inspections:
preparing inspections; writing joining instructions; leading inspection teams; writing
inspection reports; complying with Ofsted and Independent School Inspectorate quality
assurance procedures and protocols.
Main achievements:
• Successful leadership of over 80 Section 5, Initial Teaching Education and Independent
School inspections since September 2012.
• Successful leadership of a large number of Early Years inspections since September 2015.
• High quality, objective, rigorous and thorough investigation of complaints made against
Ofsted inspections conducted by Tribal since November 2013.
• Very positive quality assurance visit reports and performance ratings on the Tribal portal.
• Ability to create very good professional relationships very quickly with school staff and
inspection teams, and work with them very well.
• Ability to diagnose a school’s key strengths and areas for improvement rapidly and
accurately.
• Ability to communicate very well with school leaders about emerging strengths and areas for
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3. Steven Popper Educational Consultancy Services Ltd
improvement.
• Ability to write inspection reports of consistently high quality to promote further school
improvement.
• Very good knowledge of current developments in primary and early years education.
• Very good understanding of Ofsted’s Common Inspection Framework and Early Years
Inspection Handbook.
• Very good understanding of the Independent School Inspectorate’s Inspection Handbooks
and Frameworks.
• Extremely high levels of professionalism and courtesy at all times.
• Extremely good time-management and ability to prioritise responsibilities and meet all
deadlines.
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4. Steven Popper Educational Consultancy Services Ltd
Previous employment
Employer
(Name
& Full
Address)
Jobs held and
main duties From To
Salary/
Grade
Reason for
leaving
Ofsted
Piccadilly Gate,
Store Street,
Manchester, M1
2WD
Seconded Inspector
Main duties:
Undertaking the lead
and team inspector
role in Section 5 and
ITE inspections.
Undertaking the team
inspector role in
Requires
Improvement and
Section 8 monitoring
inspection visits.
Carrying out Regional
Improvement work as
directed by my line
manager.
Contributing to
conferences,
seminars,
consultation events
and working parties
when requested
(including ‘Getting to
Good’ seminars for
schools).
Identifying and
agreeing targets for
my own professional
development and
1
st
Septembe
r 2012
31
st
August
2013
£45,941 End of
secondment
period was
reached
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5. Steven Popper Educational Consultancy Services Ltd
performance and
evaluating my
progress against
these and the HMI
Professional
Inspection
Performance
Standards.
Keeping up-to-date
with national
developments in
primary and teacher
education.
Drawing upon
experience and
expertise from prior
educational work to
help inform
discussions about
issues affecting
inspection policy and
guidance, and
contributing towards
the implementation of
the new Section 5 and
ITE inspections
frameworks.
University of
Chichester
Bognor Regis
Campus,
Upper Bognor
Road,
Bognor Regis,
PO21 1HR
Senior Lecturer in
Education, Primary
PGCE Deputy
Programme Co-
ordinator and Early
Years ITE Route
Leader
Main duties:
1
st
April
1996
31
st
August
2013
£45,941 To set up my
own company
and work as
a full-time
educational
consultant
and
inspector.
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6. Steven Popper Educational Consultancy Services Ltd
Design, development
and leadership of the
university’s Early
Years ITE route.
Leading, lecturing and
teaching a wide range
of ITE modules,
including all Early
Years subject study
modules.
Membership of
management teams
and substantial
contribution to
discussions and
decisions about the
Primary ITE
Programmes’ aims,
desired character,
strategy, strengths,
areas for
development, targets
and agreed actions.
Leadership of the
development and
review of the
curriculum, teaching
provision, assessment
and support for
student teachers in a
wide range of
modules, including at
Masters level.
Wide-ranging quality
assurance work,
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7. Steven Popper Educational Consultancy Services Ltd
including reviewing
university and school-
based provision,
preparing and leading
staff and partnership
training in certain
areas, preparing and
scrutinising
documents and
representing Primary
ITE Programmes to
annual monitoring,
external examiners
and OfSted.
Leadership of
curriculum and
partnership training
and development (for
the Early Years
teacher training route)
and identifying targets
for the development
of Early Years ITE.
Supporting ITE staff
(including through
formal and informal
coaching and
mentoring) and
inducting new Early
Years and other staff.
Supporting and
reporting to the
Primary ITE
Programme Co-
ordinators and
deputizing for the
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8. Steven Popper Educational Consultancy Services Ltd
Primary PGCE
Programme Co-
ordinator in his
absence.
Developing and
supporting
partnership with local
schools and pre-
school providers and
delivering general and
bespoke training and
CPD to their leaders
and staff.
Supervising MA
dissertations and
final-year
undergraduate
independent research
projects.
Supporting and
assessing student
progress and acting
as an academic
advisor and link tutor
for Primary ITE
student teachers.
Oxford Brookes
University
Harcourt Hill
Campus,
Oxford, OX2 9AT
External Examiner to
the University’s
Primary PGCE
Programme
Main duties:
Submitting an annual
report identifying the
1
st
Septembe
r 2010
31
st
August
2012
£850.00 To take up
the post of
Ofsted
Seconded
Inspector
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9. Steven Popper Educational Consultancy Services Ltd
key strengths and
areas for
improvement of the
programme (relative
to national
expectations)
Scrutinising the
quality of course
provision, curriculum
and support for
students (including
placement
arrangements),
students’ work, results
and satisfaction with
the course.
University of
Reading
Whiteknights,
Reading, RG6
6AH
External Examiner to
the University’s Early
Childhood Studies BA
Programme
Main duties:
Submitting an annual
report identifying the
key strengths and
areas for
improvement of the
programme (relative
to national
expectations)
Scrutinising the
quality of course
provision, curriculum
and support for
students (including
placement
1
st
June
2009
31
st
July
2012
£650.00 Fixed-term
contract
expired
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10. Steven Popper Educational Consultancy Services Ltd
arrangements),
students’ work, results
and satisfaction with
the course.
Bradford College,
Leeds
Metropolitan
University
Great Horton
Road,
Bradford, BD7
1AY
External Examiner to
the College’s
Childhood Studies BA
Programme
Main duties:
Submitting an annual
report identifying the
key strengths and
areas for
improvement of the
programme (relative
to national
expectations)
Scrutinising the
quality of course
provision, curriculum
and support for
students (including
placement
arrangements),
students’ work, results
and satisfaction with
the course.
1
st
November
2006
31
st
July
2011
£350.00 Fixed-term
contract
expired
Tollgate JMI
School
Malling Close,
Stockbury Road,
Croydon, CR0
7YD
Nursery Teacher and
Early Years Leader.
Acting Deputy Head
from September 1995
Main duties:
Leading the school’s
1
st
January
1995
31
st
March
1996
Responsibilit
y point ‘B’
salary
To take up
the post at
Chichester
Institute of
Higher
Education
(subsequentl
y the
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11. Steven Popper Educational Consultancy Services Ltd
early years provision
and curriculum
development.
Teaching the nursery
class.
As acting deputy
headteacher:
contributing to the
senior leadership
team’s monitoring of
the quality of teaching
and of pupils’
progress; contributing
to school
improvement;
deputising for the
headteacher in her
absence.
University of
Chichester)
Balfour Infants’
School
Pattens Lane,
Rochester, Kent,
ME1 2QT
Teacher (Reception
and Year 2) & P.E.
Co-ordinator
1st
January
1992
31st
Decembe
r 1994
Mainscale
salary
To take up
the post at
Tollgate JMI
School
Christ Church
Church of
England Primary
School
Redhill Street,
Regent’s Park,
London, NW1
4BD
Early Years Leader,
Teacher (Reception
and Year 1),
Language Co-
ordinator, and Child
Protection Liaison
Officer
1st April
1989
31st
Decembe
r 1991
Responsibilit
y point ‘A’
salary
To take up
the post at
Balfour
Infants’
School
Bonneville
Infants’ School
Early Years Leader,
Teacher (Nursery) &
Language Co-
1st
Septembe
r 1985
31st
March
1989
Responsibilit
y point ‘A’
salary (from
To take up
the post at
Christ Church
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12. Steven Popper Educational Consultancy Services Ltd
Bonneville
Gardens,
Clapham,
London, SW4
9LB
ordinator September
1988)
Church of
England
Primary
School
Camden Staff
Day Nursery,
Phoenix Road,
Camden,
London, NW1
Nursery Worker 1
st
Septembe
r 1983
31st
August
1985
Standard
nursery
worker rate
at that time
To take up
the post at
Bonneville
Infants’
School
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13. Steven Popper Educational Consultancy Services Ltd
Education history
Further/higher education
establishments attended
Qualification Grade/class
University of Chichester
University of Brighton
Canterbury Christ Church
College
Froebel Institute College
(Roehampton Institute of
Higher Education)
Froebel Institute College
(University of London Institute
of Education)
St. Mary’s College,
Twickenham (University of
London Institute of Education)
Shene College / Richmond
Upon Thames College
MA Theology (10/09/2008)
Certificate in Research
Methodology (22/11/2001)
MA The Expressive Arts in
Education (04/12/1997)
Advanced Diploma Early
Childhood Studies (16/07/1987)
Post-Graduate Certificate in
Education (01/08/1983)
BA Combined Studies (English
& History) (01/08/1981)
A Levels:
English Literature (1978)
History (1978)
O Level:
Drama and Theatre Arts (1978)
Pass
Pass
Pass
Advanced Diploma
PGCE (included the award of
QTS)
2:1 Honours
A Levels:
English Literature (D)
History (E)
O Level:
Drama and Theatre Arts (B)
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14. Steven Popper Educational Consultancy Services Ltd
Secondary school attended Shene Grammar / Shene College
Examinations passed (grade)
O Levels:
Mathematics (B); Physics (B); Biology (E); Chemistry (C); History (C); Art (E) (1976)
English Language with Spoken English (B) (1975)
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15. Steven Popper Educational Consultancy Services Ltd
Relevant training courses and professional qualifications
Independent Schools Inspectorate Reporting Inspectors’ Conference (6
th
– 8
th
January 2016)
Independent Schools Inspectorate Pilot Training for Regulatory Compliance Inspections (2
nd
November 2015)
Independent Schools Inspectorate Reporting Inspector Update Training (28
th
August 2015)
Tribal / Ofsted Common Inspection Framework Training (12
th
August 2015)
Independent Schools Inspectorate Safeguarding Training for Inspectors & New Reporting
Inspector Training (2
nd
July 2015)
Tribal Early Years New Inspector Training (16
th
– 18
th
June 2015)
Independent Schools Inspectorate Reporting Inspector Training (13
th
– 15
th
May 2015)
Mastery and Mathematics and Using Data (7
th
March 2015)
Reconstruct Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Training (12
th
December 2014)
Academies and Free Schools Update Training (Distance learning) (31
st
October 2014)
Additional Inspector SEND Update Training (Distance learning) (31
st
October 2014)
Safeguarding Update Training and Inspecting E-Safety (Distance learning) (31
st
October 2014)
LGBT 2014 Training (Distance learning) (1
st
October 2014)
Section 5 Update Training (Distance learning) (18
th
September 2014)
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16. Steven Popper Educational Consultancy Services Ltd
HMI-led Ofsted/Tribal Section 5 Inspection Update Training (20
th
August 2014)
Tribal 162a New Inspection Framework Training (8
th
April 2014)
HMI-led Ofsted/Tribal Lead Inspector Training (19
th
February 2014)
Tribal Complaints Investigation training (22
nd
October 2013)
Tribal Duty Inspector and Quality Assurance Training (23
rd
September 2013)
Tribal New Inspection Framework Training (9
th
September 2013)
ADEC Pre-deployment briefing for UK based school inspectors (6
th
September 2013)
National School of Government ‘Protecting Information: Level 1’ (16
th
August 2013)
Ofsted ‘Improvement Through Better Writing’ training (19
th
April 2013)
Civil Service Learning ‘Counter Fraud, Bribery and Corruption’ (20
th
February 2013)
Ofsted Education, Learning & Skills Conference (3
rd
– 4
th
January 2013)
Ofsted Supporting Improvement (Part 2) Event (19
th
- 20
th
December 2012)
Ofsted Phase 3 Training (5
th
- 8
th
November 2012)
Ofsted Supporting Improvement (Part 1) Event (19
th
October 2012)
Ofsted Phase 2 Training (2
nd
- 4
th
October 2012)
Ofsted ITE Remit Training (18
th
- 19
th
September 2012)
Educare ‘Safeguarding Children Awareness Programme’ (14
th
September 2012)
Civil Service Learning ‘Protecting Information: Level 1’ (14
th
September 2012)
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17. Steven Popper Educational Consultancy Services Ltd
Ofsted Phase 1 Training (11
th
- 13
th
September2012)
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy since March 2007
‘Higher Level Teaching Assistant’ trained Assessor (2004) University College Chichester
Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (1983) Froebel Institute College
Publications
‘Rethinking Superhero and Weapon Play’ (2013) Maidenhead, Open University Press
‘High Quality Leadership and the Early Years Professional Status Award’ in Beaty, C. (ed) (2011)
‘Integrated Children’s Centres’, Abingdon, Routledge.
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18. Steven Popper Educational Consultancy Services Ltd
References
Reference 1 (most recent employer)
Name and job title of referee Mr Christopher Nye, educational consultant and Ofsted
inspector (previously an Her Majesty’s Inspector)
Employer Ofsted
Address 44 Tulton Hill
Colerne
Wiltshire
Postcode SN14 8DN
Contact Telephone 01225 742130
Email chrisnye44@gmail.com
The capacity in which they know me Mentor during my secondment to Ofsted
Reference 2
Name and job title of referee Mr. Jon Spence, Director of Institute of Education
Employer University of Chichester
Address Upper Bognor Road
Bognor Regis
West Sussex
Postcode PO21 1HR
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19. Steven Popper Educational Consultancy Services Ltd
Contact Telephone 01243 812034
Email J.Spence@chi.ac.uk
The capacity in which they know me Senior line manager for Institute of Education
staff
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