Francis Lawlor is a senior leader in education and training with over 30 years of experience. He currently serves as Service Manager for 14-19 education at Leicestershire County Council, where he leads strategic planning and works to improve outcomes for young people. Prior to this role, he held several director roles overseeing post-16 education and apprenticeships across East Midlands regions. His career demonstrates a strong track record of improving performance, reducing dropout rates, and influencing other leaders. He is committed to a learner-centered approach and utilizing his experience to benefit young people.

1. Francis Lawlor
13 Chatsworth Avenue, Southwell Nottinghamshire NG25 0AE
Telephone 01636 815890 Mobile 0750 600 4891
Email flawlor@btinternet.com
I am a learnerfocused,educationandtrainingseniorleaderwithanoutstandingportfolioof
experience inpost16 and statutoryeducation andwitha successful recordof achievementin
improvingthe outcomesforyoungpeople. Ihave leadershipcapabilities insettingthe strategicand
operational planning andimplementationof 14 to 19 and adulteducation;alastingcommitmentto
a learnercentredapproachforall judgementsanddecisionmaking;astronginfluencingskillsrole at
seniormanagementandBoardlevel andaprovenabilitytodeliverbetteroutcomesfor young
people. Iamcommitted,dynamic,self-motivatedand resilientin seekingtoimprove the livesof
youngpeople. Aftersix yearsata local authority,Iam seekinganew challengewhichwill utilise my
vast experience ineducationandtraining,mynetworkingskillsandabilitytoinfluence senior
leaders.
Key achievements
 StrategicallyinfluencedSecondarySchool HeadteachersandFurtherEducationPrincipalsto
improve outcomesforyoungpeopleandgainedthe respectof the local school sector
 Leicestershire NEET(NotinEducationEmploymentorTraining) figuresare the lowestinthe
regionandthe lowestof our local authoritystatistical neighbours
 Assisted countyFEcollegesinachievingatleastagood grade at an Ofstedinspection
 Maintainedsufficientand highquality educationandtraining provisionforall 16 to 19 year
oldsinLeicestershire withapriorityonthe vulnerablelearnerse.g.childrenincare and
teenage parents
 Successfullyreducedthe numberof permanentexclusionsat keystage 3 and 4 in
Leicestershire throughfivelocal behaviourpartnershipswithfullrepresentationfromall
secondaryschools
 Influencedlocal political County Council memberstocontinue the prioritisationof 14-19
educationandtraining.
CAREER HISTORY
Leicestershire CountyCouncil
Service Manager16-19/25 April 2013 – present
Responsible for
- The Strategicand operational directionof 14 to 19 educationinLeicestershire
- Implementingthe raisingof the participationage andreducingNEET( NEET inLeicestershire
isthe lowestinthe regionandinthe top quartile of 150 local authorities)
- Leadingandmonitoring informationadvice andguidance for14 to19 yearolds
- Ensuringthere issufficientqualityandquantity of educationandtrainingprovisiontomeet
all the needsof youngpeople inLeicestershire
- An Education Participation Strategy,QualityStrategy andImplementation Planthatinvolves
local schools,FEcollegesandapprenticeshipproviders
- Workingwiththe Local Enterprise PartnershipinassociationwithLeicesterCityCouncil
- The strategicand operational directionof BehaviourPartnershipsforKeyStage 3and 4 that
seekstominimise permanentexclusions.

2. - The strategicdirectionof 16-19/25 yearoldswith LearningDifficultiesand/orDisabilities(
Special EducationNeeds)
- Liaisingwithofstedandthe regional school commissioneron14 to 19 educationaspart of
the countycouncil educationteam.
I am a
- Board memberof Leicestershire EducationBusinessCompany (LEBC) linkingeducation and
businessesfor14 to 19 year olds.My keycontributionsare ingeneratingsupportfromthe
school sector
- Memberof the PeoplesBoardof the LeicesterandLeicestershire Local Enterprise
Partnership(LLLEP).The Boardaimsto improve the skillsof all residentstomeetthe
demandfromlocal businesses.
I was
- I was a memberof the SouthLeicestershire FECollegeBoardforthree years from2010 to
2013 and servedasVice Chairfor the lasttwo yearswhenIsuccessfullyassisted atasenior
leadershiplevel inimplementingthe federationwithNorthWarwickshire &Hinckley
College;inadditionIwaschair of the Search committee.Istayedonas a co-optedmember
of the Quality&StandardsCommittee andresignedinJanuary2016 followingthe good
ofstedinspectiongrade.
Directorof Post16 (Headof LeicesterandLeicestershire LearningOrganisation(LLLO)) –April 2010 –
April 2013
- In April 2010 I had a team of 15 who were responsibleforthe planningandfundingdialogue
for all 16 to 19 educationandtrainingestablishmentsinLeicesterandLeicestershire.I
reportedtothe LLLO Board that wasjointlychairedbythe Directorof Children’sServicesat
LeicesterCityCouncil andLeicestershire CountyCouncil
- In April 2011 the planningandfundingrole wasnolongerrequiredandthe staff were made
redundant.Myrole was thensolely reportingto LeicestershireCountyCouncil with minimal
staff
- From 2010 to 2013 I chaireda 14-19 LeicestershirePartnershipanddevelopedworking
relationshipsbetween the schoolsandFEColleges
- I was an academytrustee andgovernorat QueniboroughPrimaryschool inSystonfrom
2010 to 2013 and for one yearI was Chairof Finance.
East MidlandsLearningand SkillsCouncil (LSC)
Regional DirectorforLearning&Quality April 2006 to March 2010
I was responsible for
- The qualityassurance andqualityimprovementsystemsof all post16 educationprovidersin
the East Midlands.I leda Regional QualityImprovementPartnershipwithrepresentation
fromFE, schools,apprenticeshipprovidersand Ofsted
- The team that allocatededucationplacesat19 forall regional moderate andsevere learners
withlearningdifficultiesand/ordisabilities (LLDD).Ipreparedthe firstLLDD regional strategy
- the healthandsafetyteam
- the equalityanddiversityteam
Regional PlanningandPerformance Director – April 2004 to March 2006
I was responsible for
- writinganddeliveringthe regional statementof prioritiesforpost16 education
- allocatingthe fundingforthe regional FEcolleges

3. - the managementinformationanddatareportingtothe East MidlandsLSC Board settingout
the performance achievementsandareasforimprovementacrossthe five local LSCs.
Nottinghamshire Learning& SkillsCouncil
FundingAllocationsManager– April 2001 to March 2004
I was responsible for
- allocatingfundingtothe local FEcollegesandApprenticeshipProviders
North Nottinghamshire Training Enterprise Company (NNTEC)
PlanningandPerformance Manager - April 1995 to March 2001
I was responsible for
- managingthe relationshipwithGOEM( GovernmentOfficeforthe East Midlands)
- agreeingthe fundingallocationfromGOEM
- reportingonperformance tothe seniorleadershipteamandthe board
- managingthe annual planfor the TEC.
Mansfield2010
ProjectManager – Januaryto March 1995
I was responsible for
- assistingthe fourlocal districtcouncilsinpreparingbidsforthe Single RegenerationBudget.
London Life
Life Assurance Representative - 1993 to 1994
- I was responsible forsellinglifeassurance productsacrossthe East Midlands.
Lloyd’sof London
AviationReinsurance Underwriter – Syndicate 271 – 1987 to 1992
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
Institute of Education – Universityof London –2015 Studyingfora MBA inEducationLeadership
(International) thatincludessystemsleadership,financial management,strategyandmarketing,
leadingpeopleandadissertation.Itwill be completedbyChristmas2016.
1982-1985 BA (Hons) Social SciencesatBristol Polytechnic2:2
A levels –Economics,Mathsand Geography
Otherinformation
Chairof LowesWongAfterSchool Club - 2006 to 2008
Manager of Southwell CityVeteransFootball Club
Referencesavailable onrequest