1. Hilary D’Arcy
Testimonials
I have had the great privilege of work working with Hilary since 2007. when she joined the
school as Headteacher. In December 2015, Hilary retired and I was appointed to
Headteacher. Since January 2016, she has been involved with:
➢ Executive Coaching for SLT. Developing capacity at SLT level with existing
members and new members of SLT.
➢ Specialist support for staff.
➢ Coaching and mentoring of Directors of Standards /Assistant Directors of Standards
where need is identified.
➢ First 100 days support for Headteacher.
➢ Quality Assurance and OFSTED readiness of schools and departments.
Feedback from everyone involved with the above activities has been outstanding, which is
of no surprise, as everything Hilary does is of the highest quality.
Hilary joined Ladybridge High School at a very challenging time. The school required an
outstanding leader, and in Hilary we got one! She came from a school improvement
background having worked in many challenging schools and for local authorities. She met
all expectations and in January 2013 the school received a Good judgement with
outstanding Leadership and Management from Ofsted. Ladybridge has frequently been on
the most improved schools list since Hilary's arrival.
Three people from her SLT are now Headteachers - showing her capacity to develop others.
She is an LLE and a trained Ofsted Inspector. She also managed down a £1 million budget
deficit and it was in fact balanced one year early, without making staff redundant, whilst
raising standards significantly at the school.
Hilary is always approachable and maintained an open door policy - this was greatly
appreciated by staff, students and parents. Hilary always took an outward facing approach
to school leadership and school improvement and was very actively involved with building
partnerships with the Local Authority and with other schools. As an English graduate she
can effortlessly articulate her vision or her message and without fail engage her audience.
Hilary worked tirelessly at building partnerships with a variety of stakeholders - hard to
reach families, the Local Authority, other schools and providers to ensure the best possible
outcomes for our learners.

2. As a result of all Hilary’s hard work - the school has featured in the Top 100 Most Improved
Schools list almost yearly since 2009, this clearly illustrates Hilary's vision and ability to think
strategically.
Relationships are at the heart of everything that Hilary does. One of her "strap-lines" is
"You can have all the school improvement strategies in the world, but if you lack the
humility to listen and learn and develop relationships - it will all be for nothing."
She is the consummate professional who never lost the humility to listen and learn. A truly
inspirational leader.
Hilary is a massive loss to Ladybridge High School and will have a hugely positive impact on
any school, in any circumstance in a relatively short period of time. Hilary is summed up by
one of the first things she said to the staff at Ladybridge - "If it is not good enough for my
own children, it is not good enough for the young people at Ladybridge." She will bring this
mantra to any establishment she works at and she will strive and empower others to be the
best they can be.
Headteacher
I always feel that I can climb the tallest mountain after I have spent time with Hilary. I
thanks her so much for her guidance and belief in me. I will do my very best as a Governor-
I really want to make a difference.
School Governor
I have really appreciated my sessions with Hilary this year. The biggest thing for me is that it
has built my confidence massively. Hilary is so full of encouragement, and she thought
about all the different avenues I could explore to further my career.
Hilary has helped me to evaluate myself as a teacher with more clarity and every session she
would build me up further. I am not someone who wants to be a head of department so I
thought that I would not have any other opportunities to challenge myself/further my
career, but she has showed me many different options that I had not previously heard of. I
have really appreciated all that she has done for me.
Member of Teaching and Learning Leadership Team.
During the sessions that Hilary has worked with me the primary focus has been my
leadership and pushing onto the next step to become a Head of Department. This has
meant ensuring I make the most of the skills I already have at my disposal as well as looking
at different leadership styles in conjunction with the ILM that I have just completed. This
linked strongly with the work of Daniel Goldman on emotional intelligence.

3. Hilary has also helped me refine my letter of application that I can adapt when applying for
Head of Department jobs. The importance of data and using it effectively for the benefit of
students has also been a topic of discussion during our sessions. As a result of this I will be
continuing to look at it closely with key leads in the school.
In general just having the opportunity to speak to Hilary about a number of issues has
strengthened my leadership credentials.
Aspirant Leader
I have found it really useful! I have been able to spread my wings and show people what I
can actually do. It has given me confidence and has enabled me to pursue things that I
wouldn’t have done or even thought of in the past. For example, I never thought about
becoming a Director of Standards but I do now! Meeting with Hilary has been great. Thank
you so much for this great opportunity.
Professional Lead for Holocaust Education
Hilary has been amazingly supportive, helpful and motivating over the months she has been
working with me. She has given very clear and simple tips to guide me in achieving my goals
and has helped me overcome several problems, advising me on the easiest way to
overcome any similar problems in the future. She has really motivated me to aim high in my
career and has helped me to clarify and solidify my pathway. I am incredibly grateful for her
input.
Lead Practitioner
I have found the sessions I have had with Hilary to be both rewarding and challenging. It has
given me time and opportunity to reflect on my current practice and the direction in which I
want to take my new role. Hilary is an expert at asking the right question to get you to
consider your actions, and more importantly the impact they have.
I sincerely look forward to continuing to work alongside her, as I know it will certainly help
me develop as a professional.
Director of Standards
I have found working with Hilary to be both rewarding and valuable. Having worked with
her in her Headteacher role I have the utmost respect for the way that she leads and have
learned a lot from her. She has enabled me to focus on my own career objectives as well as
those of the school and challenged me to develop myself as a leader. I have been able to
reflect on my own strengths and areas for development as a leader as well as those of the
department and put into place actions to strengthen those areas. I have been guided
effectively in improving my own best practice in terms of representing data, clarifying my

4. vision and developing my use of different leadership styles. I have thoroughly enjoyed
working with Hilary and am confident that it has had a positive impact on my CPD.
Assistant Director of Standards
I have found the CPD sessions really useful. My discussions with Hilary about my ambitions
and expectations have helped to develop my role within school. The outcome of the CPD is
that I feel stronger in my role and a more inspired teacher because of it.
Teacher
Hilary is an expert in her field and has taught me a lot about education and the way in which
different roles contribute to the success of the young people in the school.
Hilary has facilitated the Continued Profession Development for over 20 staff, including
senior leaders, teaching and support staff, over a 7 month period, coaching and mentoring
staff to the highest standard.
Hilary is such a calm influence which can be seen throughout school and is welcomed by
both staff and students, who all love her dearly.
Hilary has helped me think more about developing my role and has also given me the
opportunity to show what I can do. She recognises potential in both staff and students and is
very proud when they shine. Hilary has an amazing work ethos and is an advocate of a job
well done.
Hilary is extremely well thought of throughout the whole of the Bolton area and this is
prevalent in the work that she does.
I consider it an honour to know Hilary and I am extremely proud to say that I have worked
for her.
Headteacher’s PA
I have worked at the school for the last 12 years. When I first started, the school’s behaviour,
attendance and academic achievement can be described as needing a lot of improvement and
this would be a tough job for anybody willing to take it on. Then in 2007 along came Hilary.
During her time as Head Teacher at Ladybridge she worked tirelessly and so we started to see
improvement year on year. Hilary was driven and determined and not only did she have the
best interest of the students at heart but she also looked after her staff as well.
Over the years of working under Hilary’s reign she brought out the very best in me. My
confidence grew and she gave me the belief in myself that has helped me to be successful in
my own role. I found Hilary to be extremely fair in her dealings with me and an extremely
good role model. Her energy and enthusiasm rubbed off on all around her. Hilary recognised
where my strengths lay and where extra training would be helpful to my work. A lot of

5. guidance was given to me by her as to what courses would be beneficial and the opportunity
to better myself was given at all times.
Hilary adopted an open door policy and would never be too busy to spare you a minute and
an ear. She was very good at putting things into perspective and so alleviating your worries.
The success of the school is testament to Hilary’s hard work and fantastic leadership. I for
one will miss her greatly.
Senior Welfare Officer