The Independent Association of Prep Schools held an away day facilitated by consultants to help plan their future strategy and direction. [The consultants] provided challenge and energy to help the Association identify key issues and opportunities they faced. As a result of the facilitated discussion, the Association confirmed their strategy of promoting excellence in education and refined their membership criteria. They also recognized the importance of districts in strengthening their brand and offerings to members going forward. The client found the independence and challenge provided by the facilitators to be most valuable in achieving these outcomes.

1. Case Study
Forward thinking for the
Independent Association of
Prep Schools

2. Forward thinking for the
Association
The Association was mid-way through a business plan due to end in
2012. The organisation was approaching a crossroads in its
development and wanted to plan appropriately, given significant
changes in education (e.g. academies and free schools). These
raised a number of fundamental questions, including their potential
impact on IAPS' direction and membership criteria.
Background What we did
The Independent Association of The Association asked us to
Prep Schools is the provide a facilitated away day for
professional association for the the Strategy Committee and all
leading 600 independent prep the HQ staff.
schools in the UK and
worldwide. It exists to support Our support took the form of:
Heads, defend and promote the
sector and define and inspire Careful planning of the day
excellence in education. The with the CEO to identify style
“The decision to employ members are the schools and objectives.
facilitators was crucial to the themselves but the benefits are
success of the away day. delivered though the Heads An analysis of the current
and, increasingly, other staff. environment for the
The Consultancy Company’s Association and the threats
consultants provided the The Challenge and opportunities.
challenge and the energy
The Association saw itself at a Ideas and challenge,
needed for us to get the most
developmental crossroads. drawing on experience from
out of a busy, but vital day. The background was: a range of other sectors.
I would certainly recommend A new financial stability. Facilitation support but with
them to others.” challenge where needed to
A more proactive role in promote objective thinking.
shaping public policy.
David Hanson The use of a variety of tools
Chief Executive New types of potential during the day itself to
Independent Association of members and a need to encourage and maintain high
Prep Schools refresh what makes ‘an energy levels.
IAPS school’.
A summary of the day with
The opportunity to develop additional comments from
a British kite mark for consultants’ viewpoint,
schools in the UK and offering further ideas and
abroad. commentary.
The time to review the Photographic records of key
IAPS’ role and structure. flipcharts.

3. Results How we work
The deliverables of the day were: Our approach combines our
experience as senior
Confirmation of the broad managers in commercial,
strategy as Excellence in public and not-for-profit
Education, expressed as organisations and as
“World-class schools led by management consultants
world-class head teachers”. working with a broad base of
clients.
Refinement of membership
criteria, i.e. that the defining Our consultants work in
characteristics of IAPS partnership with our clients
schools are breadth of to ensure that what we
curriculum, quality and propose reflects your needs,
independence. resources and capabilities.
The emergence of the We will make a difference
Districts as critical to IAPS’ through working with you
future development. The and understanding your
primary means of contact needs rather than delivering
with members, they could off the shelf solutions which
play a major part in the do not necessarily fit
strengthening of the IAPS comfortably with your
brand and offering. operating environment,
organisational culture or
What the client most affordability criteria.
appreciated:
This approach and our mix of
The independence and expertise give us capabilities
challenge of the facilitators. where the value of the whole
is much greater than the sum
The emergence of of the parts.
unforeseen issues such as
the Districts.
The alignment of key
individuals behind the
refreshed characteristics of
’IAPS schools’.
Can we help you develop your strategic direction and
board capability?
For an initial meeting call:
Ian Barratt
Senior Consultant
07747 027512
ian.barratt@the-consultancy.co.uk
www.the-consultancy.co.uk