Education & Training Consultant
From classroom teacher to Head of Education Standards for a city council — leading teams of 70+, driving improvement across 60+ schools, and contributing to an Outstanding ILACS judgement. Now available to you as an independent consultant.
I’m Mark Storey — an independent education and training consultant with over 30 years of experience spanning classroom teaching, school improvement, and senior strategic leadership at local authority level.
My most recent role was Head of Education Standards and Achievement at Brighton & Hove City Council — a city with a majority of maintained schools, where I led a team of over 70 staff across school improvement, governance, the Virtual School, PSHE, assessment, safeguarding, and ethnic minority achievement. In eight years in that post I raised attainment above national averages, significantly increased the proportion of pupils attending Good or Outstanding schools, and directed improvement in underperforming settings through data-informed challenge and governance boards.
A particular focus of that role was tackling educational disadvantage. I designed and led a citywide strategy — including the “Mitigation to Success” programme, enhanced primary–secondary transitions, and literacy and numeracy initiatives — that delivered sustained KS4 improvement for disadvantaged pupils. I also managed a £2M budget with consistent efficiency savings, and negotiated directly with Ofsted, the DfE, and academy chains.
In 2024, I led the Virtual School and Educational Safeguarding through the ILACS inspection as part of the city’s Outstanding overall Ofsted judgement — one of the most demanding assessments in children’s services. Before Brighton & Hove, I served as Head of Virtual School at two local authorities, where I created and implemented visions that drove significant improvements in outcomes for Children in Care, including nationally recognised GCSE results for that cohort.
I now work independently with education leaders, local authorities, and organisations who want focused, experienced support — without the overhead of a large consultancy firm.
Strategic and practical support for local authorities, schools, and education settings navigating improvement, inspection, or change.
Tailored coaching and development for senior education leaders who want to sharpen their thinking, confidence, and impact.
Practical, responsible AI coaching and training for education leaders and managers — helping you move from uncertainty to confident, purposeful use.
Led the Virtual School and Educational Safeguarding through the 2024 ILACS inspection, contributing to Brighton & Hove City Council’s Outstanding overall Ofsted judgement.
Head of Education Standards and Achievement at Brighton & Hove for eight years — leading 70+ staff, managing a £2M budget, raising attainment above national averages across 60+ schools, and negotiating directly with Ofsted, the DfE, and academy chains.
Designed and led a citywide strategy to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils — including the “Mitigation to Success” programme, enhanced primary–secondary transitions, and literacy and numeracy initiatives — delivering sustained KS4 improvement.
Head of Virtual School at two local authorities. Created and implemented visions that drove significant improvements in outcomes for Children in Care, including nationally recognised GCSE results for that cohort.
BSc (Hons) Physics, PGCE, NPQH (National College of School Leadership). Experienced in building and delivering leadership training in partnership with universities and teaching schools. AI for Business certification in progress.
Whether you’re preparing for inspection, thinking through a leadership challenge, building your team’s capacity, or exploring what AI could practically do for your organisation — I’d welcome the chance to talk it through. No sales pitch, just a straightforward conversation from someone who has sat where you’re sitting.
mark@markstoreyconsultancy.comBased in Brighton & Hove — working nationally — LinkedIn
Start with a free 30-minute call. Bring your challenge. I’ll share an honest view on whether and how I can help — and you’ll leave with something useful either way.