It has always struck me as odd that while there is a growing body of literature around the role of the school leader and college leader, there has been a significant gap in the literature around those who enable, support and advise school improvement.

After all, there have never been more school leaders, advisers, experts, specialists and so on offering their services in the sector - all well intentioned, no doubt, but without real guidance on how to use these people best, how do you make the right choice?

And for those offering their services, how do they ensure they truly understand the challenges leaders, schools and the sector face?

Right time, right place

My colleagues and I have decided to fill that gap by publishing The Role of the Education Adviser (with a virtual launch event at 5.30pm today, 2 May 2024) with the aim of helping the sector reconsider a fundamental aspect of our education system: the support and empowerment of schools.

We believe the timing is apt, coinciding with a shifting paradigm in education where schools seek greater support for improvement rather than overreliance on external inspection.

As such, evaluating the skills and knowledge of leaders and advisers who guide and challenge educational institutions and the multifaceted dimensions of supporting and enabling schools and colleges that are required can benefit two audiences.

First, those who seek to support schools in improving themselves by looking at the advisory, inspection and improvement functions that exist in the sector and how each can be made more effective through sharpened approaches and ethical practices.

The second audience is leadership teams in schools with the aim of helping them know how best to approach, utilise and ultimately benefit from advisers to boost their school.

Diverse view from across the world

To do this, a diverse range of people have contributed - such as Professor Andy Hargreaves, Dame Alison Peacock, Dame Kathy August and numerous other leading practitioners from both the UK and the US - offering insights from various perspectives within the education ecosystem.

Through all this, it is clear the notion of a self-managing school system, emphasising the importance of high-quality, independent advice tailored to serve the needs of children and schools is paramount.

For example, collaboration and partnership, underscoring the need for advisers to work closely with school leaders.

From building communities of support to crafting influential reports, the book offers practical examples and insights into the complex world of education.

This is illustrated by case studies, from the establishment of an integrated school in Belfast to the intricacies of advising on leading change and embracing resistance to change within the US, helping link the theoretical to the practical.

We hope that by transcending geographical and sectoral boundaries we can help all settings to recognise the importance of effective external advice in enhancing school leadership and the role they play in the system.

Les Walton is the founder of the Association of Education Advisers, former education director at North Tyneside Council, founder of Schools North East and a former headteacher