1. education

PROSPECTUS
www.circle.education
welcomes you
At CIRCLE – The Centre for Innovation, Research, Creativity and Leadership
in Education, we are driven by our mission to achieve better outcomes for more
learners.
It is our belief that the complexities of twenty-first century living and the
challenges that arise from them will only be solved by addressing the quality of
education offered to all people.
For this reason CIRCLE is committed to supporting schools and organisations
transition from a mode of reactive operational thinking to a culture of authentic
leadership based on sound decision-making principles and proactive planning.
Throughout our work, we focus on enhancing:
• Learning: understanding, creativity and innovation
• Strategy: alignment, efficiency and effectiveness
• Wisdom: reflection, evaluation and improvement
We accomplish this through using our unique architecture of knowledge to
support learners, educators and leaders.
Our solutions address the potential gap between intentions for educational
improvement, and the actions and measures needed to achieve these desired
outcomes for improvement.
We invite you to get to know us better through this prospectus and our website at
www.circle.education
PROSPECTUS
www.circle.education
Contents
2
About us
6
Our services
8
CIRCLE Consulting
12
CIRCLE Education
16
CIRCLE Research
18
CIRCLE Operations
20
Where to from here?
1
ABOUT US
OUR ROLE
CIRCLE – The Centre for Innovation, Research, Creativity and Leadership
in Education is an executive agency that connects 1,750 schools and other
educational organisations throughout Australia, New Zealand and the
Asia-Pacific region. Our reach across the educational sector positions us
uniquely to support over 20,000 educational leaders in their mission of
building cultures of excellence in leadership and learning.
From its inception in 2010, CIRCLE has valued and been deeply committed to
authentic, transformational and sustainable service that brings about better
outcomes for more learners – for real, for change, for life and for others.
CIRCLE has built on three decades of the institutional wisdom of Creative
School Management, which in its time was Australasia’s premier educational
consulting firm. Drawing on the expertise of Creative School Management,
CIRCLE has grown rapidly to build strong and lasting relationships with our
clients and the broader educational community.
Our ongoing task is to equip, empower and enable learners, educators and
leaders to:
• Conceive and agree on a vision and ethos for excellence in education
• Align themselves and others with this strategic intent
• Bridge the potential gap between intentions and processes
• Engage with and enrich their communities
• Evaluate and recognise performance outcomes
We do this through our interrelated products and services that are informed
by our expert understanding of what works best in educational leadership and
learning.
PROSPECTUS
www.circle.education
OUR LEADERS
Dr Philip SA Cummins
Bradley Adams
Bruce Hodges
BA LLB PhD
MACE MACEL AIMM RAA
BA MA
Dip T BEd MEd (Leadership)
Managing Director - CIRCLE Group
Director ­­- CIRCLE Education
Director - CIRCLE Research
CIRCLE founder and Managing Director Dr Phil
Cummins is an educator by trade and conviction, who
knows and understands schools and leadership. With
over 25 years in education as a leader, teacher, author,
speaker, and, most recently, an Adjunct Associate
Professor in Education at the University of Tasmania,
Phil now consults widely to government, schools
and other organisations about building culture and
improving performance. Phil believes that leadership
that inspires learning and promotes outstanding
educational outcomes is the key to unlocking
improved performance in our schools.
Brad Adams is the Director of Education at CIRCLE
and brings to this role 25 years of experience in
university administration, teaching and school
leadership in Toronto, Canada, most recently at
Upper Canada College. He was, until 2014, the
Executive Director of the International Boys’ Schools
Coalition (IBSC), an association comprised of leading
independent and state boys’ schools in all regions of
the world, including Australia, and dedicated to best
of class practice and collaborative research. He shares
CIRCLE’s passion for and commitment to unleashing
the leadership potential of teachers and schools to
improve student learning.
Bruce Hodges is the Director of Research at CIRCLE
and brings 38 years of knowledge and experience
in education and private enterprise to this role.
Bruce has worked in teaching and leadership roles
in state and independent secondary schools along
with ownership and management of businesses in
the health club industry and sports promotion fields.
Bruce is passionate about teaching and achieving
better outcomes for more learners. He is currently
undertaking PhD studies at the University of Tasmania
in Character Education.
3
OUR LOGO
Our logo is drawn from a family heritage of art-making, design
and creativity. It comprises a series of layered imperfect
transparent circles that represent the interconnection and
intricacies of organisational culture building.
Our circle moulds to the shape that people require. Our logo
isn’t a perfect circle because we are flexible and push boundaries.
We are creative and develop ideas and solutions that are
personalised. Not everyone fits into the perfect mould of a circle
and so we tailor our services to match the uniqueness of each
school and organisation.
OUR MEMBERS
PROSPECTUS
www.circle.education
PRINCIPALS
EXECUTIVE
LEADERS
LEADERSHIP
TEAMS
NOT-FOR-PROFIT
ORGANISATIONS
ASPIRING
LEADERS
TEACHERS
BOARDS
EDUCATIONAL
ORGANISATIONS
OUR PARTNERS
CIRCLE is aligned in strategic partnerships with major educational bodies
including the Alliance of Girls’ Schools, the Association of Independent Schools
NSW, the Australian Council for Educational Leaders, the Association of Heads
of Independent Schools Australia, the International Boys’ Schools Coalition, the
Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, the History Teachers’
Association of Australia, and the History Teachers’ Association of NSW. We are
the proud sponsors of the Australian History Competition and the NSW Extension
History Prize.
CIRCLE has been pleased to develop formal relationships with a range of tertiary
providers including the University of Tasmania, Singapore Management University
and Nanyang Technological University. This allows us to articulate many of our
services, especially within CIRCLE Education and CIRCLE Research into recognised
and accredited tertiary awards and professional learning programs.
OUR FUTURE
In the coming years, CIRCLE will continue to be recognised as a market leader in
educational consultancy and a top-tier provider of educational support services.
We believe in excellent education for learners of all ages. Through our knowledge
of how to produce better outcomes for more learners, we will continue to improve
the schools of our clients and additionally work to build our own.
In the next phase of our corporate development that initially targets the Asia-Pacific,
CIRCLE strives to secure our brand identity and obtain an unrivaled reputation in
and for building and operating educational institutions.
Our vision for the future will be strongly supported by developing and providing
software applications and online content through our newly merged international
software company that supports educational institutions and practice.
We will continue to explore new and exciting opportunities for aligned growth and
development within our integrated group of companies.
5
OUR SERVICES
The Centre for Innovation, Research, Creativity and Leadership in Education
MISSION: Build cultures of excellence in leadership and learning
PURPOSE: Better outcomes for more learners
PROSPECTUS
www.circle.education
consulting
education
A leading provider of school
improvement consultancy services
A leading provider of resources
promoting organisational and
professional learning
research
operations
A leading provider of research
support and educational
information services
An integrated group of companies
providing infrastructure and
administrative support
operations
evidence-based
data-driven
cutting-edge
operations
solve
learn
innovate
tactics
plan
nurture
collaborate
manager
manage
lead
review
executive
consulting
education
research
strategy
professional
7
evidence-based
consulting
solve
A leading provider of school improvement consultancy services
CIRCLE Consulting helps schools and other organisations improve their planning, problemsolving and systems through a process of discovery, culture capture, strategy, blueprint and
solutions architecture.
It invites educational leaders to reflect on and consider important questions about the
developments of their schools’ futures by asking the following:
Is it time for a new school plan?
plan
Do you need a fresh set of eyes to help you to develop your strategy and fine tune your
structures?
Are you clear about the nature of your preferred future and the best pathways to achieve this?
CIRCLE Consulting offers a range of evidence-based solutions that are tailored to the unique
needs of every school or organisation in:
manage
consulting
• Educational strategy
• School planning
• Community engagement
• Search and recruitment
• Governance
• Project management
CIRCLE Consulting draws on our proven range of education-specific consultancy tools, all of
which are informed and supported by the CIRCLE School Framework: a conceptual grid of
domains and criteria that permeates all aspects of school life.
We also integrate our consultancy support with other services to provide a complete model of
support for our client schools’ needs.
PROSPECTUS
www.circle.education
THE CIRCLE CONSULTING PROCESS
STAGE 1
Initial Consultation
»
Receive Brief
»
STAGE 2
Develop Proposal
Consultation
»
Refine Brief, Set Standards,
Determine Key Questions,
Establish Methodology
Workshops +
» Meetings
»
PROPOSAL
ACCEPTED
PROJECT STAGES
Develop Terms of Reference
»
PROJECT
IMPLEMENTED
Preparation +
Consultation
Follow Through +
Drafting
»
»
FINAL STAGE
»
»
Documentation
Documentation +
Process Finalised
»
PROJECT
COMPLETED
»
Evaluation
9
THE CULTURE CAPTURE PROCESS
THE CIRCLE DISCOVERY PROCESS
CIRCLE DOMAINS
Do we achieve good results?
2
Do we have good relationships?
3
Do we communicate well?
4
Do we plan for, implement and achieve programs
and initiatives well?
5
Do we have a good reputation?
»
What
characterises
us?
1
How will
we know
when we get
there?
»
»
What do
we want to
become?
CULTURE
CAPTURE
What doesn’t
work for us?
»
»
DISCOVERY
What works
for us?
CIRCLE CRITERIA
1 Do we achieve what we set out to acheive?
2
Do we use the best processes available to us?
3
Do we engage with and satisfy our community’s expectations?
4
Have we enhanced our ethos and supported our values?
5
PROSPECTUS
www.circle.education
Are we aligned with and contributing to our strategic intent?
CIRCLE CONSULTING: SOLUTIONS ARCHITECTURE PROCESS
DISCOVER
WHO ARE WE + WHAT’S GOING ON WITH US?
l Culture Capture
» PROPOSAL
l School Framework
DIAGNOSE
WHAT IS OUR CHALLENGE + HOW MIGHT WE OVERCOME IT?
l Situation Analysis
» TERMS OF REFERENCE
l Mission Analysis
DECIDE + DIRECT
WHAT WILL CHARACTERISE OUR APPROACH?
l Strategy
» BLUEPRINT
l Blueprint
DESIGN
DEPLOY
WHAT SEQUENCE OF ACTIONS WILL ENACT OUR APPROACH?
l Solutions Architecture
» OPERATIONAL PLAN
l Professional Learning Plan
HOW CAN WE BEST USE OUR RESOURCES?
l Pilot and Evaluation
» LOGISTICS PLAN
l Implementation and Evaluation
11
data-driven
education
learn
A leading provider of resources promoting organisational and professional learning
CIRCLE Education equips school leaders, teachers and staff with the highest quality of
services and resources that promote organisational and professional learning. Drawing on the
CIRCLE School Framework and the best of global educational and management research,
CIRCLE Education fosters authentic communities of inquiry.
nurture
lead
education
PROSPECTUS
www.circle.education
• CIRCLE Education is led by the work of CSM, a monthly print and online journal
delivering insights and practical, succinct advice by experienced educators. Tackling
challenging issues of global concern, CSM is designed to spark professional
conversation and stimulate action for school improvement.
• Complementing CSM, CIRCLE Education carries on the tradition of larger monographs
and handbooks centred on school strategy, planning, leadership and operational
management.
• In partnership with the University of Tasmania, CIRCLE Education hosts a unique online postgraduate program on school leadership and management for aspiring and current school leaders.
CIRCLE Education is supported by experienced educators who contribute to our publications
and lead the delivery of our programs. It is strengthened further by our range of CIRCLE
consultants who share their deep experience and expertise gained from working with schools.
POSTGRADUATE STUDY IN SCHOOL LEADERSHIP - PROFESSIONAL HONOURS
in association with the University of Tasmania
ONSITE
The Postgraduate Study in School Leadership – Professional Honours is
a unique online program of study that empowers the next generation of
school leaders to build great schools.
It is designed to provide aspiring and emerging school leaders at every
level with rigorous, relevant and practical preparation for new leadership
roles. The program is also compelling for existing school leaders who
wish to sharpen their leadership skills and deepen their understanding of
school operations.
ONLINE
OFFSITE
The partnership between The University of Tasmania and CIRCLE sees
the combination of an aspiring leader of online education and a leading
independent Australian executive agency in education. An added advantage
is that the program is a credited form of professional development.
CIRCLE is committed to authentic, transformational and sustainable
service that brings about better outcomes for more learners. This is
complimented by an active, research-led Faculty of Education at The
University of Tasmania, which delivers a personal approach to learning
and teaching that is focused on unique and individual needs.
13
CIRCLE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
THE CIRCLE
LEADERSHIP SERIES
THE CIRCLE
EVALUATION SERIES
THE CIRCLE
PLANNING SERIES
CSM
Australasia’s leading
suite of monthly journals
for educators
THE CIRCLE
HISTORY SERIES
THE CIRCLE
FINANCIAL SERIES
THE CIRCLE
COMMUNITY SERIES
PROSPECTUS
www.circle.education
CIRCLE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT MODEL
Who am I?
REFLECTION,
COACHING +
MENTORING
How can I
best serve
others?
Where do
I fit in?
15
cutting-edge
research
innovate
A leading provider of research support and educational information services
CIRCLE Research is a diverse research service offering hands-on research support to
educators and delivering practical succinct educational information that addresses best
practice, current trends and other global educational areas of interest.
CIRCLE Research is divided into:
1. Research Products
• The design, testing, implementation and evaluation of tools
collaborate
2. Research Services
• Supporting schools with the design of tools, collection and collation of data, as well
as the analysis and interpretation of data
3. Research Projects
• Designing, testing, implementing, managing, reporting on and evaluating stand
alone research projects
review
4. Internal Research
• Conducting research into CIRCLE for:
• CIRCLE knowledge architecture and publications
• CIRCLE marketing
• Conducting research into CIRCLE processes for evaluation purposes
research
PROSPECTUS
www.circle.education
CIRCLE Research provides learners with a window into cutting-edge research about what
contemporary education and contemporary schooling needs to be by asking the following of
educational leaders:
Do you want access to the latest thinking in education delivered in a concise and user-friendly
way?
Do you want to enhance the ongoing learning of your executive and governance teams?
Do you want to build your own school’s research and development capability?
CIRCLE Research offers a unique combination of practical and applied experience in schools
with research and statistical expertise. The team is comprised of the Director of Research,
Research Consultants and Associates and this team structure produces a blend of experience
that differentiates CIRCLE Research from other providers of research support services to
schools.
Many educators and especially teachers are not trained in working with statistics and where
there is an interest in more sophisticated research methods, a lack of both time and expertise
mitigate against that interest being nurtured and pursued.
Informed by an international perspective, CIRCLE Research conducts its research and
performs its services with a culturally sensitive understanding of the need for educational
leaders to be global in their outlook and thinking.
17
operations
An integrated group of companies providing infrastructure and administrative support
CIRCLE Operations amalgamates under one division a number of integrated brands and
companies that positions CIRCLE to deliver its range of premium executive services to clients,
affiliates and the broader education industry.
International: The major existing market for CIRCLE,
and its group of companies, rests primarily in the private
and public sector education institutions throughout
Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region.
Our geographical reach has recently seen the
incorporation of CIRCLE Singapore Operations, a
division that delivers CIRCLE services and products to
clients in the Asia-Pacific.
PROSPECTUS
www.circle.education
Technology: CIRCLE builds performance and culture
in schools and organisations through high-quality
technology including educational learning management,
leadership and professional learning systems. Recently,
CIRCLE merged with a leading competitor in New
Zealand to become a majority shareholder of Dimension 3
(D3), a company established to become the leading
provider of a range of software applications and online
content to support educational institutions and practice,
and additionally deliver professional development
programs to educators.
Accounts: There is an infrastructure of administrative
support provided by CIRCLE Operations that covers a
wide range of activities from basic bookkeeping and
accounting operations to providing critical information
and assisting the management of CIRCLE in making
strategic decisions. This business cell works closely with
the Directors of each CIRCLE subsidiary to assist with
financial reporting and to ensure that all accounting
and financial deadlines are met. In summary, this arm
of CIRCLE Operations serves as an integral resource to
supporting the Directors in the operational running of
CIRCLE.
Print: CIRCLE delivers its research and educational
resources through various media. Led by our flagship
journal CSM, we are renowned for our print publications
on learning and leadership, distributed to our network
of over 500 schools and other organisations in a variety
of accessible media that includes books, journals,
periodicals and subscriptions. CIRCLE Boxworks is
the associated entity that provides administrative and
logistical support to printing and dispatching our range
of educational resources.
19
WHERE TO FROM HERE?
GENERAL
Please call or email us to learn more about how CIRCLE can
develop ideas and solutions to meet your unique needs.
EMAIL info@circle.education
TELEPHONE +61 2 8064 9595
MAIL PO Box 1550 Crows Nest NSW 1585 AUSTRALIA
OFFICE 108 Alexander St Crows Nest NSW 2065 AUSTRALIA
OTHER
ACCOUNTS accounts@circle.education
CSM SUBSCRIPTIONS subscriptions@circle.education
PROSPECTUS
www.circle.education
21
www.circle.education