“I believe passionately in the right of every child and young person to an education which keeps them safe, nurtures, supports and inspires them and which enables each and every one to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding.
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experience
Enrich Education was set up in 2011 and is run by Kate Richards, BA, MA, PGCE, NPQSI, FCCT, who has worked in education for over thirty years.
Kate has a track record of working highly effectively with the Department for Education, independent and state schools, their associations and groups, MATs, local authorities, ISI and Ofsted, and is a highly experienced coach, trainer and presenter.
Flexible in approach and creative in problem solving, she has the experience and ability to think strategically and to lead the development of policy and practice with boards, governing bodies and senior leaders. In 2019 she was honoured to be awarded a Fellowship with the Chartered College of Teaching.
As Chief Inspector at the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) Kate was responsible for the end-to-end inspection process. This included strategic planning for excellence and innovation, for maintaining the quality of inspection and the inspector workforce, for providing evidence-based insight to develop practice, and for representing the professional expertise of ISI at national and international level.
She represented ISI as a corporate witness at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, was a panellist on a serious case review and is a member of the International Task Force on Child Protection.
Prior to her role at ISI, as a consultant working with MATs, governing bodies and charitable trusts, and as a school improvement advisor, associate vice principal, teacher and inspector, Kate had a wide range of roles and experiences in leading, developing and supporting children, people and organisations.
She worked with governors and senior leaders, developing their understanding of effective governance, conducting headteacher appraisals, identifying targets and reviewing progress and supporting through coaching programmes. She also led on a number of initiatives including whole school reviews. In addition, Kate led a substantial number of pupil premium reviews for a wide range of providers, was an accredited trainer for the British Council and worked with Achievement for All 3As.
Most recently Kate has undertaken a number of high-profile safeguarding reviews in both the independent and state sectors and supported trusts and individual schools extensively in leadership development. She is on the Safeguarding Advisory Board for the Prince’s Trust, is a Chair of Governors in two schools and is a member of the national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel pool. She is also a member of the International Task Force for Child Protection, is an associate director for an SEMH school and a board level advisor for a mental health start up.
Key skills
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Knowledgeable
Theoretical and practical understanding of effective school systems, safeguarding and pedagogy.
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Strategic
Inspirational leadership and management of teams and individuals: from strategic thinking to effective implementation.
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Insightful
Detailed understanding of complex organisations and the interplay between inspection theory and practice.
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communicative
Strong communication, both oral and written with internal and external stakeholders at Board, DfE and Ministerial level.
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Experienced
In-depth knowledge and understanding of independent and maintained sectors from early years to post-sixteen.
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empathetic
Supportive and understanding in pressurised environments.
“"Kate’s role as a coach is highly valued by the schools in which she works for her rigorous and well-informed approach, her sensitive and personable manner and her skills as an inspector and school leader.
She treats schools with respect, being punctual and efficient in her visits,
prompt and thorough in her reporting, perceptive in her judgements and
judicious in her advice. Where there are barriers to progress, she is
positive and creative in the challenge she presents, and when the situation demands, she is robust and persistent.”
— Line Manager