CASE STUDY · KEYS ACADEMIES TRUST · FRACTIONAL DIGITAL STRATEGY
Strategic partnership with a high-performing multi-academy trust.
A long-term partnership as fractional digital strategist with Keys Academies Trust, supporting executive and senior leaders in their thinking about leadership, strategy and organisational coherence.
CONTEXT
A trust with a clear sense of purpose.
Keys Academies Trust is a growing multi-academy trust with a clear sense of purpose and a strong commitment to high-quality leadership and professional practice across its schools.
As the trust continued to develop, senior leaders were keen to ensure that strategic thinking and decision-making around digital strategy remained coherent, principled and sustainable at every level.
THE PARTNERSHIP
A long-term, fractional partnership.
I work with Keys Academies Trust in a long-term partnership as a fractional digital strategist, supporting executive and senior leaders in their thinking about leadership, strategy and organisational coherence.
The relationship is collaborative and reflective in nature. The emphasis is on dialogue, sense-making and disciplined prioritisation, building on the trust’s existing strengths rather than introducing external models or prescriptions.
FOCUS OF THE WORK
Where the partnership has centred.
- Supporting strategic clarity and long-term alignment
- Strengthening leadership capacity and professional judgement
- Sustaining coherence across diverse school contexts
- Chairing key working groups
- Creating space for reflective leadership practice
This work is shaped by the trust’s values and direction, and evolves in response to context rather than following a fixed programme.
IMPACT
A shared strategic narrative.
The partnership has helped reinforce a shared strategic narrative across the trust and supported leaders in exercising confident, principled judgement in relation to digital strategy.
Leaders describe greater clarity about priorities, stronger alignment between intent and practice, and increased confidence in navigating growth while staying true to the trust’s purpose.
IN THEIR WORDS
What leaders say.
Dr Ian Young
CEO, Keys Academies Trust
“In taking on the role of CEO of Keys Academies Trust in 2022, I inherited schools with deployment of iPads to a number of year groups, both in primary and secondary. As a small trust, I realised over time that I couldn’t create an affordable and effective position within the Trust central team to create the digital strategy we needed and to drive improvement and training. I was delighted then, to catch José shortly after he launched his consultancy, having observed the high quality of his work over a decade in two strong independent schools within United Learning. José has been able to work flexibly with us as a fractional digital strategist with real impact. He has rapidly formed good quality relationships and is highly respected across the Trust. The model is working perfectly for us in terms of the balance between impact and affordability. I can strongly recommend his services.”
Chris Game
Deputy Headteacher, Jack Hunt Academy (part of Keys Academies Trust)
“I have really valued working with José. He has provided valuable insight into our iLearn 1:1 project, getting us to really think about how we use technology to improve teaching and learning across our school from both a staff and student perspective. His training is always very well received giving practical and useable advice that can immediately be taken into the classroom environment.”
Could this approach work in your setting?
A short conversation is the easiest place to start. Tell me where you are and I’ll tell you honestly whether I can help.
Or email jose@azimuth.org.uk
