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Fractional Digital Strategist for Schools, Trusts & Education Organisations

Strategic Digital Leadership for Schools and Trusts

Leading digital strategy in education requires clarity, confidence, and sound judgement. Schools and trusts are navigating increasing complexity as technology shapes teaching, learning, assessment, and organisational practice. They are often under pressure to respond quickly while safeguarding integrity and supporting staff and students responsibly.

At Azimuth, I work as a fractional digital strategist for schools and education organisations, providing expert strategic leadership and ongoing partnership without the cost of a full-time appointment. My role is to help leaders make thoughtful, evidence-informed decisions about digital strategy — including the implications of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence — so that technology serves learning, not the other way around.

My approach focuses on building purposeful, sustainable digital strategies that support teaching, learning, leadership, and organisational priorities. Because real innovation is not about tools or trends, but about better learning, professional judgement, and coherent strategy.

How does it work?

Grounded in School Leadership Experience

I am an experienced senior school leader, consultant, and coach with nearly two decades of experience working at the intersection of education, leadership, and digital strategy. Formerly a senior leader in leading UK independent schools, I have worked extensively with leadership teams on curriculum strategy, organisational improvement, and the effective use of technology to support teaching and learning.

My work as a fractional digital strategist for schools and trusts is shaped by deep practical experience, evidence-informed practice, and a clear understanding of how schools actually operate. I have supported schools, multi-academy trusts, and education organisations through periods of change, helping leaders develop coherent digital strategies that are sustainable, purposeful, and aligned with their wider educational goals.

This combination of strategic oversight, leadership experience, and educational insight allows me to act as a trusted partner, offering challenge, clarity, and continuity without imposing one-size-fits-all solutions.

What a Fractional Digital Strategist Does

A fractional digital strategist supports schools and organisations at a strategic level, helping leaders navigate complexity, risk, and opportunity, particularly as digital and AI-driven tools evolve rapidly.

In practice, this means working alongside senior leaders to:

  • shape a clear, values-led digital and AI strategy

  • align technology use with curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, and culture

  • address concerns around AI, ethics, academic integrity, safeguarding, and workload

  • move beyond reactive responses to policy-driven, sustainable planning

  • build leadership and staff confidence through clarity rather than compliance

  • provide professional development support at every level

This is not about introducing technology for its own sake. It is about strategic decision-making, informed by educational values and real school experience.

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A Practical, Partnership-Based Approach

My work is collaborative, grounded, and shaped by context. I act as a strategic partner to leadership teams, helping them think clearly about digital change, including AI, without panic, hype, or false certainty.

Support may include:

  • strategic planning and review of digital and AI approaches

  • leadership team facilitation and decision-making support

  • development of AI-ready digital strategies that reflect school values

  • guidance on policy, staff development, and responsible implementation

  • coaching leaders to exercise professional judgement in complex areas

The focus is always on building internal capacity, so that schools and organisations are not dependent on external expertise but grow their own confidence and coherence over time.

Strategic Digital Support for Education Leaders

This work is particularly relevant for:

  • Schools and multi-academy trusts navigating AI, assessment, integrity, and digital change

  • Senior leadership teams seeking clarity and coherence in digital strategy

  • Education organisations and EdTech teams wanting grounded insight into adoption and implementation

  • Boards and executive leaders balancing opportunity, risk, and values

Whether you are responding to AI for the first time, reviewing an existing digital strategy, or embedding change across an organisation, this support is shaped to your context, not a generic framework.

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How we can work together

01. Initial Strategic Consultation

This free-of-charge, strategic consultation is a structured, senior-level conversation designed to explore your current digital context, priorities, and pressures, and to determine whether working together would be genuinely valuable.

This stage allows us to:

  • Explore your strategic aims for digital, including AI

  • Surface key tensions, risks, or uncertainties

  • Sense-check existing plans, assumptions, or proposals

  • Clarify where external strategic support may help, and where it may not

Just as importantly, it is an opportunity to establish fit: whether my approach, experience, and way of working align with your organisation’s needs and culture.

The outcome is shared clarity about next steps, not a commitment to further work.

Ideal for leaders seeking an informed external perspective before deciding how to proceed.

Schedule a consultation

02. Digital Strategy Audit

The digital strategy audit provides a structured, evidence-informed review of how technology currently supports teaching, learning, leadership, and organisational effectiveness.

Typically conducted over one or two days (with two days working best in larger or more complex settings), the audit may include:

  • Conversations with senior leaders and key staff

  • Review of digital systems, workflows, and policies

  • Observation of classroom and operational practice

  • Consideration of AI readiness, governance, and professional confidence

For larger multi-academy trusts or organisations, additional time may be required to ensure depth, coherence, and fairness across contexts.

Findings are shared clearly and accessibly, identifying:

  • Strengths to build on

  • Areas of friction or inconsistency

  • Strategic priorities for development

The emphasis is on sense-making and prioritisation, not judgement or compliance.

Ideal for settings seeking a clear, credible baseline before committing to change.

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03. Digital Strategy Partnership

For schools and trusts requiring sustained strategic capacity, I work as a fractional digital strategist, embedded within the organisation over time.

This partnership provides:

  • Ongoing access to a trusted strategic adviser

  • Attendance at relevant senior and executive-level meetings

  • Support with digital and AI policy development and review

  • Facilitation of professional learning and leadership development

  • Follow-through on audit findings and agreed priorities

  • Regular review of progress, risks, and emerging challenges

My role is to work alongside senior leaders to drive coherent digital strategy and sustainable improvement by:

  • Supporting leaders in making fewer, better digital decisions

  • Reducing initiative overload and technical friction

  • Building confidence and coherence across the organisation

  • Ensuring technology and AI serve purpose, people, and culture

This model offers continuity, judgement, and strategic oversight without the cost or rigidity of a full-time appointment.

Ideal for organisations navigating complex change or seeking long-term digital leadership support.

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Don't just take my word for it...

“Your expertise and professionalism were very well received by our school leaders. Thanks for generating real clarity on next steps.”

Dr Ian YoungCEO, Keys Academies Trust

“José has depth and breath of experience in school leadership and strategic business, and will give you a space to think and consider. Most importantly, he knows that whilst there might be a few quick wins, he also knows that school improvement and high-performance take time to nurture and space to grow.”

Mike BuchananDirector, Positively Leading, and former Chair of HMC

“José is a clear-eyed and compelling guide to the intersection between pedagogical theory, educational research and the use of technology to build value upon both.”

Dominic NorrishCEO, Unity Schools Partnership

Your next step starts with a conversation

If you’re looking for thoughtful, expert digital strategy support that is rooted in experience, I’d be glad to explore whether this would be useful in your context.