We help school owners, Boards and senior leaders assess school performance, strengthen governance, appoint senior leaders and plan institutional development.
Our support and guidance combine international school leadership experience, structured reviews and practical recommendations.
Tell us about your school's situation. We'll review your enquiry and discuss appropriate next steps.
Services
Investigate. Build. Improve. Lead.
Independent school reviews, inspections, accreditation-related reviews, performance assessment, safeguarding and institutional risk.
New school and institutional development, strategic planning, pre-opening support and organisational capacity building.
School improvement, turnaround, governance and leadership improvement, and inspection and accreditation readiness.
Board Advisory, Executive Search, leadership transition and interim leadership support.
Specialist recruitment support for international schools seeking to appoint senior educational, operational and governance leaders.
See Executive SearchProfessional advice and support for school Boards and senior decision-makers addressing governance, oversight, institutional priorities and significant organisational decisions.
Discuss Governance AdvisoryStructured reviews and assessments designed to help school leaders and Boards understand institutional performance, identify areas requiring attention and establish priorities for improvement.
Discuss a School ReviewAdvisory support for schools seeking to strengthen performance, improve institutional systems, develop organisational capacity or implement strategic change.
Discuss Your School's NeedsSituations
Important school decisions are rarely straightforward. Solute provides an experienced external perspective when the situation requires greater clarity, objective assessment or specialist support.
Experienced support when appointing a Principal or senior leader.
Review Board effectiveness, accountability and oversight.
Understand performance, risks and priorities for improvement.
Plan new schools, expansion or major institutional change.
Identify priorities before an external review.
Assess processes that may affect institutional effectiveness.
Who we work with
Executive Search · Solute Search
A senior leadership appointment is a significant institutional decision. School Owners and Boards need confidence that candidates are assessed in the context of the school's leadership requirements, culture, governance and future direction.
Solute combines international education leadership experience with specialist HR and recruitment expertise to support informed senior appointments.
Why Solute
Critical decisions require more than a standard solution. They require an understanding of the institution, its context and the consequences of getting the decision wrong.
Advice informed by practical experience within international schools and education leadership.
Direct engagement with experienced professionals rather than reliance solely on standardised consultancy processes.
Experience supporting schools with international accreditation.
Recognition that academic quality, governance, leadership, HR, safeguarding and operations are interconnected.
A focus on actionable findings, informed decisions and clearly defined next steps.
Experience
The following examples illustrate the scope of advisory, leadership and institutional development experience documented in Solute's existing materials.
Inspection Readiness and Governance
Advisory work involving a group of five schools, including school reviews, inspection readiness activities, safeguarding and governance assessments.
Relevant expertise: Multi-school reviews, inspection readiness, safeguarding and governance.
School Turnaround
Audit and review of a European school and its supporting corporate entity, covering governance, marketing, teaching and learning, facilities, recruitment systems and child protection compliance, with guidance towards institutional improvement and international accreditation standards.
Relevant expertise: School reviews, governance and child protection compliance.
Education Consultancy Development
Support for a US-based school improvement consultancy with branding, strategic marketing and executive search modelling.
Relevant expertise: Branding, strategic marketing and executive search modelling.
School Improvement and Leadership Appointments
A medium-term assignment supporting a new school proprietor with the appointment of a Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher, alongside inspection readiness, strategic planning, HR review and targeted marketing considerations.
Relevant expertise: Executive recruitment, governance support, school improvement and institutional transition.
School Review and Operational Assessment
Comprehensive review of an education company and British school covering academic provision and operational performance, with institutional assessment and strategic recommendations.
Relevant expertise: School reviews, operational audits and institutional advisory.
New International School Development
A 12-month assignment as Chief Education Officer and Interim Head during the establishment of a new international school, working with the Founding Principal and project partners on facilities, resourcing, curriculum, staffing, policies, admissions, accreditation preparation and operations.
Relevant expertise: Greenfield school development, executive leadership and institutional operations.
About
International Education Advisory | School Improvement | Governance | School Development
Paul Grisewood is an international education leader and advisor with more than 25 years of senior leadership experience across Australia, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with experience across school leadership, improvement, governance, quality assurance and institutional development.
His career includes senior roles within British, Australian and American international school environments, including Head of School, executive leadership and institutional development responsibilities. He has worked across school improvement, governance, institutional restructuring, school establishment, operational reviews and international education advisory assignments.
Paul has led or supported more than 30 school inspections, reviews and accreditation-related activities, with experience involving international frameworks and organisations including CIS, IB, Cognia, WASC and COBIS. He has advised Owners, Boards and senior leaders on school turnaround, strategic planning, governance, new-school development, international expansion, due diligence and senior leadership appointments.
He brings together the perspectives of school leader, advisor and external reviewer, combining strategic oversight, school leadership experience and practical understanding of institutional operations to assess complex institutional situations, identify priorities and support better-informed decisions.
Professional qualifications and designations, together with UK and Australian teaching credentials
Solute's work is supported by specialist expertise across international HR and governance, safer recruitment, project management and marketing.
International HR & Safer Recruitment Specialist
Kathy Walsh brings extensive international education experience across HR, recruitment, governance and safeguarding. Her work has included the start-up and development of Haileybury Almaty and Haileybury Astana, followed by senior HR leadership responsibilities, as well as international recruitment and HR work in Jeju, South Korea.
Her recruitment experience spans appointments from teachers to Principals and senior leaders, covering candidate management, interview processes, pre-employment checks, onboarding, relocation and HR compliance.
Kathy has specialist training and practical experience in Safer Recruitment and Child Protection, including safer recruitment protocols, the Single Central Register and inspection-related HR requirements. She also provides HR and governance support to School Boards and Senior Leadership Teams, strengthening Solute's capability in leadership appointments, safeguarding and organisational development.
Project Management, Operations & Marketing
Katherine Chijavadze brings together experience in international operations, project coordination, management, digital marketing and education. At Solute, she supports project management, operations and marketing — helping coordinate delivery, structure workflows and ensure that advisory projects move effectively from planning into implementation.
Her professional background includes senior responsibilities in international logistics and operations, coordinating complex processes, stakeholders, resources and delivery across international business environments. She also has extensive digital marketing experience across social media strategy, targeted advertising, campaign management, budget optimisation and performance analysis.
With a higher education background in English Language and Literature, additional management training, and professional training in Child Protection and EAL, Katherine combines operational discipline with an understanding of education and communications.
Commitments
Our advisory work is guided by four core commitments: strategic excellence, safeguarding, responsible data protection, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Effective governance, sound strategic planning and sustainable institutional development.
Child protection, student safety and safer recruitment practices.
Confidentiality and responsible handling of personal and institutional information.
Fair, transparent and inclusive approaches to governance, leadership and recruitment.
Better Decisions. Reduced Risk. Stronger Institutions.
Discuss Your School's NeedsContact
Tell us about the challenge you're facing. We'll discuss whether our experience and services are a suitable fit.
Paul Grisewood · Director, Solute Education Services
