Empowering Growth: Shalina Patel on the Middle Leaders Quality Assurance Review
At Claremont High School Academy, collaboration and continuous improvement sit at the heart of school life. For Shalina Patel, Deputy Hub Manager and dedicated educator, being part of Challenge Partners has not only enriched her own professional journey but also provided invaluable insight through the Middle Leader Quality Assurance Review.
The Middle Leaders QA Review stands out as a particularly impactful element of Challenge Partners’ work. Shalina explains: “The review is an opportunity for our middle leaders to be really reflective. It gives them professional feedback from peers outside of our school, which is incredibly powerful.”
Middle leaders often carry the weight of translating whole-school priorities into classroom practice. The QA Review, Shalina says, gives them the chance to step back, evaluate, and grow. “It shines a light on what’s working well and where we can improve. That’s exactly what you want for leaders who are still developing their confidence and expertise.”
For Shalina, the true strength of the QA Review lies in the professional conversations it sparks. “It’s not about judgment, it’s about development,” she reflects. “Our middle leaders come away with practical ideas and, just as importantly, a renewed sense of confidence in their leadership.”
She highlights how the process also creates a culture of openness within the school: “When colleagues see that feedback is constructive and developmental, it builds trust. That’s what allows genuine improvement to take place.”
Personally, Shalina has seen how the Middle Leaders QA Review helps to grow leadership capacity across the school. “It gives middle leaders the platform to articulate their vision and their impact. That in itself is empowering. It makes them feel part of the bigger picture of school improvement.”
For many, the process has been transformative. “We’ve seen colleagues come out of the review process with a new sense of belief in themselves and clarity about their next steps,” Shalina says. “That ripple effect strengthens the whole school.”
Beyond Claremont, Shalina values how the Middle Leaders QA Review connects her staff to a national network. “It’s reassuring for our middle leaders to know they’re not alone in the challenges they face. They can learn from others and bring those insights back to their teams.”
This broader perspective has been particularly valuable for leaders at the mid-point of their careers: “They see themselves as part of a profession-wide conversation about excellence, not just part of a single school.”
“We’ve seen colleagues come out of the review process with a new sense of belief in themselves and clarity about their next steps”
As Shalina continues to grow in her own leadership, she is clear that the Middle Leaders QA Review will remain an essential part of Claremont’s development. “It reminds us that professional growth is a journey. For middle leaders, the QA Review provides both the challenge and the support they need to keep moving forward.”
For Shalina Patel and Claremont High School Academy, the Middle Leaders Quality Assurance Review has been a catalyst for leadership growth, professional confidence, and school-wide improvement. In her words: “It’s about giving middle leaders the chance to reflect, learn, and lead with clarity. That’s how we build the future of education.”