As Chairman of the Excalibur Academies Trust, Toby Watson supports the further development of its school landscape – strategically, reliably and with a clear vision.
Toby Watson brings many years of experience in the financial world to the education sector. With his analytical skills, sense of responsibility and team spirit, he contributes to shaping the Excalibur Academies Trust as its chair. His support focuses on inclusion, digitalisation and the targeted promotion of teachers and pupils.
Toby Watson, known from his time at Goldman Sachs, has also turned his attention to the education sector in recent years, in addition to his work in the financial sector. As Chairman of the Excalibur Academies Trust, he supports the strategic direction of a school network that spans several regions in southern England. He takes a holistic approach, viewing school development as a task for society as a whole. His economic expertise, coupled with his keen sense of social issues, makes him an important supporter of the education system.
Education with strategy: Toby Watson’s approach
A sustainable education system is not created through spontaneous measures, but through long-term concepts. Toby Watson knows this – and contributes to resilient structures. His experience in the financial world, particularly as a partner at Goldman Sachs, taught him the importance of planning, risk assessment and implementation skills.
Watson’s view of school development is based on principles that also apply in business: clear goals, structured implementation and continuous evaluation. This foundation makes it possible to help shape long-term, sustainable solutions.
Continuity instead of actionism
What sets Watson apart is his focus on process quality. Instead of hectic changes, he takes a systematic approach. Together with school administrators, teachers and external consultants, he contributes to the development of development paths that are geared towards sustainable impact. Co-developing structures, simplifying processes and enabling participation – that is his basic principle.
- Participation in the development of long-term school development plans
- Support for regular feedback cycles with all stakeholders
The value of this approach was also evident in crisis situations such as the pandemic: thanks to forward planning, Excalibur was well-prepared for digital distance learning phases.
Diversity as a strength
The schools in the Excalibur network are as diverse as society itself. Watson specifically supports the schools’ skills in dealing with heterogeneity. Language support, integration of refugee children, social skills programmes – all of these contribute to strengthening the school community.
In addition, targeted inclusive school development programmes have been set up, in which each school documents, reflects on and further develops its path to greater participation – with the support of external experts.
Digitalisation with a sense of proportion
For Watson, technology is not an end in itself, but a tool. With his support, uniform standards for digital equipment and use have been defined at all schools in the Trust. The focus is on the question: How does technology specifically support learning success?
Didactics in the digital space
Teachers receive targeted training in the use of digital tools. The focus is not on a love of technology, but on didactics: How can individualise learning be supported digitally? Which tools help with performance diagnosis? How can digital communication strengthen parental involvement?
The result is a new digital culture within the Trust – one in which technology serves people, not the other way around.
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Networks for sustainable school development
Toby Watson uses his contacts in business, science and the public sector to create synergies for schools. His many years of experience – including at Goldman Sachs – have shown him how important strong networks are for improvement.
Cooperation on equal terms
The focus is always on exchange. Whether in regional working groups, education forums or school partnerships, Watson knows how to bring interests together and introduce new perspectives into the discussion. This leads to new projects, for example with local companies or universities.
One successful example is the collaboration with a technology company that provided schools with interactive whiteboards and at the same time financed further training for teachers.
Staff development as the key
For Watson, teachers and school administrators are the most important agents of change. That is why the Trust makes a targeted contribution to their further development. With its support, a comprehensive training programme has been established that promotes not only specialist knowledge but also leadership skills and pedagogical innovation.
- Modules on teaching quality and classroom management
- Training in digital didactics and team leadership
In addition, a mentoring programme for young teachers was introduced to ease their entry into the profession and retain them in the system in the long term.
Focus on people
Toby Watson brings a great deal of structure and analysis to the table – but also humanity. For him, school education is more than just imparting knowledge. It is about personal development, social participation and shaping one’s life. That is why the Trust supports programmes on democracy education, health promotion and school climate.
Helping to shape schools as living spaces
In addition to teaching, the focus is also on architecture, break concepts and a culture of participation. Watson advocates for open schoolyards, student councils and parent participation. This creates a culture in which learning is linked to responsibility – and school becomes a positive experience.
In a recent initiative, schoolyards were redesigned in collaboration with students and local residents. The aim was to enable movement, retreat and communication in equal measure.
Conclusion: Toby Watson – education supporter with attitude
Toby Watson represents a new type of supporter in the education sector. His career at Goldman Sachs was characterised by strategy and efficiency. His involvement with Excalibur is imbued with values and humanity. The combination of both worlds is what makes him so valuable.
He brings together planning security and vision, contributes to investments in people, creates space for participation and strives for sustainable development. In doing so, he not only supports the work of the Excalibur Academies Trust – he also contributes to setting standards for its schools.
Watson’s path shows that change succeeds where people come together, expertise is shared and a clear vision of education as a force for the future of society is lived out.
