We are a group of experienced educationalists, from a variety of backgrounds, for example, headship, advisory work, and inspections, who recognised that there was a need to formally identify schools that develop their students in a way that is not currently measured by national inspection frameworks. We believe these schools do something exceptional to develop students who have World Class skills, competencies and characteristics, in order to flourish in an emerging global economy.
As a network of schools
We are World Class learners and leaders with a commitment to achieving the best for our community and our best in the work-place, by acquiring a deep knowledge and understanding of our world.
As secondary students we
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- Are excellent learners dedicated to life-long learning
- Are exceptional leaders and organisers
- Consistently out-perform students from similar contexts, and are committed to continually improving our performance
- Are active participants in our school, local or relevant communities
As primary pupils
Because of who we are, what we feel, and how we learn, we are World Class.
As special school pupils
We are life ready.
Who we are
Miranda Perry, Director
Miranda Perry is an experienced education consultant and school improvement adviser. She worked as a lead inspector for Ofsted, and leads research projects into schools for government departments, research agencies, such as Oxford University and UCL, and national bodies, such as the Medical Research Council, and the Big Lottery Fund.
Danielle Finlay, Associate
Danielle Finlay is an experienced senior leader who is currently leading on ‘World Class’ at one of our lead schools, Sandringham. Having worked in driving school improvement in primary and secondary schools, Danielle is passionate about redefining the perception of ‘World Class’ standards, and ensuring that being ‘World Class’ is a vehicle for improvement in all areas of school life. Embedding understanding of being ‘World Class’ at a student, staff and leadership level is paramount in creating a thriving and innovative culture for continuous school improvement in order to sustainably create the best education for the young people that we serve.
Danny Cooper, Alumni Development Coordinator 
Danny is the WCSQM Alumni Development Coordinator. Danny’s role is to oversee, facilitate and support the development of the alumni and the alumni committee. Following his recent graduation from university, he is now a paramedic with the ambulance service; a goal, which he says, he achieved due to the support from the World Class school, St Mary’s College in Hull.
“I joined WCSQM in March 2021 because I’m passionate about supporting young people’s development, and a firm advocate that all students no matter what their background should have equal opportunities to excel and achieve whatever they wish. It was evident that WCSQM had the same sentiments and shared the same passion, and so I’m looking forward to volunteering my time to help reach our shared goals.
I attended World Class lead school, St Mary’s College in Hull through to sixth form. I enjoyed my time at the school and engaged with their youth voice teams and student council and felt the school provided every opportunity I needed to ensure I stood out when applying for university. The staff at the school really do help you achieve your very best – something which was and continues to be supported and boosted further due to its affiliation with and accreditation by WCSQM.
The opportunities and recognition that WCSQM provide really does impact students by encouraging them to continue to be their very best. I really do look forward to working with the alumni and providing support to World Class schools and their World Class students.”
Trustees
Matthew O’Connor, Chair of Trustees
Matthew is a founding director of Scholé International, a school investment and management company that has owned and operated affordable schools in East and Southern Africa since 2012.
After several years in blue-chip management consultancy, he joined the UK government’s National Remodelling Team to implement Workforce Reform and Every Child Matters policy programmes in the state school sector. Since 2011, Matthew has focused on school commissioning, managing the opening of free schools and University Technical Colleges in the UK and a chain of five independent schools in Zambia. Currently, his organisation runs the Makini group of local curriculum schools in Kenya and the Kisubi schools in Uganda.
He lives in North London with his wife and two teenage children.
Alan Gray, Trustee
Alan Gray has been headteacher at World Class Sandringham School in Hertfordshire since 2005. Prior to this, he led The Hemel Hempstead School. Winner of the TES headteacher of the year award in 2017, Alan was state educated at Beaumont School in St. Albans and now leads a cross-phase Multi Academies Trust as well as Sandringham School. He supports Initial Teacher Training as chair of the Alban Federation, chairs the Alban Teaching School Alliance and has been chair of Hertfordshire’s Schools Forum since 2006. In his spare time he is a Trustee of the Saracens High School.
Dr Jerry Toner, Trustee
Dr Jerry Toner is a Fellow and Director of Studies at Churchill College, Faculty of Classics, Cambridge University.
Katy Hewin, Trustee
Katy Hewin is Head of Business Management at Columbia Threadneedle Investments.
Charitable status
In 2018 World Class Schools Quality Mark was awarded charity status in recognition of the significant benefits to state educated students that Quality Mark accreditation generates, and the positive impact of World Class status on the school, students, the wider community and state education UK wide. As a charity we work to access funding and opportunities to support schools in capitalising on their World Class status, and improve the educational, higher education and vocational opportunities for World Class students.
