Support, mentoring & strategic leadership for the Dragon School Oxford

“We have been very lucky to benefit from Dee’s experience over the last 3 months. Her professionalism and leadership, enabled by a wonderfully calm and unflappable approach, was exactly what we hoped for and definitely provided the team with the reassuring leadership that was needed. It has been wonderful having Dee with us and thank you all for your support in facilitating this.”

Martin Johnson, Chief Operating Officer, Dragon School

 

Challenge

The Dragon is a leading independent pre-prep and prep school in central Oxford founded in 1877. Their aim is to inspire, encourage and develop free-thinking, confident young people who reach for the sun.

The Development Team at the Dragon are thriving and highly successful, but started 2024 without a Development Director and some recent recruits to the team. Philanthropy Company was commissioned to provide consistent support, mentoring and strategic leadership for the team, on an interim basis during this period of flux; enabling the Head to take time to recruit the right person to fill the permanent role.

Response

We reached out to our talented team to place an experienced education consultant with availability to start quickly on a 2-day a week interim project for three months. Crucial to the Dragon’s requirements, was a consultant who could be in the Oxford office with the team at least once a week. We identified and presented two team members for the Dragon to meet. Our consultant partner Dee Brecker, who brings a wealth of senior education fundraising experience, and an executive coaching qualification, was the perfect fit.

Impact

We provided stability, confidence, and strategic leadership to the Development Team, to the Head of School and to the Governors. Dee was there for the team: as a mentor, sounding board, deeply experienced and safe pair of hands during a period of change and potential uncertainty for the team. We created reports, managed donor relationships and prospects and attended key leadership meetings to ensure sustained confidence in the development function. We also ensured everything kept on track, providing a clear and efficient handover for the incoming Development.