James Sharp

What are you passionate about?

Creating. And creating things the right way. Not just paying lip service, but thinking deeply about things, getting to the bottom of them and reasoning from first principles as to what could be. Then making it so.

My background is in software and technology. I fell into working with the education sector somewhat by accident, but it has gripped me. It really irks me that those in school leadership have a) largely rubbish tools to work with and b) very little time to think deeply. They deserve better.

What are your greatest accomplishments?

They include founding, and building a lot of the software behind, GovernorHub. It’s amazing to think it’s now in two thirds of schools.

And as a school governor, I helped (in a small way) turn around a large primary school from an Ofsted rating of Requires Improvement to Good. Being in the room when the Good judgement was announced was a moment I will not forget.

What do you love most about being part of The Key Group?

The Key Group now supports, in one way or another, nearly every school in the country. It’s an immensely privileged position.  And most importantly, at its heart, it’s full of people who care deeply about the schools and children they’re serving.