Testimonials

Andre is an effective school leader, with experience in both the classroom and in managing the business side of large independent schools. He understands that quality is to do with the results and ensuring young people have the range of skills necessary for their future. I know Andre works collaboratively with other staff in order to see through these ideas. I would recommend him for his mix of skills as well as his attention to detail and thoughtful manner.

Andrè was engaged by Wisdom College to provide corporate governance training to the College Board in Jan 2022, and focused on elements such as business strategy, risk and director responsibilities including financial obligations. Subsequently, Andrè was engaged further to prepare the College for the accreditation review process. This took place throughout 2022 and into 2023, and I found Andrè to be reliable, trustworthy, and thoroughly professional in his approach in assisting the College to be re-accredited. Improving Schools Australia has really assisted Wisdom College with its compliance obligations, and I would recommend Andrè and his team to any other school who needs to be strategically prepared for an uncertain future.

Andre is one of those quiet achievers in life. He brings substantial learned-from-experience to any challenging situation. He has high ethical values that are reflected in his daily behaviour. I hold Andre in high regard and trust him implicitly.

I have known Andre for seventeen years in various capacities including in my role a board member of St Paul’s School where Andre fulfilled various positions at different times including Deputy Headmaster, Acting Headmaster, and Executive Director of Business. More recently, I have worked with Andre on Somerset Education activities, and he is a member of my Advisory Board. I also know Andre personally through Church, music and associated activities. Andre is a very impressive person of high integrity with a uniquely broad set of leadership, educational and financial skills.

Andre is a true professional with a broad range of leadership skills acquired through his years spent in numerous leadership roles. Recently, Andre has provided me with priceless mentorship that has been guiding me through a difficult career transition. In addition, Andre has been valuable in providing extensive business mentorship on side projects, stressing risks which general are not easy to identify. He demonstrates high ethics and integrity with all tasks, big and small and is a true peoples’ person.

In 2019, The River School engaged the services of Dr Andre van Zyl, Managing Director of Improving Schools Australia to guide us through the Non-State Schools Accreditation Review. He acted as External Validator and provided us with a most professional and timely service throughout 2019. We are happy to report that The River School is now accredited for a further 5 years owing to his involvement in this Review. I have no hesitation to recommend his services to other schools who require this comprehensive, professional and well-guided service.

I first came across Andre through the CEO Institute where he presented to our group some of his outstanding work in the ‘strategy innovation’ and implementation space within the education sector. His strategy presentation was inspirational and took us on an engaging tour of the pressures facing the education sector. More importantly, Andre worked through a real time scenario on how one school he worked with was utilising this innovative approach to strategic mapping to prepare the school, the teaching staff, and the student body for the future. It was an engaging presentation and Andre’s passion for his work and the future of the sector was clearly evident. His evolutionary strategic thinking approach and the following stakeholder engagement process to implement the project was a real ‘takeaway’ for us all and something I will use in my own projects going forward.