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 and 2024, The River School engaged the services of Dr André van Zyl, Executive Chair of Improving Schools Australia to guide and prepare us for the Non-State Schools Accreditation Review. He acted as the External Validator and provided us with a most professional and timely service throughout 2019 and 2024. We are happy to report that The River School is now accredited in 2025 for another 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, (Anne Donoghoe: Principal, The River School)”.

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.

“The new headteacher has quickly identified the significant shortcomings and put measures in place to improve the school.
“The new headteacher, through her inspirational and visionary leadership, has made some significant improvements since her appointment. Some of these are now bearing fruit and have been successful in improving the quality of teaching in some departments and raising the achievement of some groups of students. High staff absence prior to September was a significant factor in students’ underachievement. This has been tackled decisively by the new headteacher, with staff absence reducing significantly.
“The new headteacher provides the governing body with comprehensive yet simple to understand information on students’ achievement. This has enabled all its members to use data to challenge school leaders well and support the headteacher in the rapid improvements she has made since September.”

“The headteacher’s drive and determination, combined with the high expectations she has of herself and the staff, is keeping the school focused on continuous improvement.
“The headteacher and the school’s senior leaders have secured the commitment of staff to improvement and have strengthened middle leadership.”

“The interim principal has acted quickly to identify aspects of the school that need improvement… she has led the school effectively since June 2016. Her work during this time has led to rapid and effective change. This is halting the decline in pupils’ achievement…The interim principal has raised expectations and improved staff morale. The majority of the staff who responded to the online survey said that they were proud to work in the school. They think that the school has improved under her leadership.”

“The interim headteacher has a precise understanding of the school’s strengths and weaknesses. This has enabled her to undertake wide-ranging actions to resolve the school’s weaknesses. She has been quick to raise teachers’ expectations of what pupils can accomplish, particularly the most able. The interim headteacher has appointed a team of committed senior leaders to help to implement the necessary improvements. Staff are greatly appreciative of this new, energetic leadership. As one member of staff remarked, ‘It’s a breath of fresh air.’ The interim headteacher has ensured that leaders are taking rapid action to resolve the weaker aspects of the school.”