The cycle review: slowing down to go fast
Posted 16th July 2026
Taking time to stop can feel like a luxury.
When schools and trusts are busy, setting aside two days to review performance can seem difficult. We believe it's one of the most valuable investments we make.
Our cycle review provides the opportunity to step back before moving forward. It's where we pause, reflect and make sure we're solving the right problems rather than simply reacting to the latest challenge.
The first day is entirely focused on diagnosis. We begin by reviewing a wide range of information, including student outcomes, attendance, behaviour, staff absence and survey feedback, alongside our Dixons Quality Index (DQI). Together, these measures provide a balanced picture of how our organisation is performing.
We also review the work of our business services teams and reflect on insights gathered during visits to our academies. Bringing together both quantitative data and qualitative observations helps us understand not only what is happening, but why.
Finally, we revisit our live list of strategic priorities, removing issues that have been resolved and identifying new challenges that have emerged.
Importantly, day one isn't about making decisions. It's about building a shared understanding of our current reality so that the choices we make are informed by evidence rather than assumption.
Sometimes, slowing down is the fastest way to move forward.
Watch episode five here to see how we use our cycle review to build clarity before taking action.