Education
University of Bristol - Psychology & Social Science
University of Birmingham - PGCE Social Sciences/Physical Education


Experience
Senior Deputy Headteacher - Hertswood School (1.5 years)
Deputy Headteacher - Broomfield School (1 year)
Assistant Headteacher - Pheonix High School (6 years)


Other Interests

• Headteachers Consultative Group - school improvement


• Youth Justice Task Force


• London Challenge Working Party for Inclusion


• Judge for London Teaching Awards


• Interim Headteacher Pimlico School / Quintin Kynaston school improvement partnership


• Various consulting roles

When first appointed as Headteacher at Quintin Kynaston, Jo Shuter was one of the youngest Heads in the country. With her sharp tongue, determined vision and maverick yet view traditional Headship, she was able to transform what was an underachieving comprehensive, into one of London's first Extended Schools.

The nature of the school population, engenders a wide variety of need - not only in educational terms but also in terms of social, emotional and behavioural support. Many students face barriers to their educational attainment due to circumstances that lay outside of the school. Jo, and now all of the staff at QK, believe that in order to raise educational attainment and improve the confidence and self-esteem of students and their families they must work with other professionals in order to remove these barriers. This involves looking at students and their families in a holistic way so that Education is one of several "services" that the school provides.

Over the last five years the school's profile has been raised significantly with exam results improving year on year. Quintin Kynaston continues to be one of the most improved schools in the UK. 5A*-C GCSE results have increased from 24% to 67% - well above the national average. KS3 SATS results are in line with National Average in Maths and Science and above national average in English and we have a very successful VI Form of almost 320 students. The Sixth Form has become the largest and most popular in Westminster.

The QK that Jo now leads is a very different one to the one that she inherited in 2002; the school is almost unrecognisable both in the physical environment and attitudes owned by staff and students. Her commitment to developing leadership within the staff and student communities has ensured that her vision is shared by both staff and students alike. Her incorporation of the Student Voice into virtually every aspect of school life is ground-breaking, but as she puts it "they [students] are the most important thing a school has and so their voice should be heard". It's because of sentiments like these Jo has been able to relate so effectively with her student body.


Pimlico School
In January 2007 Jo took over as the Interim Headteacher of Pimlico School. The task set was to successfully lead and manage the school from failing its Ofsted in November 2006 and came out of Special Measures in July 2008. Pimlico is now an Academy.

In October 2007 Jo was awarded Secondary Headteacher of the Year at the National Teaching Awards Ceremony attended by 70 staff, students, parents and governors.

In June 2010 Jo was awarded a CBE for services to local and national education.

Our Specialist Technology School
"Quintin Kynaston is an outstanding school and exceptionally well led by its inspirational headteacher. In this school, it is not just every child who matters but every staff member and every family. The school takes a very holistic view of students' development and works relentlessly to overcome barriers to learning". Ofsted 2008

"Outstanding" in 25 out of 27 areas - Ofsted Dec 2008
In the Top 4% Nationally for Contextual Value Added (CVA) in the
last 3 years school performance tables

In the Top 1% Nationally for CVA in English
70% 5A*-C GCSE (52% 5A*-C GCSE including English and Maths)

A Full service Extended School

A school helping other schools improve through its School
Improvement Centre (SIC)

A varied and challenging curriculum including academic and
vocational courses

"There is a refreshing honesty about this place. This is a mature
institution which is confident in its practice and secure in its
performance" LA Inspection 2008

Ms Shuter's award was sponsored by the Royal Air Force.

RAF Wing Commander Ed Moran said: "Excellence in the teaching profession is crucial to our nation's future and deserves to be recognised. Jo Shuter is an inspirational person who instills in our youth the qualities we so value. She has deservedly risen above the rest and we salute her efforts towards providing our children with the very best start in life."


Dear Jo, I'm writing to congratulate you on the huge success in taking Pimlico out of special measures. I know that this has taken considerable leadership and sheer hard work. Colleagues here are delighted and appreciative.

Mike More, Chief Executive - City of Westminster


Quintin Kynaston is an outstanding school and exceptionally well led by its inspirational headteacher. Her powerful, inclusive vision is shared by all staff and implemented very effectively by skilled senior leaders. Among students' comments to inspectors were, 'The headteacher is brilliant, she is always there and really believes in us, and she is our backbone.'

Ofsted Report


On behalf of Coventry Secondary headteachers I would like to thank you formally for opening the annual residential conference. We all were very impressed by your presentation and in the written evaluations colleagues described it as 'passionate, engaging, and inspiring'. It was an excellent start to the conference.

Ian Rye, Senior Advisor Secondary


On behalf of the Bexley Secondary Head Conference I thank you for giving up your time to come and speak to us. The Conference was very successful with thought provoking and motivational speakers. You had a significant part to play in the success and we were very pleased and privileged to have the opportunity to listen to you.

Rachel Lindsey, Strategic Director


Jo, I just wanted to say a big thank you for your presentation on Friday. Colleagues are still coming up to me to rave about your input - not bad after they have slept over the weekend.

Belinda J Jones, Head of Children's Network West


Dear Jo, On behalf of Coventry Secondary Heads I just wanted to thank you very much for your inspirational session to open our conference. We admired your energy and drive to see young people succeed, whatever the barriers. You provided us with lots of ideas to pursue and we will certainly be doing so at Caludon.

Carol Reid, Headteacher - Caludon Castle Business and Enterprise Specialist School


Dear Jo, I was inspired by your presentation at the Coventry Head teacher's conference. Thank you so much for sharing with us your passion for ensuring every young person in your care reaches above and beyond what the statistics state is their potential. Your staff and students are very lucky!

Angela Kane, Counden Court School