About Us
With many years of experience teaching at and leading some of the country’s finest schools, the team behind Spotlight have a proven track record in helping children get the most out of their time at school.
In 2020 the team developed the Academic Profiling Test (APT), designed to provide a flexible and comprehensive academic assessment for children between 6-16 years old.
Using teacher-written questions and adaptive technology, the APT platform has been adopted by many of the UK’s leading independent schools and by educational experts, tutor companies and consultancies across the world. Spotlight is powered by the same technology.
Our aim is to reach a wide audience, supporting families and students as they use the assessment, set their own agenda for their highly personalised post-assessment feedback session and then receive a clear next steps report.
Education experts with a wealth of experience ...
We are proudly working with experts across the education sector - from former headteachers in multi-academy trusts, primary and early-years specialists, to school inspectors and former independent sector leaders.
All of our team share a mission to help parents access high-quality objective information about their children, and then to be able to get support - in plain terms, from people who understand education. We have an in-house office team who understand parents needs and will offer as much guidance as is required.
Spotlight feedback sessions are delivered by former headteachers and senior leaders - all of whom delight in the opportunity to spend time discussing young learners with parents. They also relish access to our reports which provide credible and high-quality assessment data, allowing for really valuable, open and frank conversations.
All feedback consultants have been accredited by Spotlight, having undertaken thorough training which includes safeguarding and data privacy elements.
Meet The Spotlight Experts
Gary Schlick
With 15 years’ headship in two secondary schools and executive leadership in other schools and specialist settings, Gary has significant experience in raising achievement in schools, education leadership, and in training headteachers across the world. Much of his current work is involved in school improvement.
Charlotte Faber
Charlotte has considerable experience in the classroom in London, including four years as a Headteacher. Passionate about academic and pastoral development in education, she has recently worked in school advisory roles as a Governor, and directly with families as an educational consultant, and leads on headteacher recruitment projects.
Magnus Bashaarat
Magnus Bashaarat worked as a journalist prior to his move to the classroom. After a teaching career of nearly thirty years, including two Headships, Magnus now works as an educational consultant, is a Governor at The University of Winchester and has taken advisory roles in both the state and independent sector.
Arabella Stuart
Having enjoyed working in both classroom and senior pastoral roles in secondary schools, Arabella has spent several years in school admissions and recruitment. She has a particular interest in SEN and support with entry to selective academic schools and brings a passion for helping young people to achieve their potential.
Ian Hunt
Ian has worked in Education for some thirty years and has considerable experience in the classroom in junior schools settings both in the UK and abroad. He has several Headships under his belt, including a recent Executive Headship, and is now responsible for effectiveness and standards at a large academy trust.
Jim Hewer
Jim works alongside families from the UK and abroad, advising about school choices, academic and many areas of education. Having spent years in teaching, with a good proportion of that in senior-leadership, he now runs a summer school for international children helping them as they adapt the UK academic curriculum.
Clio Eckersley
Clio spent eight years teaching in the state sector, initially within SEN, then as a secondary English teacher. Her roles have encompassed both academic and pastoral leadership positions. Clio left teaching last year to extend her career in professional educational support services, working as a professional tutor and exam specialist.
... And a founding team of like-minded experts
Alastair Montgomery
Co-founder & Managing Director
Alastair Montgomery has been involved at the highest levels of educational assessments since 2014. He was responsible for the launch of UKiset - assessing international students applying for UK Schools - in his role as a Director at Gabbitas. Alastair’s classroom practice was spent working with students with specific learning disabilities and SEND.
Jimmy Beale
Co-founder & Director
Jimmy Beale worked in independent education for over twenty years, both in senior and preparatory schools, most recently as headmaster of Taunton Prep School. Jimmy was a schools' inspector with ISI and one of four founding heads of the PSB programme. In 2020 he co-founded the APT assessment with Alastair (left).
John Milne
Lead Consultant & Director
John Milne is a highly experienced former headmaster and principal – both overseas and in the UK. Having worked in both British and American international schools, John enjoyed over ten years as headmaster at the prestigious Clifton College Preparatory School. John now leads the Constellation Group educational consultancy.
We work with other education organisations
