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Work With Me

Improving Working Lives.
Grounded In Research.
Driven By Results

Karen Forshaw - Founder

Work With Me.

At HumanEdge Performance, I support school leaders and education organisations to lead well, reduce stress, and build healthier, high-performing teams.  

 

My work focuses on strengthening staff wellbeing, leadership sustainability, and school culture.- all rooted in organisational psychology and evidence-based practice.

 

I founded HumanEdge Performance after more than 20 years in education, including seven as a headteacher, because I know how complex and demanding school leadership can be. I’ve seen first-hand how leadership behaviours, team dynamics, and organisational systems shape staff wellbeing, workload, and performance.

 

That curiosity led me to retrain in organisational psychology to better understand what really improves working lives in schools, and how we can support both leaders and staff to develop, lead well and stay well over time.

 

My approach is values-led and evidence-informed approach to workplace wellbeing. Research shows it’s not just personal resilience that matters.- it’s the working environment: systems, culture, leadership, and support. I use psychological insight and lived leadership experience to help schools create conditions where people can do their best work.

 

With a growing foundation in organisational psychology, I bring together real-world insight and research-backed tools. I help leaders reflect, reframe and act in ways that reduce stress, boost engagement, build sustainability and nurture positive school cultures. When staff feel supported, young people thrive too.

 

I’m a Student Member of the British Psychological Society, the Association for Business Psychology, and the Division of Occupational Psychology and a Member of the NAHT. This reflects my commitment to combining academic insight with real-world school leadership experience.

At HumanEdge Performance, we take a values-driven, evidence-informed approach to workplace wellbeing, leadership development, and organisational culture change in education.


When school staff feel safe, supported, and able to lead well, young people benefit through more consistent relationships, safer environments, and greater opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive.

People thrive in the right conditions

Research shows that staff wellbeing and performance in schools are driven less by personal resilience and more by the working environment. Leadership behaviours, workload pressure, psychological safety, autonomy, and clarity all shape how staff feel and function. We help schools assess and improve these organisational factors so that people can thrive.

Research-informed practice

Our work is grounded in evidence.  We draw on organisational psychology, research on workplace stress, stakeholder views and perspectives, professional expertise, and evidence from inside the organisation. We translate these insights into practical tools, training, and consultancy tailored to the demands of education.

Focused on real impact

Our work is designed to create measurable change: reducing and preventing stress, strengthening leadership, supporting professional development, and improving well-being and culture across your school or trust. 

Why Us?

Our 
Approach.

At HumanEdge Performance, we provide evidence-based support for school leaders, multi- academy trusts, and education organisations.  We help create healthier, high-performing working environments where people and leadership can thrive.
 

Our work is grounded in organisational psychology and shaped by real-world leadership experience - helping you address the working conditions that influence staff wellbeing, engagement, and performance.
 

Each service is tailored to your context. We work collaboratively with you to understand your goals and challenges, leading to long-term improvements in staff engagement, school culture, and workplace wellbeing.

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Our Principles

 

Evidence First

We use insights from organisational psychology, wellbeing research, and staff metrics, along with stakeholder perspectives, professional expertise, and internal evidence to identify real workplace challenges and co-design practical, relevant solutions

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Collaborative, Not Prescriptive

Our approach is co-creative, built on partnerships, so the change you implement is sustainable and aligned to your setting.

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Leadership and Systems in Focus

​We help schools align leadership behaviours, organisational systems, and team dynamics, creating healthier workplace cultures where people and performance can thrive.

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Embedding Reflective Practice and Supervision

​We support leaders to integrate reflective practice and supervision into their routines. This helps manage pressure, strengthen boundaries, and lead with greater clarity, presence, and resilience.

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Beyond Compliance to Organisational Health

We help schools move from simply meeting standards to building resilient, high-trust environments. We use research-led strategies to improve staff wellbeing, engagement, and retention.

How Can We Support You?

Research-informed training and wellbeing consultancy for schools

Leadership reflection and development services

Stress risk assessments for schools using HSE Management Standards

Practical strategies to improve team culture and staff experience

Support for individual schools,  trusts, and trade unions

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