Education
Paternoster’s specialist education team understand the unique nature of schools and universities — how they work, what matters to their communities, and the pressures they face.
A Unique Combination of Skills
Our team have all held roles within schools — as governors, SLT members or teachers, and are also very experienced in the wider world of communications. Our team includes a former journalist, senior leaders from PR and marketing agencies, and crisis specialists with decades of experience advising schools when things go badly wrong. This unique combination of experience has been key to our success — and we’re proud of our clients, the trust they place in us and the work we do for them.
Who We Help
Paternoster advises and supports academic establishments from both the maintained and independent sectors. Our clients range from small, independent prep schools to some of the best-known public schools, and from small performing arts colleges, to Russell Group universities. We also advise education groups and academy trusts, particularly those with the ambition to grow the number of schools in their portfolios.
Supporting Every Aspect of Communication
We support educational leaders on every aspect of communication: from navigating sensitive issues, to building positive engagement with staff and faculties, students and parents, prospective parents, alumni, local communities and the media that influence them.
We work flexibly — whether as a retained partner, providing ongoing support, or on specific projects where focused expertise is needed most.
How We Help
We help senior leaders in academic establishments communicate with their stakeholders and the media on a wide range of topics. Our experience includes providing advice, media handling and communications in the following areas:
Growth, including school acquisitions, the development of international school networks, schools changing to co-ed models.
Change, including changes to staffing and benefits, and merging or closing schools.
Crisis, around safeguarding, accidents, financial difficulties and senior leadership changes
Our Specialist Team
Jane Tozer
ADVISOR
Jane brings over 30 years of experience in publishing, journalism and communications. Her early career in newspapers gives her a deep understanding of media dynamics, which she complements with frontline experience in education. While raising her young family, Jane volunteered for an education charity and retrained as a biology and chemistry teacher, working in both prep and secondary schools, giving her valuable insight from the front of the classroom.
After returning to work full time, Jane advised a wide range of clients, from multinational corporations, to NGOs and government agencies. She joined Paternoster in 2020 as Schools’ Lead, where she specialises in advising education clients on messaging, reputation and strategic communications, often in times of crisis.
Sally Pelling
ADVISOR
Following a career in marketing communications on brands including American Express, The Guardian and Sky, Sally became Director of Marketing, Admissions & Alumnae and a member of the Senior Leadership Team at Walthamstow Hall, an independent girls’ prep and senior school in Sevenoaks. She has also served as a School Governor at a primary school.
Tom Buchanan
FOUNDER
Tom has been advising senior leadership teams in independent schools, universities, churches and other charitable institutions for more than 25 years, typically at times of significant change or crisis. Tom has been Chair of Governors of a public school and a prep school and is a specialist in safeguarding issues. Alongside running Paternoster, Tom is an ordained Canon at Ely Cathedral, where he sits on the board in a Non-Executive role.
