There are no secrets to school improvement. There are no silver bullets and no magic answers. It is far less glamorous. It is a question of identifying numerous actions and applying effort 'day in, day out' to improve them.


The first edition contains 89 strategies which leaders have used in primary and secondary schools. The author says the edition republished in September 2022 added nineteen more (108 in all), and that a 5th anniversary edition published in 2026 has 123.


'The title of the book is perfect - there are no 'silver bullets' but this strips the mammoth beast of school improvement back to a toolkit that focuses on doing fewer things really well.' - Donna Tandy, Deputy Chief Executive, The Focus Trust.

'I have supported over sixty schools in the last six years as I have worked in Director of School Improvement roles across for four Multi-Academy Trusts. I help Headteachers and school leadership teams make their school the best it can be. I rarely suggest drastic changes, instead on each visit, I look for little tweaks which will make the difference to their school. This book contains the suggestions that I make the most often. They are quickly adopted and help drive school improvement.' - Paul K. Ainsworth

So whether you are a school leader or a system leader, read through the actions and see which of these small changes can make a big difference to your school.


What do we think?

Full of useful, easy-to-adopt actions. Its strength is consistency: small changes done well, not a quick fix.

Who it is for

Headteachers, senior leaders and system leaders, in primary and secondary. One endorsement on the book, from Rebecca Walker, Primary Director at West Norfolk Academies Trust, singles out new headteachers and those working in stand-alone schools. The book is a list of separate actions, so it works as a reference to dip into rather than a cover-to-cover read.

About the book

  • Author: Paul K. Ainsworth, who describes himself as having worked in Director of School Improvement roles across four multi-academy trusts.
  • Editions: First published February 2021 (Kindle edition listed by Amazon UK as published 1 February 2021 by FAC Publishers, 271 pages; also in paperback). Republished September 2022 with 108 strategies; 5th anniversary edition (123 Practical School Improvement Strategies for the New Ofsted Era) announced February 2026.
  • Sequel: No Silver Bullets 2.0: Heart and Soul of School Improvement (2024).

Source: author's post on the 5th anniversary edition and, for the first edition's publisher, date and length only, the Amazon UK listing as no publisher page exists; checked 13 October 2026.