LEADERSHIP REALLY MATTERS!

It's interesting that Tony Blair spoke recently about the leadership deficit we face in so many crucial aspects from politics to banking and from the NHS to education. And Sir Michael Wilshaw has been stressing the importance of great leadership driving great teaching and learning.

RESILIENCE, GRIT AND DETERMINATION!

I am constantly looking for the keys to success and how we can apply them to the education and learning landscape to ensure that all our children and young people achieve their goals and reach their potential.

SHEFFIELD SPRINGS ACADEMY

Mike Garnock-Jones and I visited Sheffield Springs Academy again this morning to see Russell Heritage, the principal, and some of his senior colleagues to discuss how the academy could get involved in the 'Made in Sheffield' programme

'MADE IN SHEFFIELD'

I was in Sheffield again today working with colleagues who are managing the Cutlers 'Made in Sheffield' programme which now involves six different strands and twelve secondary schools. We are now working in advanced manufacturing and engineering, the Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, the glass industry, the retail sector, computer science and the Children's Hospital.

FIND A WAY!

Working with another group of wonderful colleagues yesterday at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford reaffirmed my belief in people; their energy, passion, enthusiasm and commitment.

WHAT WORKS!

Whatever anyone says the performance of our primary and secondary schools has improved significantly over the last few years. 

THE CHERWELL PARTNERSHIP OF SCHOOLS!

I spent the morning with the Cherwell Partnership of Schools in Oxford, at their 'Innovation for Learning' conference. These schools have worked together to create a learning community whose focus has been on 'Making Learning Irresistible'.

CONNECT, COLLABORATE AND CHALLENGE!

Everyone I talk to about the challenges we face recognises that to achieve world-class outcomes we need a new and different approach to education and learning. This isn't going to be easy in Michael& Michael's world! But always remember that...

BUILDING THE FUTURE TOGETHER!

In order to stimulate new thinking and create the impetus for more radical change, headteachers need to move from focusing overwhelmingly on their own particular school or community, to working more closely together. 

NO FAILURE, JUST FEEDBACK!

When we are dealing with the challenges we currently face and when the going gets tough we need to stay positive and stay focused on the things that matter, in our lives, our work, and in our relationships. We all face a difficult, changing and potentially chaotic future where individuals, families, children, organizations, and businesses all face accelerating change, massive challenges and increasing problems.

SUCCESS!

Success doesn't come in can'ts, it comes in cans. 

I do believe that every school can be a great school, that every child can be successful and achieve and that we can create great teams doing the extraordinary with the current people. We simply need learning leadership, beautiful systems and intelligent accountability to support us as we change the culture to focus on passion and compassion and get people to believe; to believe in themselves and to believe in our children and young people and our colleagues.Throughout my working life, people have told me that things are impossible; that we can't get every child to read by the time they are seven or eight; that we can't get every child to be a brilliant little learner by the time they leave primary school and that we can't get every young person the equivalent of 5 good GCSEs including English and maths by the time they are sixteen. I simply don't accept any of this because across the country these things are already happening in authorities, in schools and in classrooms where colleagues are releasing the magic.

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!

If you read the McKinsey Reports, analyse the PISA data, review the research evidence about 'what works' and listen to people like Ken Robinson, Dan Pink and Tony Wagner it is increasingly obvious that we need to develop skills, character and knowledge in our little learners and our bigger learners.

WHAT MAKES BRILLIANT!

The media, parents and the public in general have increased expectations of schools and the DfE and OFSTED unsurprisingly have continued to raise the bar...