My answers to the challenges we face?

I have been working on school improvement for over twenty years and I know some people will ask why haven't we cracked it and already delivered great schools, brilliant learning and fantastic outcomes everywhere. I wish it were that easy.

What we haven't cracked is poverty, deprivation, worklessness and the common factors that conspire against us and prevent some young people achieving good outcomes however hard we work. I have also learned from countless school visits over the years that talented colleagues up and down the country are releasing the magic and driving up standards and outcomes in some of the most challenging contexts. Interestingly reading the Times Educational Supplement over the last couple of months it's encouraging to know that they have carried out similar research to us and learned what we all already know...that many of the schools where 'radical measures' are needed are achieving fantastic results when you look more intelligently at their outcomes. Think what we could do if each of these schools working in areas of poverty, deprivation, worklessness, crime and ill-health recieved their fair share of the additional money that appears to be available for Michael's pet projects. However in our political world where the answer is academies, free schools, Teach First and super-heads we are likely to end up with more people telling us that they know all the answers. If so, why aren't they with us already on the front line working in challenging authorities and challenging schools making a real difference?

Those of us who have spent our lives at the front line know the real answers lie where they have always been...

• strong, disciplined, focused and passionate leadership; 
• clear, shared vision, values and beliefs; 
• talented, energetic, enthusiastic and creative teaching teams; 
• empowered, trusted and disciplined colleagues; 
• brilliant teaching supported by strong assessment for learning; 
• stimulating, exciting and engaging curriculum pathways; 
• powerful, stimulating and interesting learning environments; 
• high self-esteem and high expectations of everyone; 
• strong, dynamic and meaningful coaching relationships; 
• high engagement and involvement of young people; 
• positive engagement and involvement of parents and carers. 

My answers to the challenges we face? Trust and invest in schools working together and sharing what works as the front line of an attack on poverty, deprivation, worklessness and under-achievement. Develop skills based pathways to employment and programmes linked to the world of work. Work with employers to co-create a curriculum that has relevance to young people. Of course in a world where appearing tough on schools in challenging places and delivering soundbites about poor academic success compared to our international competitors and classrooms full of young people behaving badly is seen as more important, these things will never happen.
Chris