IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING!

We are challenged all the time to do better, and to do it faster and more efficiently and more effectively... challenged to do what many people would say was impossible....

PUBLIC SERVICE!

"My creed is that public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must be a complete dedication to the people with full recognition that every human being is entitled to courtesy and consideration, that constructive criticism is not only to be expected but sought, that smears are not only to be expected but fought, that honour is to be earned, not bought."

Margaret Chase Smith

OFSTED NONSENSE!

I heard an OFSTED inspector talking about the strength of the inspection process earlier this week after the whole OFSTED process had been heavily criticised by one of the think tanks.

CULTURE BEATS STRATEGY EVERY TIME!

I am not sure why it is but a lifetime of working with schools has shown me time and time again, that culture beats strategy every time!

AND REMEMBER, CULTURE ALWAYS BEATS STRATEGY!

Headteachers and governors already understand that no-one will be offering increased public expenditure over the next decade and that the era of plenty is well and truly over.

REMEMBER, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE

Many people I know share this compelling vision of a great school where every young person is a reader, writer and counter by eight, a brilliant little learner by eleven and becomes an independent learner following their own personalised learning programme through secondary education and on into college, university, the world of work and adult life.

ANOTHER WEEK WITHOUT BROADBAND!

It has been another frustrating week spent in coffee bars and anywhere else where I can access the internet… I am sorry that the blog has been so quiet for so long but hopefully BT are coming to connect me next week. I'll believe it when I see it!

THE ARTS MATTER!

"I would like to propose that we let the imagination take its place at the heart of learning, and that we create a climate in which it can flourish.We need discovery; making; doing; exploring; creating; critical thinking; seeing; hearing; experiencing. Children have to be introduced to the arts in every form.”
Michael Morpurgo

GREAT SCHOOLS FOR EVERYONE!

I have been arguing for ever that we must create great schools at the heart of every community so that everyone can have what people have told me is simply a dream; great outcomes for every child and young person...

I know a lot of people tell me that it is impossible but I really believe that it is possible to create a GREAT SCHOOL FOR EVERYONE!

TEACHING MATTERS MORE THAN EVER!

I saw this and thought of all those colleagues I have known over the years who make teaching and learning such a passionate enterprise and constantly strive to release the magic!

LEADERSHIP MATTERS MORE THAN EVER!

I am always talking about great leadership and increasingly I worry that we are not building the leadership we need to create brilliant provision for all our children and young people. It is interesting therefore to read and reflect on Maurice Elias' take on the subject. Maurice Elias is Director of the Social-Emotional Learning Lab at Rutgers and this is a truncated version of his brilliant article…

"How can we determine not only who is a competent leader, but a good leader?

STILL STRUGGLING TO MAKE CONTACT!

I am sorry that the blog has gone quiet over the last few weeks but I am still struggling, having moved home. with access to the internet. I often wonder how I coped before the world went digital but being without constant connection and access doesn't make life any easier!

REMEMBER...

"At the heart of every child... is a unique genius and personality.

What we should be doing is to allow the spark of that genius

to catch fire, to burn brightly and shine."

Michael Morpurgo