As we dice with the winter blues and long dark nights, the golden halo of the mid-year review shines bright. Through the depths of winter we can look forward to the potential of this reflective period and see this as a bold opportunity, and not a tick-box encounter of performance management ages past where both … More Are you Tango Mid-Year Ready? Five Top Tips for Mid-Year Reviews
The Biggest Threat to Global Education… Us? Brain Drain or Brain Boost? … More The Biggest Threat to Global Education… Us? Brain Drain or Brain Boost?
One of my most favourite things about summer holidays is that I get time to read. I plan my book purchases well in advance (with true antiquated sentiment I cling on to my hardbacks) and buy actual newspapers! I read fervently everyday before falling into a siesta slumber every afternoon. An article that begin ruminating … More The 10 Questions You Should Ask Your Team…
‘Student-Centered Leadership’, Viviane Robinson, Book Review by Liz Free. First Published by the Chartered College (7/11/17) Details Book title: Student-Centered Leadership Author: Viviane Robinson Publication date: 2011 The review 1. What is your overall impression of the book? In the age of education fad and fashion, Student-Centered Leadership is a haven of sensibility that … More In the age of education fad and fashion, Student-Centered Leadership is a haven of sensibility that calls to every education leader to put ‘education back into education leadership’.
0.7%, 1%, 2% of school budget/revenue, more? This is a question that I get asked on a weekly basis. How much should we be spending on CPD? How much is enough? I often reference Viviane Robinson’s work from a Best Evidence Synthesis (BES) where she identifies the leadership dimension of ‘leading teacher learning and development’ … More CPD Spend; How Much is Enough?
One of the greatest things about living in the Netherlands is HEMA. My husband, who is a historical fencer, would especially agree but it is not Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) to which I refer (although the Netherlands is well placed in this regard) but it is HEMA otherwise known as Hollandsche Eenheidsprijzen Maatschappij Amsterdam. … More HEMA: the plethora of potential and the perennial downfall of the well-intentioned teacher
It’s Super Saturday! Three international Six Nations matches in one day as we reach the climax of finale competition weekend and the prospect of an epic England back-to-back grand slam victory (a feat only achieved five times in 107 years). England seek their 19th successive test win as they prepare to meet age-old rivals Ireland, … More Super Saturday: Good to Great?
I was greeted this morning by fireworks on Facebook; ‘huzzah’ it’s international women’s day it loudly declared. A little much for a pre-coffee greeting I thought at first and then, over my oats, I began to ponder. Is this really a day of celebration? If so, what exactly is it that we are celebrating? Women, … More Thank you Facebook for starting my day with a bang! #IWD2017 it is!
Recently I delivered some workshops at conferences for senior education leaders looking at CPD as a core lever for school improvement and the international research evidence in this field (impressively dynamic & exciting despite the rather apparently dry content). I enthusiastically talked about research and impact, raising a rallying call to school leaders across … More We spend more on toilet paper and hand wash than CPD
Review for Schools Week by Liz Free http://schoolsweek.co.uk/reviews/the-school-leadership-journey-by-john-dunford/ The School Leadership Journey is a timely jaunt through the social and political education landscape of the late 20th century to current times, tracing the ebb and flow of education policy and leadership development. John Dunford, former general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders and … More Refreshingly Honest; ‘The School Leadership Journey’ by John Dunford
