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,… Continue reading 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,… Continue reading 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… Continue reading 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… Continue reading Refreshingly Honest; ‘The School Leadership Journey’ by John Dunford
My Gran is 85. Upon announcing to a loud fanfare of whoops and hurrahs that my first book had been published, creatively entitled ‘The 2017 Parents’ Guide to Primary Schools’, she promptly asked ‘why? We didn’t have all this in my day’. Of course she is right. In her day the world was different. The… Continue reading ‘You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother.’ ~Proverb
George Bernard Shaw's ‘Man and Superman’. The phrase from Shaw’s drama series written in 1903 has survived the test of time to become a consistent irritation to teachers far and wide. Many of us love Shaw, but really? What was he thinking? Well, as we start a new year and I begin my new role… Continue reading ‘Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.’
I have been mulling over the Government whitepaper ‘Educational Excellence Everywhere’, all 128 pages (!), and have been struck by the clear recognition of the role and importance of CPD in achieving the Government’s aim. In this paper, presented by Nicky Morgan, it clearly states that the: “… quality of teaching is more important to… Continue reading Becoming Professional Learners in a Learning Profession
“Great leaders inspire greatness in others” 