It was shortly after the second public flogging when she knew it was time to walk away from her job. Especially as she was on the receiving end this time. She had been working regular 12 hour days and completing outstanding tasks during her weekends but it still wasn’t enough. To then be criticised in…
Read MoreBelonging in Schools: England’s Hidden Crisis
There is cause for celebration in English education. Primary school children in England now rank 4th in the world for reading — largely the result of synthetic phonics instruction. Just before the pandemic, maths scores for 15-year-olds saw dramatic improvements, placing England in the global top 15. Good stuff, no? Not so fast. Underlying these…
Read MoreThe Spirit of Inclusion – how leaders foster belonging
Think of a time when you really felt you belonged in a place. Not when you were merely tolerated, but really included. Like you were seen, noticed and valued. There is a Shona word that encapsulates this feeling – sawubona. It literally translates to ‘I see you’. Seen in all dimensions – seen for the…
Read MoreTime to Reset
I have been running on sheer adrenaline for the past 3-4 weeks. A combination of late work nights, Christmas celebrations which went on into the late evening, and the the dash to get gifts for family and colleagues has left me spent. On Friday when I sent that last email of the term I realised…
Read MoreResurrecting School Values
Values are not something static and immovable. They are living, breathing entities, and as such, are susceptible to death and decay. Because of this, it is paramount that they are revitalised. Since the start of the year, we have been focusing on developing our school values, primarily that of respect. We felt that respect underpinned…
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