......and to HQ.

It feels a long journey to HQ in Haywards Heath from anywhere beyond London. This is probably because travelling across London by Underground quickly loses its uniqueness with familiarity. My second full week as President started with chairing the monthly Strategy Group at HQ. This Group is made up of the National elected and senior employed Officers of the Association. It looks at key issues – both internal and external – facing the NAHT and takes its lead from National Council and Conference policies and decisions. Strategy Group ensures effective monitoring of progress of Association priorities and business between Council meetings, and that Council is fully informed of this in order to make informed decisions when charting our direction.

We have a dedicated HQ workforce who are skilled and knowledgeable about supporting school leaders.

On Monday night I arrive at The Valley for the League 1 Play-off second leg, Charlton Athletic v Swindon Town. Swindon are leading 2-1 from the first leg. Having watched the Town for a documented 57 years it’s ‘in the blood’ and I meet up with several friends as over 3000 Swindon fans arrive at the match. After an action packed 90 minutes and extra time, with each side down to ten men, the teams are tied at 3-3 on aggregate. We are now in a penalty shoot-out with the winners going to Wembley. Town are notorious for their poor penalty shoot-outs, but what’s this, the Charlton captain misses and the Swindon players keep hitting the back of the net. It’s the last penalty and Steven Darby, a fullback on loan from Liverpool, has the chance to send us through.

In front of nearly 30,000 he steps up and scores! Pandemonium breaks out and the Swindon fans trumpet the ecstasy, and the Charlton supporters in virtual silence, the agony. We are at Wembley on 29th May. The Town players and fans share fifteen minutes of undiluted pleasure. As we leave I do a three-sentence interview for GMTV, which it seems every child in my school sees.

On Tuesday it’s the Operation of Council Task group. Excellent debate and engagement leads to a positive direction of travel in trying to ensure our National Council is the most effective it can be when representing 28,500 Members. The ideas that have surfaced will be reported back to Council in June.

Later in the week I meet with Carole Whitty, our former Deputy General Secretary, to discuss some members having access to the SSAT’s Leading Practitioners in Enterprise for identified staff in their schools. Carole’s husband, Tony, has just been inaugurated as Mayor of Totnes in Devon. I’m sure he is going to have a great year.

I attend Secondary Committee on Friday, and we interrogate funding, accountability and curricular issues such as Diplomas facing Secondary colleagues. This is a very good meeting and we set ourselves clear tasks.

There has been vibrancy about the week.