On the train with Churchill and the Royalty

January has been a very intense month with traveling and speaking in all parts of the Country.  Groups of Heads in Bristol, Swindon, followed by SW Region in Tiverton, Devon. Kent Branch in Maidstone, and then the National Executive - it's new name replacing Council - at The Bloomsbury in London. The new style of a two day Executive continued. It received 70% support as a little or much better than the former construction which had lasted some years. We also continued the Information session with Executive Members going away rich in Information on a range of key issues, then examining these in more detail during the Policy, Professional, or Practice Committees. We then have detailed scrutiny of NAHT positions through testing these as Motions. This time it included considering a position on the NAHT's evidence to the Bew Inquiry on end of KS2 Assessment. These Motions are keenly debated, with amendments considered, and votes providing clear outcomes. The eventual position taken received widespread support. Members would be pleased to know the rigorous nature of this work on their behalf.

We also held our Annual Press Dinner, on this occasion in the atmospheric Harmsworth Room, in the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms. This is an excellent opportunity to meet up with our colleagues in the Media and discuss current issues. Any organization needs to get it's messages and positions over to Members, the public, key groups, and the Government. The Media play an essential role in this. As well as promoting school leadership as the best job in the world, we want to affect legislation and gain our Members the best possible pay and conditions for the vital work they undertake. Under successive General Secretaries, Annette Slade, has undertaken a dual role as PA, and Press Liaison. She has performed this with distinction. With the wide-ranging nature of the Media now we have moved to appointing a specialist Press and Media Officer, and Heather Forze has recently joined the NAHT and is already making her presence felt. In her first two days I had access to three Radio interviews -including speaking with Radio Lincolnshire on a freezing bus station bench.

Since the National Executive, the following ten days included meeting a dozen Heads in Chippenham, a meeting with ASCL and the National Governors' Association in the Commonwealth Club, meetings with Heads in Poole and the Dorset Branch who were particularly exercised on the future of teachers' pensions. This is a national concern and we are watching developments very carefully under the expert guidance of Mike Beard in HQ. I then had a discussion with a Secondary Head whose School is 'satisfactory with good features' at it's last OFSTED, but has improved since and wants to become an Academy. He is watching colleagues gaining the freedoms and repatriation of LA retained funding, and believes this would be right for his school. I suggested he registered an interest and speak with the Academies Division at the DfE. The next day was a five and half hour journey to Windermere for the North West Region weekend Conference after completing some casework. Members attending the Conference are given the Saturday afternoon 'off' and are able to check out the delights of the Lakes.
 
I have to admit to a secret affair that afternoon. I rang Veronicah and owned up. After a brief walk around part of the Lake, I found the Royalty Cinema in Bowness. It had a Saturday afternoon matinee showing of The King's Speech with Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, and Helena Bonham Carter. With James now two years old we have not been to the Cinema since he was born. I went in and bought my ticket. It was Art Deco heaven. The staff wore black waistcoats, and brought out ice creams on original trays. With a superb film this was a wonderful time, but I had to tell Veronicah who immediately booked next Saturday for a Cinema outing at home!