Monday, January 10, 2011
Strategy Group, and Never on a Sunday doesn't apply.
Strategy Group was on Monday. This means leaving home at 2.30pm on Sunday and meeting up with the other National Officers (Bolton, Lowestoft, Barnsley, and Swindon) at a local hostelry near the NAHT HQ at Haywards Heath. This provides food and accommodation, and enables us to spend time going through current and forthcoming issues at length outside of formal meetings. A number of families across the Country are giving up family time to enable such meetings to happen. It's followed by a formal Strategy session at HQ on Monday with senior HQ Staff. One of the key debates is identifying the need for Government to understand that the NAHT is both a professional association and a trade union. We will continue to support our Members in raising standards of attainment of the new generation. Engagement between the DfE and us prior to announcements would improve legislation and it's impact. Five hours of meetings, including a teleconference, and it's back on the train for a three-hour working journey home. On the road for the rest of the week with five Heads' Groups, and Branch and Regional meetings across the South West.
Christmas in the village
A snowy Christmas and an icy blast, but a fun family time. Also time with friends coming to share our first Christmas in this new home: The Old Chapel. James walked twice around the village taking in the animals - horses with jackets, ducks on ice, and the local male blackbird looking for food. James playing snowballs with Daddy in the snow, and arriving back for a hot chocolate with Mummy. Father Christmas drank his milk and ate a mince pie - James found the crumbs. Half an hour later we are all playing with a Hornby train set, new farm animals, and a helicopter. We finished the day with Fireman Sam books and a Little Red Tractor video.
Awe and wonder comes in different ways, but we certainly enjoyed giving as well as getting. The Christmas Carol Service at St Mary's involved lighted candles. James didn't set anything on fire, but Fireman Sam must have been on standby.
Awe and wonder comes in different ways, but we certainly enjoyed giving as well as getting. The Christmas Carol Service at St Mary's involved lighted candles. James didn't set anything on fire, but Fireman Sam must have been on standby.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
End of Year Report for Michael Gove and the DfE
End of 2010 year School Report on Michael Gove and the DfE:
What a truly amazing year!
We often say that a year is a long time in education - well, if we compare where we are now at Christmas 2010, then seven months have changed the educational landscape for children, schools and school leaders. The new Government has learned from Tony Blair's published experiences of not using his first 100 days to get reform going. What can we deduce from the changes so far?
Autonomy 4 out of 5
The call for freedom has led to structural change that is enabling those schools and school leaders who wish to take control of their own decision-making through converter Academies to do so.
The free school approach is potentially more divisive and will often have a negative effect upon existing schools.
Accountability 1 out of 5
We are pleased to have an independent enquiry into SATs, but it all depends upon the outcome and the Government's response. The White Paper proposals for a high-stakes Reading test - and it's a 'phonics' test not a 'reading' test - for 6 year olds, and an English Bacc are signs that again the curriculum is going to be distorted for thousands of children on a poor evidence base and in opposition to professional judgment. Inspection should become fairer and encompass support. We fully accept accountability, but the system must improve.
We need to clarify the differences between transparency and accountability, understanding the
grey areas.
Engagement 4 out of 5
The DfE is talking with school leaders. Announcements though still come out of the blue - too many details announced through the press rather than direct to the profession.
Austerity 3 out of 5
The headlines suggested that school budgets were largely being protected. This was positive, but beneath the headlines many schools will struggle with funding. Early intervention and sixth forms are under particular pressure. The Pupil Premium level at an initial £430 per fsm pupil was disappointing and will not cover the costs of for example, a reading recovery teacher. Let's hope this substantially improves. Most quangos will not be missed, but the need for sports, the 'Every Child ......' infrastructure, music (subject to the Henley Report) and a lack of innovation (and virtual absence from the White Paper) with ICT, stand out.
12 out of 20 - a promising start could be tarnished by a return to ideological rather than educational thinking.
Looking forward to 2011
A few priorities:
The end of SATs as we know them. Let us compete with world-class systems such as Finland on a level playing field (no external assessments until 18).
The creation of an effective system of KS2 moderated teacher assessment (including KS3 teachers). Must remember to hold schools accountable for results not methods.
Create confidence in schools to use their freedoms
A restructuring of LAs: now clarify a positive role
Reconsideration of the effects of a reading test for 6 year olds, and an
English Bacc
Wales moving towards equality of funding
Northern Ireland moving towards educational engagement
Raising the Pupil Premium, and look forward to debate on national funding formula
We need to address exclusions
A fairer Inspection system.
We would then have a world-class DfE (and schools).
Michael Gove is a positive politician. I hope he understands that these classroom priorities are genuine and necessary. He should be careful of siren voices in the playground which could lead to much frustration and distraction in class.
What a truly amazing year!
We often say that a year is a long time in education - well, if we compare where we are now at Christmas 2010, then seven months have changed the educational landscape for children, schools and school leaders. The new Government has learned from Tony Blair's published experiences of not using his first 100 days to get reform going. What can we deduce from the changes so far?
Autonomy 4 out of 5
The call for freedom has led to structural change that is enabling those schools and school leaders who wish to take control of their own decision-making through converter Academies to do so.
The free school approach is potentially more divisive and will often have a negative effect upon existing schools.
Accountability 1 out of 5
We are pleased to have an independent enquiry into SATs, but it all depends upon the outcome and the Government's response. The White Paper proposals for a high-stakes Reading test - and it's a 'phonics' test not a 'reading' test - for 6 year olds, and an English Bacc are signs that again the curriculum is going to be distorted for thousands of children on a poor evidence base and in opposition to professional judgment. Inspection should become fairer and encompass support. We fully accept accountability, but the system must improve.
We need to clarify the differences between transparency and accountability, understanding the
grey areas.
Engagement 4 out of 5
The DfE is talking with school leaders. Announcements though still come out of the blue - too many details announced through the press rather than direct to the profession.
Austerity 3 out of 5
The headlines suggested that school budgets were largely being protected. This was positive, but beneath the headlines many schools will struggle with funding. Early intervention and sixth forms are under particular pressure. The Pupil Premium level at an initial £430 per fsm pupil was disappointing and will not cover the costs of for example, a reading recovery teacher. Let's hope this substantially improves. Most quangos will not be missed, but the need for sports, the 'Every Child ......' infrastructure, music (subject to the Henley Report) and a lack of innovation (and virtual absence from the White Paper) with ICT, stand out.
12 out of 20 - a promising start could be tarnished by a return to ideological rather than educational thinking.
Looking forward to 2011
A few priorities:
The end of SATs as we know them. Let us compete with world-class systems such as Finland on a level playing field (no external assessments until 18).
The creation of an effective system of KS2 moderated teacher assessment (including KS3 teachers). Must remember to hold schools accountable for results not methods.
Create confidence in schools to use their freedoms
A restructuring of LAs: now clarify a positive role
Reconsideration of the effects of a reading test for 6 year olds, and an
English Bacc
Wales moving towards equality of funding
Northern Ireland moving towards educational engagement
Raising the Pupil Premium, and look forward to debate on national funding formula
We need to address exclusions
A fairer Inspection system.
We would then have a world-class DfE (and schools).
Michael Gove is a positive politician. I hope he understands that these classroom priorities are genuine and necessary. He should be careful of siren voices in the playground which could lead to much frustration and distraction in class.
Monday, December 13, 2010
James is two years old.
James is two today. I hope when he is older he will understand how his innocence, love, intelligence and fun give me unbridled joy each day. For both Veronicah and me James is the light of our life. James and wonderful grandson Ted, also two last week, shared a birthday party with their friends, bouncy castle, pass the parcel, party tea, and Thomas the Tank engine Cake and all.
'No ifs, no buts, no education cuts'......
Lunch with Michael Gove, Secretary of State. This covered a number of areas of policy, including the experience of being an academy. The day was dominated by the very adjacent Student Protests about tuition fees. I've stated my concerns about how the increase in such fees will disproportionately affect children from inner area communities. This could have a significant effect upon social mobility as well as individual life chances. As I left the Department to return to St.James Underground station I met a large group of peaceful young protestors making their way down Tothill Street. The 'No ifs, no buts, no education cuts' was sung with gusto, but it was the young lad at the back with the banner - I'm only here to get out of PE' - which caught my eye.
The Sheriff of Nottingham or was it Long John Silver?
At the Goddard Park Primary Christmas Concert on Tuesday night I was expecting to introduce our older classes when ten minutes before we started a breathless Year 5 teacher came along the corridor to let me know that the Sheriff of Nottingham was ill and his understudy unavailable for our Robin Hood-based pantomime. Within five minutes staff had identified that I had to fill the gap, produced a costume (partially stapled!) and handed me the script. Oh the joys of Headship. Needless to say the children, parents and staff had great fun with me playing the Sheriff (in the manner of Robert Newton's Long John Silver) with several ad libs about X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing. The children, not thrown by my presence on the stage, were brilliant and particularly enjoyed Robin giving the Sheriff his comeuppance.
Twins and buses
I was walking in Swindon in order to collect my Senior bus pass when I came across an elderly lady having great difficulty in crossing the road on the icy surface. I assisted her to cross safely and she shuffled along her way. On my way out of the Council Offices I had occasion to cross the same stretch of road and immediately fell over with such force and speed that I injured my wrist and had a precautionary cast on for a couple of days. Veronicah suggested I purchase a Zimmer frame. As we have just received the joyous news that she is expecting twins next June I am challenging friends to come up with a design for a triple buggy (including James) and an attached motorized zimmer platform. At least James and I can go on the bus now to watch Swindon Town play free of charge - he is regarded as too young to pay and I'm too old! Our joy means that I'll be working until I'm 81.
The Midlands and more tests
Working in the Midlands last week with Keynote presentations in both Leicester and the University of Warwick Science Park. At such meetings I always take the opportunity to meet and discuss with School leaders their individual challenges. The sheer professionalism of colleagues in the face of adversity is remarkable. The Government is sensible in providing more freedom and flexibility for school leaders to raise standards. What it must not do then is to ramp up the already overpowering accountability regime of OFSTED and SATs with the further distortion of the curriculum which will follow a high stakes reading test for six year olds, and an English Bacc for 16 year olds. Colleagues in the much vaunted Finnish Education system are able to work with children and young people who do not have to undertake an external test until the age of 18 years.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Singing for my supper in Gateshead
Several keynote speeches this week including one to the Sing Up National Gathering at The Sage by the River Tyne in Gateshead. 24 years ago I became Headteacher of a school about a mile from here along the Felling by-pass. Bede Community Primary School. It had 83% free school meals. Very few parents had a job as all the major employers including Clarke Chapmans had closed down. The community was split by a railway line - now the Metro - with the Old Fold on one side and Sunderland Road on the other. As a designated Community Primary School we reached out to the community and enabled local people to set up a number of groups and activities. The Community School was one of the few meeting places for families.
Local teenagers - the older brothers and sisters of pupils at Bede - felt isolated, and detached. They began burning out cars on the school field. We responded to this by talking with them and then setting up a football team. Some of the boys played, and girls and boys were cheerleaders and supporters. We met each week and trained and talked. The local Police agreed to make a minibus available for friendly matches.We raised funds for a football strip and to go to a professional football match. The Police assisted, but would not agree to either a Newcastle or Sunderland game as these could be negative role models. Instead we went to Hartlepool v Burnley. I thought this might not be cool, but the group loved it as they had never been to a real match before. A after a few more friendlies the group were enjoying the experience. Later that Summer one of the boys, Mark, went to the local Cemetery with a couple of friends, sniffed a fire extinguisher, and sadly he died. His Mum had him buried in the team shirt as she said, "It was the only positive thing in his life".
Veronicah, James and I called in to see Alison and Angela at Bede - still the Admin Officers at the School - and lifelong friends.
Virtually 100% of Primary Schools in Swindon have signed up to Sing Up. Goddard Park has hosted an area training session, and our children have benefitted significantly from this. It has been a very successful initiative. Parents and children were recently singing at Debenhams. Alongside this Wider Opportunities has provided expert instrumental tuition to a whole year group at a time, together with Roadshows of brass/strings/woodwind/percussion that have stimulated interest and enjoyment amongst our pupils. I hope the Henley Review identifies the essential need for music education for all, and that the Government places a requirement in a new National Curriculum with earmarked funds. We need a John Winterflood (Swindon Music Service) and a Liz Terry (Sing Up) to make this happen. Our children would be much richer as a result, and it is difficult to see any effective alternative provision - it is a specialized area of school life.
Local teenagers - the older brothers and sisters of pupils at Bede - felt isolated, and detached. They began burning out cars on the school field. We responded to this by talking with them and then setting up a football team. Some of the boys played, and girls and boys were cheerleaders and supporters. We met each week and trained and talked. The local Police agreed to make a minibus available for friendly matches.We raised funds for a football strip and to go to a professional football match. The Police assisted, but would not agree to either a Newcastle or Sunderland game as these could be negative role models. Instead we went to Hartlepool v Burnley. I thought this might not be cool, but the group loved it as they had never been to a real match before. A after a few more friendlies the group were enjoying the experience. Later that Summer one of the boys, Mark, went to the local Cemetery with a couple of friends, sniffed a fire extinguisher, and sadly he died. His Mum had him buried in the team shirt as she said, "It was the only positive thing in his life".
Veronicah, James and I called in to see Alison and Angela at Bede - still the Admin Officers at the School - and lifelong friends.
Virtually 100% of Primary Schools in Swindon have signed up to Sing Up. Goddard Park has hosted an area training session, and our children have benefitted significantly from this. It has been a very successful initiative. Parents and children were recently singing at Debenhams. Alongside this Wider Opportunities has provided expert instrumental tuition to a whole year group at a time, together with Roadshows of brass/strings/woodwind/percussion that have stimulated interest and enjoyment amongst our pupils. I hope the Henley Review identifies the essential need for music education for all, and that the Government places a requirement in a new National Curriculum with earmarked funds. We need a John Winterflood (Swindon Music Service) and a Liz Terry (Sing Up) to make this happen. Our children would be much richer as a result, and it is difficult to see any effective alternative provision - it is a specialized area of school life.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
An intensive time.
Each week is very full and recently I had the opportunity of visiting both the Isle of Wight and flying to the Isle of Man in the same week. What characterized both visits are shared challenges, very different contexts and the professionalism of local NAHT Officers when supporting Members.
The Isle of Wight is undergoing substantial structural change, with the demise of Middle Schools, and the introduction of an external Academy provider for a group of schools, and a further going into a Trust. The remaining schools will be with the LA. The Branch Secretary, John Dear, has worked tirelessly on behalf of colleagues. I was pleased to visit a number of schools including one of the Middle schools where senior staff expressed their concern that children will lose something special when the current system finishes next year.
We were met on Sunday at the airport on the Isle of Man by Tom Thompson Branch Secretary who gave us an impromptu tour of the Island. The next morning we visited two schools one of 280, and the other of six.
I saw quality work in both islands. The Isle of Man has invested well in Apple Macs and these were well used in a range of curriculum activities. It is facing a huge challenge to public finances with changes in VAT arrangements with the UK whereby there is a gap of £140 million to close with obvious effects upon schools. Again Tom was well respected by his colleagues and ensured that their views were clearly communicated.
I met with both Directors and discussed the key issues of reorganization and economic challenge.
The Isle of Wight is undergoing substantial structural change, with the demise of Middle Schools, and the introduction of an external Academy provider for a group of schools, and a further going into a Trust. The remaining schools will be with the LA. The Branch Secretary, John Dear, has worked tirelessly on behalf of colleagues. I was pleased to visit a number of schools including one of the Middle schools where senior staff expressed their concern that children will lose something special when the current system finishes next year.
We were met on Sunday at the airport on the Isle of Man by Tom Thompson Branch Secretary who gave us an impromptu tour of the Island. The next morning we visited two schools one of 280, and the other of six.
I saw quality work in both islands. The Isle of Man has invested well in Apple Macs and these were well used in a range of curriculum activities. It is facing a huge challenge to public finances with changes in VAT arrangements with the UK whereby there is a gap of £140 million to close with obvious effects upon schools. Again Tom was well respected by his colleagues and ensured that their views were clearly communicated.
I met with both Directors and discussed the key issues of reorganization and economic challenge.
Cyprus
- Children in Greek Cypriot national dress in the 26th Limassol Primary
The European School Heads Association (ESHA) Conference is in Cyprus, and I'm accompanied by Chris Harrison Vice President, Jack Hatch National Treasurer, and Roy Tedscoe National Council Member and ESHA rep. It is the first week of November and the temperature is around 30* with constant sunshine and brilliant views of the Mediterranean. In England it's cold, windy and wet. Is this a jolly? Well let me go through reality. To get here meant leaving home at 1am with Veronicah and James to sit in a cold bus station and catch a National Express bus to Gatwick North. Then a four hour flight with a 22 month old. Negotiating a transfer to the hotel took half an hour. The taxi driver spent a considerable time driving with his mobile telephone in deep conversation. We only had two near misses. From experience I only sit in the back seat of taxis, and I admired my Vice President's courage or innocence in taking the front seat. On at least one occasion he could have
shaken hands with a lorry driver. Taxis aside the hospitality is excellent.
Although a European event it provided an excellent opportunity to discuss wider international school leader issues with Mike Benson and Vicki Shannon of the Ontario Principals' Council, and Gail Connelly of the National Association of Elementary School Principals in the USA.
Next morning we had the latest from Andy Hargreaves and the Boston School: 'Performing beyond expectations'. The outcome of research on why some schools, local areas of schools, businesses, and sports teams stand out beyond the norm often in difficult situations.
Neil Hawkes presented on the Values Agenda. Although I've heard Neil before and subscribe to the message, the single factor I picked out was to make this work explicit in the school community. This is linked to our UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Award work. As we are now an Academy Trust one of the early pieces of work is for the school community to revisit it's aims and values and ensure that these are agreed, communicated, and lived up to by all.
One of the best sessions in international work is the twin opportunity to network with colleagues and school leader organizations across the world, and to visit local schools. At the 26th Limassol Primary we were presented with Cypriot dance and song. In a quiet moment afterwards I congratulated the music teacher who then rushed off and copied for me with great pride a CD of the songs from an original school recording. It will remain the highlight of the trip, and I will showcase the children's work on several occasions. This resonated with a visit several years ago to a school in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand where traditional playing by Primary School children of the soot and the elegance and expression of their dance impacted immensely on those watching.
So do SATs tell all the story or increasingly indeed any of the story.....and the Finnish Heads - always lauded by successive Governments as the top of the PISA league table reacted with horror at the prospect of testing at 11 years. They believed that as this would distort the curriculum it would reduce the effectiveness of their schools!
Keynote speech to the South West Region
I'm immensely delighted to be National President of the NAHT.
I'm the 3rd President from Swindon following Matt Cammish, and Arthur Burke-Jones in the 1970's. Matt is in his 90's and was my own Headteacher at Secondary.
I had a wonderful working class upbringing in the 1950's and 60's and can remember a time before a television arrived for the 1958 Cup Final
My father and grandfather worked in the GWR. My Mum made the decisions for the family. There was always food on the table. After the privations of the second world war that was essential. The journey to freedom through the sacrifices of those who fought in that war are only too well understood last week, and some Royal Navy shipmates of my Dad's laid down their lives for it.
For many years when I was a child my Mum sat in bed early on a Sunday morning using beautiful copperplate writing and sums to ensure the bills were paid each week. I grew up thinking that there was a shop called 'apro' as Mum would come home with a pair of trousers or shirt and check if it fitted. It wasn't until I was much older I realized that she would go to the Co-op menswear in town and buy clothes for me 'on approval'.
I lived in a town which had a highly skilled workforce and was a world leader in locomotive technology. It had extensive adult education programmes, and more voluntary societies per capital than anywhere in the Country. In many ways it was idyllic. We always realized however that there was a glass ceiling, and this was largely based upon education. Even comics of the time reflected this division. We had Alf Tupper tough of the track who would invariably defeat the effete character from a privileged background who expected to win races on status alone. Unfortunately, this did not always reflect life and the 11+ condemned many at an early age.
How times change? Well last year only 12 children from free school meal backgrounds made it to Oxford.
There has of course been a meritocratic revolution. My generation - and I'm 60 - was the first to have the opportunity to go into higher education and even be given a student grant. Although it can be argued that a graduate's potential earning power should require a contribution through tuition fees, we should be careful not to restrict access at a time when the Country needs to invest in it's children and youth.
It faces a challenge from international systems of education. It is a challenge we have to meet if we are to have the freedom to flourish.
I want to take you on a journey. Where should we start?
Well according to the OECD PISA studies of international comparisons - and often quoted by our Government - a top performing Country is Finland.
I was speaking with a group of Finnish Headteachers on Saturday. There is no external test in Finland prior to 16 years old. The Finnish Heads said that their Ministry of Education was considering introducing tests as an easy accountability. It might be easy but it is sloppy thinking and the Heads were unanimous in condemning such a move as they felt it would distort the curriculum and encourage teachers to teach to the tests.
Returning to our journey. We live in an interdependent world, but we have we have to ask what about another of our competitors for future contracts? Singapore. In a Singapore Primary of 1500 pupils one of the classrooms had a complete wall as a computer screen set up as Singapore Harbour in the second world war.
Pupils can gain information by touching the screen, and place themselves as a second life style character in this scene and for example ensure survival or try to effect an escape. They can also do this at home with their parents. This technology is part of a project where the Ministry of Education and innovative companies are harnessing such state of the art technology and ensuring schools have the opportunity to access and use it. Michael Gove dispenses with BECTA. Where is there the thinking in the UK about harnessing cutting edge technological companies and schools? Is the interactive whiteboard the limit of our classroom world? Of course it
is not just having the technology, it is what you do with it that counts. Our challenge as a Country is not just to innovate, but to look to children developing those skills, attributes and values that the future world will require. Even the CBI recognizes that a list of historical dates by itself will not make you an effective team player. I do though appreciate the need for children gaining core cultural knowledge. My 23 month old son is effectively using a computer for fun and can actively read 50 words. We also swim, sing songs, enjoy stories, and go to football, but I want his school to access the best technology. By the way it means I have to work until I am 81.
So what about Canada? Ontario is a major Province and the Superintendent of Schools can and does rotate school leaders. That means families moving to another part of the Province. The UK Government is moving down a greater autonomy route. Autonomy in our Country has been hard won and is jealously guarded. The new autonomy does provide challenge and opportunity to the NAHT and to schools. The NAHT is going to kitemark a Services to Schools provider for support services such as HR.
We need a NETWORK system for professional development. In Ontario, 95% of professional development for school leaders is undertaken by school leaders. I've often marveled at the brilliance in many of our schools. How often do we visit each other and see this. We need to capture and share it. The NAHT could facilitate this. We need local/national and international networks of schools. We also should consider how we resource the time and workload involved and ensure it doesn't fall on already busy shoulders.
In Australia, the Country has largely escaped the major ravages of the recession and decided that it would keep its employment and activity in the economy up by providing one classroom or library for each school. The disadvantage is that, as with Building Schools for the Future, was bureaucracy and inappropriate matching with individual school needs.
We are told that Charter Schools in the US are the way forward and that the linked FREE SCHOOL model from Sweden is the way forward. NAHT National Council is about to take a view. At the very most we would want to see the 16 schools already announced be evaluated as a pilot. The potential for duplication in a time of austerity, and having a negative effect on surrounding schools is significant.
In South Korea high attainment rates disguise a very high teenage suicide rate that we would not accept.
The NAHT is currently conducting some research into these comparisons.
Prof Andy Hargreaves and his team at the Lynch School of Education in Boston supported by the Institute of Education in London is about to realease some work on Performing Beyond Expectations - businesses, sports clubs, and Schools - that are exactly that, and teases out key attributes and features for success, including:
High fidelity
Fraternity pride community
Fairflow courage
Fallibility try risk
Friendly rivalry with other schools. Work together - assist each other
Fusion lead
Feasible growth shallow not built sustainable
Culture and collaboration
Use resistance to innovate
Fast and fair tracking sample testing important not summative
Charismatic legacy
Fortitude perseverance courage
Counterflow unexpected
Connect to the past and an inspiring future
Firm foundations
Fight for what you believe in
If you are depressed then sort it out.
Fundamental future
Fear can't deliver Henry V before Agincourt. How you respond to it is vital.
The destination is a dream not a number.
The Spirit Level by Wilkinson and Pickett published by Allen Lane identifies that unequal societies such as the UK and US do worse in a whole series of measures.
So to be a Headteacher I think is the best job in the world. To be a Headteacher in my hometown gives me great pleasure, but it also is a continual reminder that we are largely accountable for our children's life chances and that is an awesome responsibility. When things go wrong we must expect quality support from peers.
So the message to the Government is thank you for the freedoms, but that there is more to a league table than a list of numbers. Do not cherry pick on the basis of political expediency, look beyond the Daily Mail, and instead celebrate the excellence of much practice including school leadership, in this country.
Our challenge is to ensure we raise standards still further by opening our doors to one another and share this practice. Perhaps the South West could lead this revolution.
This then will give us the freedom to flourish.
I'm the 3rd President from Swindon following Matt Cammish, and Arthur Burke-Jones in the 1970's. Matt is in his 90's and was my own Headteacher at Secondary.
I had a wonderful working class upbringing in the 1950's and 60's and can remember a time before a television arrived for the 1958 Cup Final
My father and grandfather worked in the GWR. My Mum made the decisions for the family. There was always food on the table. After the privations of the second world war that was essential. The journey to freedom through the sacrifices of those who fought in that war are only too well understood last week, and some Royal Navy shipmates of my Dad's laid down their lives for it.
For many years when I was a child my Mum sat in bed early on a Sunday morning using beautiful copperplate writing and sums to ensure the bills were paid each week. I grew up thinking that there was a shop called 'apro' as Mum would come home with a pair of trousers or shirt and check if it fitted. It wasn't until I was much older I realized that she would go to the Co-op menswear in town and buy clothes for me 'on approval'.
I lived in a town which had a highly skilled workforce and was a world leader in locomotive technology. It had extensive adult education programmes, and more voluntary societies per capital than anywhere in the Country. In many ways it was idyllic. We always realized however that there was a glass ceiling, and this was largely based upon education. Even comics of the time reflected this division. We had Alf Tupper tough of the track who would invariably defeat the effete character from a privileged background who expected to win races on status alone. Unfortunately, this did not always reflect life and the 11+ condemned many at an early age.
How times change? Well last year only 12 children from free school meal backgrounds made it to Oxford.
There has of course been a meritocratic revolution. My generation - and I'm 60 - was the first to have the opportunity to go into higher education and even be given a student grant. Although it can be argued that a graduate's potential earning power should require a contribution through tuition fees, we should be careful not to restrict access at a time when the Country needs to invest in it's children and youth.
It faces a challenge from international systems of education. It is a challenge we have to meet if we are to have the freedom to flourish.
I want to take you on a journey. Where should we start?
Well according to the OECD PISA studies of international comparisons - and often quoted by our Government - a top performing Country is Finland.
I was speaking with a group of Finnish Headteachers on Saturday. There is no external test in Finland prior to 16 years old. The Finnish Heads said that their Ministry of Education was considering introducing tests as an easy accountability. It might be easy but it is sloppy thinking and the Heads were unanimous in condemning such a move as they felt it would distort the curriculum and encourage teachers to teach to the tests.
Returning to our journey. We live in an interdependent world, but we have we have to ask what about another of our competitors for future contracts? Singapore. In a Singapore Primary of 1500 pupils one of the classrooms had a complete wall as a computer screen set up as Singapore Harbour in the second world war.
is not just having the technology, it is what you do with it that counts. Our challenge as a Country is not just to innovate, but to look to children developing those skills, attributes and values that the future world will require. Even the CBI recognizes that a list of historical dates by itself will not make you an effective team player. I do though appreciate the need for children gaining core cultural knowledge. My 23 month old son is effectively using a computer for fun and can actively read 50 words. We also swim, sing songs, enjoy stories, and go to football, but I want his school to access the best technology. By the way it means I have to work until I am 81.
So what about Canada? Ontario is a major Province and the Superintendent of Schools can and does rotate school leaders. That means families moving to another part of the Province. The UK Government is moving down a greater autonomy route. Autonomy in our Country has been hard won and is jealously guarded. The new autonomy does provide challenge and opportunity to the NAHT and to schools. The NAHT is going to kitemark a Services to Schools provider for support services such as HR.
We need a NETWORK system for professional development. In Ontario, 95% of professional development for school leaders is undertaken by school leaders. I've often marveled at the brilliance in many of our schools. How often do we visit each other and see this. We need to capture and share it. The NAHT could facilitate this. We need local/national and international networks of schools. We also should consider how we resource the time and workload involved and ensure it doesn't fall on already busy shoulders.
In Australia, the Country has largely escaped the major ravages of the recession and decided that it would keep its employment and activity in the economy up by providing one classroom or library for each school. The disadvantage is that, as with Building Schools for the Future, was bureaucracy and inappropriate matching with individual school needs.
We are told that Charter Schools in the US are the way forward and that the linked FREE SCHOOL model from Sweden is the way forward. NAHT National Council is about to take a view. At the very most we would want to see the 16 schools already announced be evaluated as a pilot. The potential for duplication in a time of austerity, and having a negative effect on surrounding schools is significant.
In South Korea high attainment rates disguise a very high teenage suicide rate that we would not accept.
The NAHT is currently conducting some research into these comparisons.
Prof Andy Hargreaves and his team at the Lynch School of Education in Boston supported by the Institute of Education in London is about to realease some work on Performing Beyond Expectations - businesses, sports clubs, and Schools - that are exactly that, and teases out key attributes and features for success, including:
High fidelity
Fraternity pride community
Fairflow courage
Fallibility try risk
Friendly rivalry with other schools. Work together - assist each other
Fusion lead
Feasible growth shallow not built sustainable
Culture and collaboration
Use resistance to innovate
Fast and fair tracking sample testing important not summative
Charismatic legacy
Fortitude perseverance courage
Counterflow unexpected
Connect to the past and an inspiring future
Firm foundations
Fight for what you believe in
If you are depressed then sort it out.
Fundamental future
Fear can't deliver Henry V before Agincourt. How you respond to it is vital.
The destination is a dream not a number.
The Spirit Level by Wilkinson and Pickett published by Allen Lane identifies that unequal societies such as the UK and US do worse in a whole series of measures.
So to be a Headteacher I think is the best job in the world. To be a Headteacher in my hometown gives me great pleasure, but it also is a continual reminder that we are largely accountable for our children's life chances and that is an awesome responsibility. When things go wrong we must expect quality support from peers.
So the message to the Government is thank you for the freedoms, but that there is more to a league table than a list of numbers. Do not cherry pick on the basis of political expediency, look beyond the Daily Mail, and instead celebrate the excellence of much practice including school leadership, in this country.
Our challenge is to ensure we raise standards still further by opening our doors to one another and share this practice. Perhaps the South West could lead this revolution.
This then will give us the freedom to flourish.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
September
Meetings included a whole range from Branches and Regions to the Secretary of State in the DfE. A regular meeting is the NAHT with ASCL to discuss school leadership issues together, and both with the NGA to get a Governors perspective. This can lead to concerted action, but at the very least is a forum for considering particular issues.
I attended the Party Conferences of the Lib Dems, and Conservatives, and colleagues went to Labour's. This is useful for party activists and MP's to find out more about NAHT policies and discuss the educational landscape.
The 22nd saw Goddard Park become an Academy under the outstanding converter academy programme. This is another stage on our journey as an inner-area school of excellence. We feel we are in a position to further improve our children's life chances by becoming independent of the Local Authority, whilst having a cordial relationship. We remain part of our cluster group of schools. Our accountability is to our community and this is reflected in the five Trustee positions which reflect each key stakeholder in our school community inlcluding: parent/staff/community/Chair of Govs/Headteacher. Our Governing Body remains the same except we have one LA Gov out of choice and more from the school community. The retained LA funding comes to us, but we do not have one pound of other school's money - otherwise we wouldn't have gone down this road. Also we protect and invest in our brilliant staff, so all national pay and conditions remain in place. Will this help our children? I certainly hope so. We will reflect on it's impact.
It is now accepted that National Council go to the President's Region for one of it's meetings each year. I chose Bath for the South West. I trained at what is now Bath Spa University. Veronicah completed her B.Ed (Hons) there last year. Council met in the Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel - no not part of that chain..
It was instructive that it was £3,000 cheaper than meeting in Central London! A key debate was on SATs as I've already referred to. There was a Council Dinner in the Pump Rooms with external speakers for and against the notion of Free Schools.
A very busy September would become a hectic October. James continues to thrive and I want to come home each night whenever possible to spend time with him.
Meetings included a whole range from Branches and Regions to the Secretary of State in the DfE. A regular meeting is the NAHT with ASCL to discuss school leadership issues together, and both with the NGA to get a Governors perspective. This can lead to concerted action, but at the very least is a forum for considering particular issues.
I attended the Party Conferences of the Lib Dems, and Conservatives, and colleagues went to Labour's. This is useful for party activists and MP's to find out more about NAHT policies and discuss the educational landscape.
The 22nd saw Goddard Park become an Academy under the outstanding converter academy programme. This is another stage on our journey as an inner-area school of excellence. We feel we are in a position to further improve our children's life chances by becoming independent of the Local Authority, whilst having a cordial relationship. We remain part of our cluster group of schools. Our accountability is to our community and this is reflected in the five Trustee positions which reflect each key stakeholder in our school community inlcluding: parent/staff/community/Chair of Govs/Headteacher. Our Governing Body remains the same except we have one LA Gov out of choice and more from the school community. The retained LA funding comes to us, but we do not have one pound of other school's money - otherwise we wouldn't have gone down this road. Also we protect and invest in our brilliant staff, so all national pay and conditions remain in place. Will this help our children? I certainly hope so. We will reflect on it's impact.
It is now accepted that National Council go to the President's Region for one of it's meetings each year. I chose Bath for the South West. I trained at what is now Bath Spa University. Veronicah completed her B.Ed (Hons) there last year. Council met in the Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel - no not part of that chain..
It was instructive that it was £3,000 cheaper than meeting in Central London! A key debate was on SATs as I've already referred to. There was a Council Dinner in the Pump Rooms with external speakers for and against the notion of Free Schools.
A very busy September would become a hectic October. James continues to thrive and I want to come home each night whenever possible to spend time with him.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Freya
September held a key date of personal pleasure for me.
On the 9th September my daughter, Sally, and her husband Dan, had their first child - a girl, Freya. My sixth grandchild came in to the world with a cute nose and bringing great happiness to the family. Val, Sally's Mum, would be overjoyed with both our girls now having their own families.
On the 9th September my daughter, Sally, and her husband Dan, had their first child - a girl, Freya. My sixth grandchild came in to the world with a cute nose and bringing great happiness to the family. Val, Sally's Mum, would be overjoyed with both our girls now having their own families.
Friday, October 29, 2010
September and SATs
The intensity of work as President has precluded writing for some time so I'm going to review September and October here and try to keep up thereafter if at all possible in real time.
September saw an external issue which needed the Association to take a clear view on.
My view of National Council is that it has members who are expert and experienced in school leadership. They represent all strands of opinion in the membership. Any organization of this type, size and responsibility has great challenges in synthesizing the vast educational landscape and it's effect upon school leadership into clear concise policies that can be communicated to members, the media, parents, other groups, and the wider society whilst having an influence on Government and an impact upon it's legislation. One key way forward to assist the very good work of the Officers is for Council to have thoroughgoing, well-informed debates with clear outcomes. This means in my experience speaking to precise Motions rather than allowing debates to have ambiguous outcomes.
At September Council it was decided that the major debates would involve the Association taking a position on SATs, and Operation of Council. Due to the length of debates, 'Free Schools' would be separately debated later in the year. The structural alterations to trial a new methodology of working of Council to streamline whilst providing quality information sessions, followed by debate and decision were passed. The key debate was as expected on SATs.
The Labour Government had failed to recognize the incendiary nature of this issue.
Conference had voted in 2009 by 94% to 6% to call for action if having exhausted all other avenues the Government had failed to act on removing the current SAT regime. Further Consultation had produced similar results and a ballot for Industrial action gave a clear majority. Despite many increasingly desperate attempts to pressurize school leaders 4005 schools took action with the well-wishes of many thousands more.
The new Government realized that this is a significant issue. Russell Hobby our new General Secretary underlined the need for a fundamental change to the SATs approach whilst still reaffirming that school leaders accepted a wider accountability. Following discussions with Russell and myself, the Secretary of State announced a full Independent Review of KS2 Assessment, but with a sting in the tail that SATs for 2011 would go ahead. This then was the background for National Council to take a considered decision on behalf of the membership. The detailed a far ranging debate covered all arguments and a range of positions. The outcome was decisive. By 34 votes to 2 National Council agreed not to call for action on the 2011 SATs.
There had been no motion to Conference on SATs due partially to timing with the boycott taking place ten days later. Even so, the key argument seemed to be that any Government should be given the chance to take the right action, and an Independent Review due to report in the Spring -although there would be no guarantee that this would come up with the desired outcomes - offered a sensible way forward. For some colleagues, who thought they would never see SATs again this was a bitter pill. The link we must make however is that there would have been no Independent Review without the action last May. Although the Secretary of State would not make such a link he has acknowledged the strength of feeling of School Leaders on this issue.
Part of encouraging Council to be decisive is then to communicate such outcomes to the Membership and media. Russell Hobby and I sent a letter to Members detailing the Council decision. Throughout September and October I have raised this issue at the several Branch and Regional meetings I have attended. This has led to a lively debate. My e-mail and postbag has also been fairly full. Most Members have responded positively once you are able to engage.
We now wait for the Chair of the Independent Review to be announced and work begin.
September saw an external issue which needed the Association to take a clear view on.
My view of National Council is that it has members who are expert and experienced in school leadership. They represent all strands of opinion in the membership. Any organization of this type, size and responsibility has great challenges in synthesizing the vast educational landscape and it's effect upon school leadership into clear concise policies that can be communicated to members, the media, parents, other groups, and the wider society whilst having an influence on Government and an impact upon it's legislation. One key way forward to assist the very good work of the Officers is for Council to have thoroughgoing, well-informed debates with clear outcomes. This means in my experience speaking to precise Motions rather than allowing debates to have ambiguous outcomes.
At September Council it was decided that the major debates would involve the Association taking a position on SATs, and Operation of Council. Due to the length of debates, 'Free Schools' would be separately debated later in the year. The structural alterations to trial a new methodology of working of Council to streamline whilst providing quality information sessions, followed by debate and decision were passed. The key debate was as expected on SATs.
The Labour Government had failed to recognize the incendiary nature of this issue.
Conference had voted in 2009 by 94% to 6% to call for action if having exhausted all other avenues the Government had failed to act on removing the current SAT regime. Further Consultation had produced similar results and a ballot for Industrial action gave a clear majority. Despite many increasingly desperate attempts to pressurize school leaders 4005 schools took action with the well-wishes of many thousands more.
The new Government realized that this is a significant issue. Russell Hobby our new General Secretary underlined the need for a fundamental change to the SATs approach whilst still reaffirming that school leaders accepted a wider accountability. Following discussions with Russell and myself, the Secretary of State announced a full Independent Review of KS2 Assessment, but with a sting in the tail that SATs for 2011 would go ahead. This then was the background for National Council to take a considered decision on behalf of the membership. The detailed a far ranging debate covered all arguments and a range of positions. The outcome was decisive. By 34 votes to 2 National Council agreed not to call for action on the 2011 SATs.
There had been no motion to Conference on SATs due partially to timing with the boycott taking place ten days later. Even so, the key argument seemed to be that any Government should be given the chance to take the right action, and an Independent Review due to report in the Spring -although there would be no guarantee that this would come up with the desired outcomes - offered a sensible way forward. For some colleagues, who thought they would never see SATs again this was a bitter pill. The link we must make however is that there would have been no Independent Review without the action last May. Although the Secretary of State would not make such a link he has acknowledged the strength of feeling of School Leaders on this issue.
Part of encouraging Council to be decisive is then to communicate such outcomes to the Membership and media. Russell Hobby and I sent a letter to Members detailing the Council decision. Throughout September and October I have raised this issue at the several Branch and Regional meetings I have attended. This has led to a lively debate. My e-mail and postbag has also been fairly full. Most Members have responded positively once you are able to engage.
We now wait for the Chair of the Independent Review to be announced and work begin.
Well what a Summer it was.
The first Coalition Government since 1945.
4005 Schools with KS2 cohorts boycott the SAT tests. These tests disfigure and distort Year 6 for our children, lead to school leaders being placed under intolerable and inappropriate pressure by inspection teams, and provide ineffective information for parents, secondary schools and national trends. There must be a better way. We hope the new Government will listen to reason on this.
The Government did move quickly on legislation to provide greater autonomy for schools -starting with those judged as outstanding by OFSTED. These were termed converter Academies and would be state-funded independent schools run by Trusts and leave local authority or similar control. They would receive their share of the local authority retained funding. This received the support of the NAHT providing such schools were socially inclusive.
Goddard Park began it's journey to a new freedom providing it remained in the family of schools, and retained and developed it's partnerships. This was the start of an extremely busy summer.
The first Coalition Government since 1945.
4005 Schools with KS2 cohorts boycott the SAT tests. These tests disfigure and distort Year 6 for our children, lead to school leaders being placed under intolerable and inappropriate pressure by inspection teams, and provide ineffective information for parents, secondary schools and national trends. There must be a better way. We hope the new Government will listen to reason on this.
The Government did move quickly on legislation to provide greater autonomy for schools -starting with those judged as outstanding by OFSTED. These were termed converter Academies and would be state-funded independent schools run by Trusts and leave local authority or similar control. They would receive their share of the local authority retained funding. This received the support of the NAHT providing such schools were socially inclusive.
Goddard Park began it's journey to a new freedom providing it remained in the family of schools, and retained and developed it's partnerships. This was the start of an extremely busy summer.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
......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.
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.
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