Ten days into the Easter break now and some rest had. The headlines about a need for discipline, quiet corridors and control in classrooms is very disturbing – to think the people in key positions see this as a reality; a necessity. It is rather baffling and yes, disturbing. I have not seen the same … Continue reading
Time to Rest
Three weeks completed with all children back at school. About a week a go we were talking about how it would be great to keep going rather than the stop-start nature of now. Another week on and I’m glad the break is here. To be fair, we haven’t stopped for almost a year. Even in … Continue reading
Share, Collaborate and Communicate
Whatever you do and whether part of a job or not, it’s important to talk. My sharing your ideas and successes; your efforts and failures, others can learn from you. Others can help you. To collaborate is a benefit for all concerned and should not be seen as anything other. Imagine the two-way learning and … Continue reading
Everyone a Leader
Two weeks have passed since the return to school for all children. One week to go for us here in Leicester and then we have a two week Easter break. Chatting to a member of staff last week, the frustration is the stop-start-stop start way of life at the moment. Children come back and after … Continue reading
Returning 5 – Lost Learning 0
We are back at school now and it’s been a fabulous five days with the children. The whole idea that we have lost a year of learning is very quickly being proven to be false. Yes of course, the children have some minor gaps in what we would normally expect but unanimously, we believe that … Continue reading
Back and Smiling but Be Careful
Whilst schools have not closed and have actually opened over holidays, all returned this week and have now had two days back. With a mere 13 absent out of almost 430, it’s an impressive 96.7% attendance – I must admit, I didn’t expect that. The picture upon the mass return was a very cheery one. … Continue reading
We have not lost a year of education!
49 weeks have passed since the initial lockdown and the start of what has been an incredibly difficult year for so many. As an educator, I am well aware of the difficulties that parents have faced and can vividly remember various phone calls and other communications with people struggling. The respect of what it takes … Continue reading
If you’re in the room…
Whilst training to be a teacher one of the tutors advised the whole group, “If you’re in the room, be in the room”. Tegid Philips was the tutor, the head of the physical education department and quite a man. Those words have never been forgotten and when I am sometime tempted to remain silent and … Continue reading
More = Less
It is quite frustrating having been in post as a leader for some 15 years now and hearing the drivel of people who think they know best when it comes to education. I am not sitting on the fence here but to have so many suggest that longer school days and longer terms to get … Continue reading
It Has Arrived…
Many people in the profession are so pleased that it has arrived. People are tired; mentally and physically drained. That said, nothing I suspect compared to those in the NHS. We should not be comparing ourselves to others and accepting difficulties because others are/have to. We should be protecting ourselves and doing what we know … Continue reading