Apr
09
2008
It seems extraordinary that I haven’t written since the end of February. Still, the busy life of a head & all that!
I have been wrestling with just what to write. Recognising the need for a more circumspect approach, I realise that my emphasis needs to be more reflective. An online professional development portfolio, if you will. I think this would be a good place to keep evidence of what I’ve achieved.
Currently I’m writing our school plan. As chair of governors at Flamstead Village School, I have exceptional access to resources and training that have enormous benefit to my own practice as a Headmaster.
Monday started with a SWOT analysis. The ideas that the staff produced are a marvellous jump-off point for further planning. Incidentally, having mixed the groups across departments, the analysis they returned was very much focused on whole-school issues. Note to self for next time: ensure time is given for staff to work on analysis in their departments as well. Actually I will hijack their meetings for some extension work.
Tuesday we had a presentation from Theresa Forbes of the International Primary Curriculum. Very positive feedback from the staff. It will be an excellent solution for our foundation curriculum and allow staff to utilise their innate creativity.
Today - the start of term. Smiles, hellos, sunshine. There is not a much better way to start. It continued with a round of meetings & phone calls - although I pleased my PA by almost completely sticking to my 9-12 admin slot & not wondering off to do something more interesting! It finished with my J3 & 4 PE - thus proving one of 2 things: either I have huge range as a professional educator and school manager or (which is more likely) I’ll do as I’m told by my Head of Juniors!
And just to prove one or the other of these statements…
Tomorrow I’m off to Tescos with the winners of our Healthy Eating competition. Oh for the life of a Head…
Feb
16
2008
It is worth noting that an important new collaborative project is starting down under. Al Upton & his Mini Legends are embarking upon the development of class weblogs. I hope I’m able to join as a mentor. This is a collaboration on a global scale and truly embraces what educational weblogging has always been about, especially at Primary level.
Two exponents of UK collaboration have been discussing their work on a podcast. John & Tom have an awful lot of advice & experience & it is worth listening to.
Jan
31
2008
Not necessarily in this order…
Boy with suspected dislocated wrist
A policy on dogs on the school grounds
Making sure parents weren’t parking in our turning circle
Tour with the Ashraf’s
Meetings with 3 members of staff
Finalising Pay & Conditions policy
Whole staff meeting
School Leadership Team meeting
Meeting with our graphic designer
Lunch
Cups of coffee
Toilet breaks
Brief chat with Head of Music about siting music practice suites
Discussion about staff sports kit
Arrival of new palm top PC for a trial
And tonight concludes with the last Headmaster’s evening, meeting about 60 parents.
And the chair of governors should be popping in shortly.
Jan
13
2008
I’ve learned that it is a lot harder to learn the names of parents than their children. So I’ll take from trying to hard on that one & let my knowledge develop over time!
That having a P.A. as good as Karen (just in case she’s reading!) is absolutely priceless. Now, at last, I’m organised. Well, at least my Outlook calender tells me so.
Being a head is about meeting people. And meeting people. And meeting people. And…well you get the picture.
Having authority is a tremendous (in all senses of the word) responsibility. I love and respect the privilage in equal measure.
What will I learn next week? I cannot wait to find out…
Nov
13
2007
Forgive me for being an anorak, but I felt that I had to get to the bottom of the conflicting reports last week from the Guardian & BBC. So I went on a hunt for the data upon which the reports were based. The trail lead me to a wonderful corner of the DCSF website, the Research & Statistics Gateway, that one could quite easily lose oneself in for, oh, minutes!
Anyway, to cut a long story short, after compiling some data on pupil numbers, I managed to produce the following pictoral evidence (thanks to the wonderful Zoho suite of online applications). Indeed, the numbers in Independent Schools remain healthy. I calculated the number of pupils at Independent schools as a percentage of the total number of pupils in full time education in the UK. For the raw data, this is the link to the Zoho database table.
Oct
22
2007
Independent Schools Council » Blog Archive » Beside the seaside
The Independent Schools Council is now blogging.  We will see what this precipitates. Will the collegiality of blogging encourage the usually detached Independent Sector to discuss its own issues?
Sep
30
2007
During my last post I googled “pedagogy anorak”. No results, naturally, so I will claim that phrase. How do I copyright?Â
However I did google “education anorak” and got 8 results! In fact, one link (with a fruity description) didn’t work, thank goodness, others just had the two words adjacent, yet another was a load of nonsense. In fact the only link with the phrase used in a sentence was from Theyworkforyou.com, a website concerned with the goings-on at the Houses of Parliament.
So now I am going to set up a Facebook group for anyone, like me and my Mother-in-Law (no, seriously). People who are not afraid to say they love education & learning, who enjoy talking about it and would even go and visit other schools and (God help us) talk to other teachers about teaching! So come on. Fess up. Are you an anorak too?
Sep
19
2007
A meditation on Social Networking…
…The “Invite Friends” option has a curious effect on me. Do I invite everyone I know? Do I just click on Doug or Josie or Ewan or someone I know who might just remotely be interested in me? Or do I just lurk & draw down their feeds?
This unlocks 2 deep psychological issues. One, a fear that I won’t make any new friends (i.e. my real friends won’t become my part of my online network) and two, that the cool kids (e.g. Doug, Josie…you know who you are!) won’t want to be friends with me!
Do I need 100+ friends? Or can I get by with the dedicated 1 or 2 who poke me back on Facebook?
Anyway, if anyone does want to be my friend, you can find me at the edge of these playgrounds: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter
BTW - I’m well aware that right now, like many bloggers, I’m probably talking to myself!
Sep
05
2007
You know how its important to think outside the box in school management? Well here’s a little gem that might help school leaders in dveloping Health & safety policies!!
Incubation Times and Infectivity - Patient UK
Because you never know when you will be called upon to act as an epidemiologist - one of your many roles as a Head!
