The unfeasibly glamorous Educational Psychologist, Tanya Byron, has published the above report, “Oh, Nothing Much”, to delve into that Black Box that we know as school.  In what may be a bid to turn us all into Helicopter Parents, she is suggesting that they way to find out what is occuring at your child school is to engage in a more open dialogue.  As Professor Byron concludes:

In summary – a successful learner is a happy learner; a happy learner is one that feels capable and also supported and understood when necessary. For children this is best affected by calm, empowering and supportive communications between all those involved in their education and care, and a relaxed, warm and positive family setting where all the successes and disappointments of the day can be shared enthusiastically.

Well, fine.  But this cuts across one significant aspect of what Home-School communications ought to embody and that’s trust in teachers.  It is very important to engage in “supportive communication” with your child & their teacher/school.  But as a parent we have a responsibility to support the process of learning that is set in motion through the school environment. 

I am not certain that all parents could share disappointments “enthusiastically”.  Rather, I’d be inclined to feel that a child’s disappointments may be taken to heart and be turned into ammunition with which to criticise a well-meaning teacher who merely happens to be utilising sound classroom management techniques.  Alternatively, parents may fail to realise that disappointment and dealing with the fall-out is an element of learning to be a properly funtioning member of society.

I’m all for opening dialogue with parents; lifting the lid on the Black Box.  But please do not let the tail wag the dog.  Someone is the educational expert here, put some trust in them.  Let parents be parents and love their children and if that means taking “nothing” to mean “I did OK today, but nothing of significance happened today that I could either be blamed or praised for so I don’t really need to share it beacuse I’ve been busy for the last 7 hours, actually”, then accept it.

For now, let me just share this.

Out of school from The Headmaster on Vimeo.

As my PA & myself now constitute the marekting team at St. Joseph’s In The Park, I took myself off yesterday to a Strategic Marketing Seminar run by AMDIS.  I returned to base today full of phrases like “Key Buying Factors” and “Market Sector Segmentation” and “Blue Ocean Markets”.  Naturally, my SLT looked at me as if I was off my rocker.  But Marketing Strategy is the law of the Jungle in this day and age.  Although I’m not going to jump onto the Credit-Crunch-Is-Bad-For-Independent-Schools bandwagon, I must admit I’m looking forward to interpreting my new found knowledge of Marketing Strategy in real-life terms.

In the BBC News article by Mike Baker writes:

The latest Ipsos Mori poll for the Independent Schools Council shows that 57% of parents would leave the state system if they could afford to do so. That is the highest figure since these polls began in 1997.

However, he concludes:

Despite what some say, though, I am not convinced the poll proves a dramatic loss of public confidence in state schools.

So if this means that there is increasing interest in Independent education, we have to ensure that we capitalise on that interest.  However, I’ve discoverd as a Head that you cannot be all things to all people.  We are, as a school, what we are and our community loves us for it.  Maintaining the standards is the main thing, attracting new families to find out more about us is the next.  Play to your strengths and develop your weaknesses.

I couldn’t sell cars or houses, but selling education at a school whose product (in a marketing sense) is easy to believe in is a simple task.

Joy in child, given with the love of a parent…

I’ve begun to meet with groups of parents.  I worry about being too open, but I judge that do start a dialogue with parents, allowing them to ask questions & recieve honest responses, is something that they deserve.  I feel that, as educators, we have the children during the day and have a responsibility to lift the lid on the “black box” that is school as best we can.  In return, I know that I have an incredibly commited staff who I can trust to speak with authority.  Therefore we as a school are working on a position of strength where both teachers and parents have a common understanding. 

Obviously this is not always going to be as realistic as we would like, but it is something towards which I believe we must strive. 

…and incase I get to full of how wonderfully well MY role as head seems to have started, I have nothing but admiration for colleagues in the maintained sector and the work that they do.  My goodness it is so challenging.  We are blessed in the Independent sector and with that privilage comes enormous responsibility…

 …Friday was Friday Assembly.  Our weekly celebration of children’s achievement and since the parents are present a real opportunity to bring the community together.

So I felt as though I’ve had a full week’s work.  Compared to some, its been light & there will be rockier times ahead.  But its exciting to implement, or try to, ideas on how to bring about greater cohesion in the community.  Support staff in carrying out their duties.  Ensure the children have fulfilling experiences.  Which, lets face it, is why we are educators.

Having started this blog 3 years ago under the guise of an “Aspiring Head” at Blogger, I guess I have now aspired!  I even have my photo on the website.

On Tuesday, term started at St. Joseph’s In The Park.  I’m the Head.  The buck stops with me.  And that’s about it. 

Except I wasn’t quite anticipating just how exciting it is.  Let me say at this point, however, I am fully aware how difficult it may get in the future.  Indeed there are issues that are not pleasant to deal with right now.  Yet overall, the sense of purpose and the delightful unceratinty of what may come is thrilling.  I work with a diverse, dedicated set of people and their enthusiasm for what they do each day is clearly represented in the delightful children that leave the school each day.

Well I would say that, wouldn’t I?  But its not because of me.  I’ve only just arrived on the scene.  These are the bare facts & it would be easy to march in & destroy everything by imposing a new regime.  And that is the challenge & where the excitement originates.  It is the process of personally absorbing what makes St. Joseph’s so successful and deciding what is necessary to move it forward.    Enhancing the learning experiences of the children and ecouraging the staff to develop in a direction with which they are comfortable.

We’re starting with the cobwebs…

With the Edulblog awards fast approaching the final stage, I took a little time to peruse the nominees.  And found the link above.

I really enjoy the thought-provoking nature of the piece.  What bloggers should do!