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 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…

Good to hear from you Pete & I do owe you an email although, in this job I am fully utilising my 7,000 word daily allowance of words for males, especially as many of the words have several syllables and are hard to understand even though I say them!

Note: women have 21,000 words (allegedly) and since 2/3 of my staff are women I do have to have to go into semantic overdraft on a daily basis.
I agree with you about the importance of measuring change & I am equally curious to discover just how the school, under my headship, is progressing.  However, it is a delicate balancing act and to many yardsticks and too many new initiatives will get in the way of actually letting change happen.  I know, against my natural inclination, I have not started with all guns blazing.  As I said to Robin: Take a deep breath & a step back.  The people who are going to enact change are the staff & to make change acceptable and achievable the direction of change has to be familiar and recognisable by them.  At least at the start, as the teams get used to the idea of change.  At the moment I am concentrating on upskilling, training and professional development opportunities.  These are the tools that we will all need to approach change in the future.  To paraphrase Diana Ross, as covered by Phil Collins, “You Can’t Hurry Change”!

If you want to play with some exciting tools have a look at this collection of bookmarks:

http://del.icio.us/neil_jones68/web2.0

In fact the del.icio.us website is interesting as a place to store bookmarks.  Also digg, stumbleupon & reddit.  You may also want to try netvibes, igoogle & facebook (don’t be afraid!).

Anyhow, I now know I’ve got enough to publish on my blog, thanks!

How far will XU get?  Final 4?  Does anyone actually watch basketball anymore?  Isn’t it like Ice Hockey?

How are the Bearcats football team shaping up for the new season?

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.

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.

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.

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…