Something has been bothering me recently about the messages coming out from Ofsted about the new inspection framework. I think the source of my concern is something to do with the external standard schools are being measured against. An expected standard is an attempt to set criteria against which an estimate of quality can be … Continue reading Ofsted: The Lion that Mewed
Self(ish) Improvement
What if our primary demand of teachers was that they improve the school, not improve themselves? Our obsession with teacher-effectiveness means that the responsibility for school improvement is often placed on the shoulders of teachers. Only this morning, a high profile head teacher has illustrated this point by proclaiming that a condition of working in … Continue reading Self(ish) Improvement
Do we need clever leaders? (pt3)
In the lead up to my session at ResearchED Rugby on 15th June, I am serialising a chapter from my upcoming book on school leadership. If you want to find out more, come along. In Part 2 of this series of posts, I considered how intelligent we need our leaders to be. The conclusion was … Continue reading Do we need clever leaders? (pt3)
Do we need clever leaders? (pt2)
In the lead up to my session at ResearchED Rugby on 15th June, I am serialising a chapter from my upcoming book on school leadership. If you want to find out more, come along. In Part 1 of this series of posts, I considered how intelligent we want our leaders to be. The conclusion was … Continue reading Do we need clever leaders? (pt2)
Do we need clever leaders? (pt1)
In the lead up to my session at ResearchED Rugby on 15th June, I am serialising a chapter from my upcoming book on school leadership. If you want to find out more, come along. Part 1: Do we want our leaders to be clever? “Who's the more foolish, the fool, or the fool who follows … Continue reading Do we need clever leaders? (pt1)
When first we seek to control
Generic management practices run rife in many schools, and we’re beginning to wake up to how pervasive and damaging they can be. Flight paths appear to be the latest target for disdain. I’m all for rooting out the rot. However, we also need to understand how the rot set in, else it will happen again, … Continue reading When first we seek to control
The Substance Project
Some encounters I've had recently have made me realise that some of the stuff I write actually gets read, and has even been well received. It is a funny thing. Blogging is often like launching one of those spacecraft out in to the universe, never to return, hoping that some alien race will intercept it … Continue reading The Substance Project
I think and I know things
In Episode 2, Season 6 of Game of Thrones, my favourite character, Tyrion Lannister, utters his greatest line. The moment is thus: Tyrion Lannister: Dragons do not do well in captivity. Missandei: How do you know this? Tyrion Lannister: That's what I do. I drink and I know things. A version of this quote occurs … Continue reading I think and I know things
Winterland
As I write, I am on my way back from the Lake District with a group of colleagues from my school. We spent our weekend walking in the mountains. It was cold, boggy, very windy and altogether wonderful. I find human company taxing at times. I am not prone to make friends at work (or … Continue reading Winterland
Is there a place for the profit motive in state schools?
I had a brief period in my career when I used to speak at lots of conferences and events. It was the era of specialist schools and of sufficient funding, and there was a real buzz around sharing innovative practice (if you're too young too remember then trust me, it really was like this for … Continue reading Is there a place for the profit motive in state schools?
Matthew Evans 