Category: Uncategorized
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Leading data conversations with compassion and clarity
A personal reflection I still remember the first time I led a pupil progress meeting as a new headteacher. I had spreadsheets, graphs, and color-coded charts ready to go. What I didn’t have, however, was a plan for the silence that followed when I showed those numbers. The teachers weren’t seeing data — they were…
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Beyond Academics: Let’s Build Mentally Healthy Schools in 2026!
It’s the start of the new year and you’re thinking – how can I getthrough this year and achieve the best possible outcomes for my pupils andstaff? While academic achievement is a cornerstone of our work, there’s aneven deeper current flowing beneath it that’s absolutely vital: mental health.It’s the silent force that can either empower…
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Building strong foundations: the importance of quality phonics and early reading in primary schools
Since the start of my teaching career, I’ve spent most of my time in Early Years and Key Stage 1. It’s fair to say that much of my day — and sometimes even my dreams revolves around phonics! Many education professionals still view phonics as an EYFS or KS1 skill, but increasingly, both the reading…
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Why attendance matters more than ever in schools
For too long, attendance has been a growing concern not just for school offices or senior leadership teams, but for the entire school community. We all know that regular attendance plays a crucial role in children’s learning, safeguarding and overall development. It’s no surprise that attendance — and particularly term-time holidays — remains a frequent…
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Beyond the Try Line: what women’s rugby and the Red Roses teach us about teamwork and trust
It has been an amazing few weeks enjoying watching women’s rugby taking centre stage. I have enjoyed travelling up and down the country from Sunderland, to Northampton, to Brighton, to Bristol and finally to Twickenham, London to follow the incredible Red Roses. In sporting terms their journey has been fairly smooth, they have dominated the…
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Infallibility fallacy and self-correcting mechanisms in school leadership
Well done to everyone for navigating the last week of summer terrors, training days and the mammoth piles of pre-term prep. The relaxing summer will be far behind in the rear-view mirror by now. For me, the summer also brings the chance to read something a little more demanding. This year, I chose Yuval Noah…
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A Retirement Tale
Time to Go – And Yes, Apparently I’m Now “Legacy Tech” A wise and much-loved colleague once told me that every teacher has an innovation that signals it’s time to hang up the lanyard. I asked him, on the cusp of retirement, what finally tipped him over the edge. He smiled and said: “Interactive Whiteboard.” Not…
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Leadership Lessons from Lego
I have been a fan of Lego from the age of six when my parents bought me a second-hand London Bus model from the village jumble sale. It was the best present ever and I was gripped for life. Now I am 55, I have the means to indulge my hobby/habit/obsession again. My dream set……
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Good, bad or ugly?
What do you think of the new Ofsted proposals? This afternoon, on behalf of Antwis Collaborative, I attended an online webinar with Ofsted where they explained how they were improving the way Ofsted inspects education. I am writing this blog to share information and prompt school leaders to respond to the consultation. There is change…
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Leadership Lessons from Mrs Armitage’s Bike
When I was young, I loved the books of Roald Dahl. The absurdity and silliness kept me enthralled. I also loved the illustrations by Quentin Blake that brought the books to life and accentuated the silliness, so much so that I naturally drifted to his stories too. As a parent, they were my “go to”…
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