I have been a teacher for 30 years, a Headteacher for 15 years and, at the age of 54, this much I know about helping students avoid making nonsensical interpretations of poems. One of the most frustrating misconceptions I hear from English Literature students goes something like this: “I can…
I have been a teacher for 30 years, a Headteacher for 15 years and, at the age of 54, this much I know about what I am doing to make my Alastair Campbell jam jar taller. To say I know Alastair Campbell would be an exaggeration. I have met him…
I have been a teacher for 30 years, a Headteacher for 15 years and, at the age of 54, this much I know about witnessing all the vulnerabilities of our health service up close, first-hand. It began with a tick bite. I never gave it much thought; insect bites are,…
I have been a teacher for 30 years, a Headteacher for 15 years and, at the age of 54, this much I know about why OFSTED should stop making 1-4 judgements of schools. Cartoon by Stan Dupp "Schools with good judgements can be brave and develop their curriculum in…
I have been a teacher for 30 years, a Headteacher for 15 years and, at the age of 54, this much I know about how to model the answer to an AQA English Language Paper Two, Question 5, 40 marker. I know I bang on about modelling the thinking-writing-thinking-writing process,…
I have been a teacher for 30 years, a Headteacher for 15 years and, at the age of 54, this much I know about how our school’s values underpin how we all behave. It is hard to find a colleague head teacher who does not think that student behaviour…
I have been a teacher for 30 years, a Headteacher for 15 years and, at the age of 54, this much I know about how the budget squeeze is forcing school leaders to gamble. First, some key data. When I began at Huntington School as head teacher in September 2007…
I have been a teacher for 30 years, a Headteacher for 15 years and, at the age of 54, this much I know about how we own, we shape and we celebrate our curriculum. My friend and collaborator, Tom Sherrington, recently said this of a school’s curriculum: “Your curriculum…