It was during a conversation this afternoon about how leaders communicate with colleagues that I used a completely throwaway remark about “pinging” and listening.
What I meant by this was that we need to engage with our colleagues if we are to really understand the impact that our strategies are having.
However, on saying the words the [...]
Read Full Post »
We’re holding our first Depute Head Teacher’s Conference on Tuesday at the Marine Hotel, North Berwick.
The theme of the conference is Entrepreneurial Leadership. 27 Deputes will be in attendance.
I’m opening the conference, followed by Paul Raffaelli giving his perspective on Leadership in East Lothian.
Ewan MacIntosh will then present an on-line video presentation on an alternative [...]
Read Full Post »
A week since my last post. It’s just that time of year.
Appointment panels, report writing, presentation preparation, e-mails, Integrated Children’s Services Plan and meetings — lots of meetings.
We held our last Head Teachers’ conference of the year today and it proved to be well received - although I think we pushed it a bit in [...]
Read Full Post »
It was just an innocent question but it triggered a fascinating and very productive discussion this morning.
The questioner had been Dee Torrance who had invited me to speak to the most recent cohort of SQH candidates at Peebles Hydro Hotel. As well enjoyed a cup of coffee after the session she popped the question:
“So what [...]
Read Full Post »
Visiting schools and speaking to Head Teachers is one of the pleasures of my job.
This morning I met with Patricia McCall, HT Campie Primary School. Patricia gave me a great insight into her own perspective on leadership by referring to one of her great interests - Antarctic Exploration.
Her hero is Roald Amunden, the first person to reach the [...]
Read Full Post »
This one of the questions that fascinates me about the world of work - particularly when people take up leadership roles - although it can happen in any role or working environment.
I reckon if you ask most people who have taken up leadership positions in education whether or not they have changed as a consequence of the job they [...]
Read Full Post »
Diplomatic - skilled at dealing with sensitive matters or people
I spoke to two head teachers today about how they deal with potentially difficult situations with parents. It was interesting that they both almost used exactly the same words: “If you feel you need to “win” you’ve actually lost” Their point was that we need to [...]
Read Full Post »
Following our meeting this afternoon with AHDS I had a thought about the relationship between leadership and management.
The current emphasis is - quite rightly - upon leadership. However, it is apparent that some headteacher’s ability to lead is severely compromised by workload issues that might be reduced by the development of systems which would enable them [...]
Read Full Post »
Posted in Head Teachers on Jan 22nd, 2007 2 Comments »
We met representatives from the “Association of Headteachers and Deputes Scotland” this afternoon to consider issues relating to Headteacher workload.
We identified a number of things that we might look at to reduce workload and stress.
These included:
1. Trying to avoid certain times of years for additional requests for information which clash with times whenthe school is [...]
Read Full Post »
I met recently with the representatives of the Association of Headteachers and Deputes Scotland (AHDS)
The association is concerned about the development planning process:
“Unfortunately, the reality for many
headteachers and staff is that Development Planning has been reduced to a mechanistic tick-box exercise which fails to address genuine needs of the school.”
I’m sympathetic to this concern although our [...]
Read Full Post »
