LeadingLearner

Ofsted – Shorter, More Frequent

I’m not totally sure how I feel about the latest announcements from Sir Michael Wilshaw about the future direction of Ofsted. I resisted the urge to blog about it at the weekend as I’m all Ofsteded out and I think many other people are to. However, the Ofsted theme and flavour of the month (though it might only be a week or a day before another change) is less but more frequent so here’s a little bloglet.

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#SOLO 7th Heaven

I’ve always really enjoyed using graphic organisers in the classroom or as a personal planning tool.  Now I often use them when delivering professional development to staff.  They help people organise their thoughts and make their thinking very visible with just a glance over their shoulder.  The very best of them scaffold students learning from the necessary shallow factual learning towards deeper conceptual learning. Continue reading →

Leading In Challenging Times

The current pace of change has become exponential and shows little sign of change.  The amount of statute, guidance and changes to policy and practice has never been greater.  Each weekend another initiative is released, usually via the Sunday press, and this frenetic way of working is often mirrored in schools.  Leading a school and leading in a school, at a senior or middle leader level, in these challenging times is demanding.  It has moments of both great joy and great stress, sometimes all within the blink of an eye. Continue reading →