Monday 9 July 2007

Someone asked me what makes a good school, what makes a successful school...

Successful schools are:
  • happy places;
  • healthy places;
  • safe places;
  • places which are rigorous in terms of their focus on standards, on tracking, on the powerful and intelligent use of data; and
  • places where every child matters and no child gets left behind.

To build brilliant schools we need to continue to coach, nurture and develop:

  • inspirational, passionate distributed leadership;
  • brilliant teaching by talented colleagues;
  • a coaching and nurturing culture;
  • an engaging, powerful and stimulating curriculum;
  • wonderful learning environments;
  • brilliant learning;
  • high expectations of children and colleagues;
  • positive and constructive relationships;
  • parents and carers as partners in learning.

Easy really!

Chris

2 comments:

Oaf said...

Chris

I read with interest the article about what makes a successful school.
Whilst I cannot disagree with any of your statements, I feel you have not fully grasped the impact that staff as role models can make in this situation.

All too often the youth of today are termed feckless and materialistic with little respect for their elders.
The following is a list of actions that individual schools can take to set a positive example to 'de yoof'
1. Have chaise longues installed in public places of the school and the staff room
2. Change the school uniform to plum coloured velvet smoking jackets and black pantaloons (cravats and cummerbunds optional)
3. Reduce stress among staff by administering absinthe and laudunam in the staff room
4. Expel any pupil seen to be wearing socks in any colour than black
5. Hark back to a more genteel age by using words such as 'ripping', 'spiffing' and 'By Jingo'.
6. Provide headteachers with a malacca to berate any tradesmen who do not bow and scrape appropriately.

Thoughts of Chairman Oaf

Chris Edwards said...

Hi Oaf, I still wonder who you are but after this I am even more confused. Your advice, which I welcome as always, seems much more in tune with and more appropriate for the Academy or public sector!
Chris