You sure you want this job?

As we approach the 1st anniversary of our Aspiring Heads weblog, a salutary reminder of what we're letting ourselves in for!

Google Fight : Ted Wragg VS Chris Woodhead

A little festive fun.

Try a google fight: pit two opposing subjects (animate or inanimate) against each other and let them fight it out as to who has the most references on google! Total nonsense, of course!

Try these for a start...

This first one's not for the squeamish
Ted Wragg v. Chris Woodhead

This one got me worried
Tony Blair v. David Cameron

And then...
Ruth Kelly v. Andrew Adonis

EducationGuardian.co.uk | Schools special reports | Top 50 independent schools found guilty of price-fixing to push up fees

Well, the judgement is in!

Worth having a read, if you've only been following this story intermittently. The BBC, also have a report as well as a further article on refunds of fees. This article puts the ISC's view in this way:

The body, which represents 1,000 public schools, said there was evidence that sharing information kept fees down rather than inflating them.

Its general secretary, Jonathan Shephard, said: "Schools have no motive to raise more money than they need.

"Any money raised from fees has to be spent on the children and the schools so any extra money might be spent on better food or another brick for the gym."

From our point of view I feel that this is yet another aspect of our "image" that we will have challenged in years to come. Best to prepare your defence now!

BBC NEWS | Education | Education champion Ted Wragg dies

Sad news. An inspirng educator who made you feel proud to be a part of our profession. No matter which sector you teach in Ted Wragg makes you want to do the best that you can for the children in your care. He was a true champion of both children and those comitted to teaching them.

EducationGuardian.co.uk | News crumb | Mixed-ability classes just as effective, study finds

EducationGuardian.co.uk | News crumb | Mixed-ability classes just as effective, study finds

EducationGuardian.co.uk | TEFL | Organic learning

I know its all about TEFL, but it is very stimulating when placed in the context of what could be in our English classrooms.
EducationGuardian.co.uk | TEFL | Organic learning

EducationGuardian.co.uk | Schools special reports | It's different for boys

EducationGuardian.co.uk | Schools special reports | It's different for boys

Self-esteem is the key, I believe, to unlocking achievement in boys.

AskPhilosophers

Finally! literally the answer to everything!

EducationGuardian.co.uk | Schools | Parents in charge of schools will opt for social selection

EducationGuardian.co.uk | Schools | Parents in charge of schools will opt for social selection

Simon Jenkins' article points to the potential pitfalls in the government's White Paper. Perhaps, after all, Independent Schools ned not fear any form of competition.

EducationGuardian.co.uk | Schools special reports | Private firms poised to run state schools after reform

The Wolves are at the door!

The ink is not even dry on the White Paper. Already they are lining up to put the government's plans in motion.

EducationGuardian.co.uk | Schools special reports | Lib Dems get discipline ideas from Harry Potter

In an irregular feature on this weblog entitled "I told you so!" I offer for your perusal the above article click on the title to go to the article).

Ed Davey, Lib Dem spokesman on education says:

"Smaller class sizes, a more engaging curriculum and better pastoral care were also vital to improving behaviour."

So we are doing something right!

Revealed: the preps trailing state rivals - Sunday Times - Times Online

In case you haven't seen this, here is a link to the Sunday Times "piece" on Independent Schools' KS2 SATs results. IAPS schools have had the KS2 results "uncovered" from the past 3 years through the freedom of information act.

So what do you think? Should we be ranked on academic performance? Would this be of benefit to prospective parents? Do you agree with Jonathon Brough?

The league is headed by City of London school for girls, where fees are £10,584 a year. Jonathan Brough, head of its preparatory department, was proud of his school’s performance. “We are not a hothouse. I wouldn’t sacrifice the happiness of the children to get that position,” he said. “We are giving a well-rounded education and we don’t teach to test.”

What does this mean for the future of the National Curriculum in Independent Schools? Are we to be hauled up in the Sunday Times each year to be compared to our colleagues in the maintained sector? Doesn't that miss the point of what an Independent school is, regardless of the curriculum you apply or tests you take?

As John Morris says in the article: “Our members do not regard these tests as an objective measure of the value of schools or an appropriate measure of the achievement of children. League tables based on such figures are facile.”

What do you think?

Wet combing best to rid head lice

Thought I might kick the new school year off with something that I'm sure you all must have read while on you hols! As you know this weblog contians information crucial for all aspiring heads regardless of infestation...

BBC NEWS | Health | Wet combing best to rid head lice

Today-in-History PAGE of SCOPE SYSTEMS.

A rather nifty little site for those of us who like a bit of trivia:

Today-in-History: July 5th

Obviously apart from the British feeling rather disappointed with last night's performance
- a rather arrogant and misguided leadership, they'd spent piles of cash on the best prepared team ever to leave these shores to do battle against a buch of colonials (no, not the Lions!). You'd be surprised at waht you might find...

Crumbs! It must be the end of term!

Parents 'ruining school sports day'

Well I'll be...

Parents 'ruining school sports day'

Who'd have thought it? Typical independent school mentality! Tut! Tut! We ought to be ashamed!

Clive Astler, Editor of Country Life: "Nowadays, some parents have a highly
competitive attitude to life and are neurotic about their children succeeding at
everything they attempt. It is spoiling the whole thing."

Based on this statement I would like to ask you all the following question:

Would we have won the battle of Waterloo if they'd banned the parents' race from the playing fields of Eton in 1805?

Answers on the usual postage stamp, please...

Steiner schools 'could help all'

How long will it take for the world to catch up?

On the semi-recurrent theme of "Independent Means Independent" I heard an item on the radio, of which this is the BBC News article:

BBC NEWS UK Education Steiner schools 'could help all'

It is heartening to realise, even with the constraints of our schools as a business enterprise, that our colleagues within the diverse world of Independent schools can continue to work for positive change, influencing mainstream views of education.

Good on you Rudolf!

Skype - The whole world can talk for free.

Skype

As a committed 21st century online technology lover I have to stay true to the altruistic philosophy of weblogging and share some amazing technologies. You may have been reading about some of these, in particular Skype. This is a way of making "phone" calls to computers or even to "traditional" phone lines or mobiles. Just read the site & I'm certain that you'd be intrigued enough to give it a try. I'm going to play around with it - so if any one would like to experiment also, just drop a comment on the blog & let me know.

The other "killer application" to emerge is the phenomenon of Podcasting. If you are not aware, this is a method of listening to a wide range of "radio" programmes. Except its not radio, its a way of downloading mp3 (digital audio) files on to your computer and/or iPod - hence the term. What this means is that you can listen to any podcasting broadcaster anytime you want. Yes, this means never having to listen to Terry Wogan in the morning again! No, you can listen to him any time, day or night! Although I don't actually think Tel & the BBC are quite there with podcasting yet, although they are not far off! Why is this worth mentioning. Well, imagine being able to broadcast school news to your community, the children running there own radio station with bulletins about activities, sports, late braking news (cricket club cancelled, etc.), even performances by the school choir! Try this link to Willowcast as an example. Its a 4th & 5th Grade podcast from the US. I personally think it is very, very cool. Getting our pupils to speak to the world? Amazing! It is vey new but seems to have taken off at one heck of a rate. As with skype, if anyone wants to experiment just drop me a line.

Here are some links worth a visit:

Educational Podcast Directory

Podcasting Software

Lessons in good manners

As we all know, we're at least 20 years behind the Americans...

BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Lessons in good manners

What Is He Up To Now?

Hmmm...

A weekly trawl through the Headlines brings this up...

Woodhead Accused of Poaching Pupils For Private Schools

...How is this going to affect people's opinion of the Independent sector?

Then I read this:

He courted controversy two weeks ago when he suggested private schools should refuse to work with struggling state secondary schools. Partnerships between the two sectors were just "propping up a failed system which should be left to fail", he added.

Now, I recall the articles about these comments and I cannot help but think that this attitude is destroying any kind of opportunity for mutual understanding and sharing of knowledge between the two sectors.

Cognita Schools

Who's In Charge?

Just a little piece to think about...

BBC NEWS | Education | Parents' revolt at private school

We all know the realtionships that exist between Heads, parents & governing bodies. A dynamic "tension" that ought to have the best interests of the community at heart. But the question that, to me, arises from this piece is: who knows what's best for the school? Because one can cite cases where the parents would not be so ready to support a Head if they were not happy with the school.

Answers on a postage stamp please...(and if you are a governor feel free to support your head!)