A civilising subject

Just thinking...

Telegraph | Education | A civilising subject for teenagers

In reading around "Citizenship" (I don't particularly like the naming of this as a "subject") I have found lots of very positive examples of its value within the curriculum. This article from the Telegraph its just one of many and typifies how interested children are in finding answers to the questions they have about the world around them. It is also interesting to have a "true-blue Tory" writing so effusively about a liberal approach to education!

I believe that the Citizenship approach - I cannot, after studying Education for Sustainability for my Masters, bring myself to call Citizenship a subject, its more than that - when applied to schools, provides a great challenge for school leaders. However it is a challenge that, addressed in the right way, can only be a force for good.

Take this article for example:

It juxtaposes two concepts common in schools that are "doing" Citizenship: healthy eating and the condition of our fellow humans in other parts of the world. It is a wake-up call to read Tergat's article, particularly in light of the material well-being within our sector of education. And it reinforces just what a responsibility, I feel, school leaders have to ensure that their communities are aware of their rights and responsibilities. An effective programme of Citizenship Education across the curriculum and community would encourage pupils, staff and parents to make decisions in their lives based on an elightened and thoughtful regard for themselves and others.

As Tergat says:
"Over 100 million children do not attend school and 300 million are chronically hungry. With a collective commitment to school feeding, the international community could help to reduce these numbers quickly. Doesn't every child deserve the chance to achieve his or her dreams?"

I believe our children deserve the same opportunity to achieve their dreams. However we also have the responsibility to educate them to be aware of what they can do to be active and effective participants in their world as they grow up. It is, therefore, a school management issue. How are we to educate for future responsibility? My Year 6 classes or my 1W RE form are not simply the 6- or 11-year-olds in front of me now. They are the voting 20-somethings or parents with purchasing power in 10 or 20 years time. So these future-adults must be able to participate in an environment which instills core values of kindness, care, humility and self-confidence. Surely school management issues and not merely to be stuffed away as a subject within the curriculum?

As I said...just thinking! I wake up too early on Saturday mornings!

Further Thoughts on Leadership Qualification

As a member of NAHT I get the mailing package that contains various things to read and of course there is very little time to do that effectively. However, I caught sight of NAHT's online learning website. After a quick flick through its pages it became clear that it is a very comprehensive set of materials which stimulate thought and facilitate Continuing Professional Development. For all staff.

This seems like a very innovative package. One that may solve some issues that schools have in generating interest in CPD amongst their staff. I'm discussing with my Head a review of our policy on CPD and this may be one thing to consider. We want to ensure that all our colleagues are encouraged to take part in some form of professional development. What form this encouragement takes is something on which I would welcome some input. What is your view of CPD?

The First Application

Well I've managed it. The first application is in & I imagine a few of us may be looking at the same position. So no giving away where it is! Anyway, the experience was only a little less nerve-wracking than I thought. Actually there always seems to be a long lead-in time for many of these positions so deadlines are fairly generous.

What tied me up in knots was the purpleness of my prose! One of my friends who looked over my letter reproached me for using to much "treacle". "You floury poof" were his exact words!!! Another, looking at the same letter, thought it seemed, with some tweaking, pretty strong! Both, by the way, are Heads...So what do I do? Stay up late pouring over the minutiae with my wife the night before the deadline is what! Gosh, I married a patient woman!

So what about you? What advice have you had as far as purple-shaded prose is concerned? Have you been advised to be concise & business-like? Or has it been suggested that you write in an authoratative manner, outling your experience & philosophy as if your life depended on it?!?

I know, that by the time I finished the application that night, each time I tried to re-read it the thing sounded less & less convincing! It just had to go into the post & from there into the lap of the gods (or rather governors!).

Let us know your dilemmas (post to "Dear Aunty IAPS"!)

Schooling beyond the curriculum

BBC NEWS | Education | Schooling beyond the curriculum

Food for thought.

An article here from the BBC News online concerning the recent issues of school trips and school dinners. For me this relates to what we are as Independent Schools. With the behavioural and financial stability (by and large!) that our establishments and their families possess do we not have a greater responsibility to address the implications of developing more "active and socially aware citizens"?

As leaders in our schools we are in a very strong position to stress to our colleagues and communities the importance of embedding the values and thinking skills esential for our children as they grow and leave us to enter our increasingly pluralist society. Is this not how a Preparatory School is defined?

If you have any comments just login & click on the comment link below.

Antarctic Explorers: Ernest Shackleton

Ernest Shackleton

I hope I'm not developing a weird obsession about Shackleton. Anyway, just to keep the theme going for a bit longer the link above is to a fairly extensive online bio of the man and his explorations.

Professional Development Reading List: Number 1

Shackleton's Way: Leadership Lessons from the Great Antarctic Explorer

Thought this might tickle you! Remember that this book was mentioned by Andy Duff? Well, in keeping with the spirit of this weblog I felt we all might welcome the chance to purchase the above tome. The links will take you to Amazon (where else?).

I must say that discussion at Tewkesbury piqued my interest and, not wishing to be a johnny-come-lately, I all also purchased a copy of "Edurance" by Alfred Lansing to fill in the gaps (or rather cavernous expanses!) in my personal knowledge of British Antarctic exploration in the early 20th century! You never know, it may come in useful during a lull in an interview.

Get Blogging!

Thanks to everyone who has joined in this weblog so far. Have a go at writing something, even if its to say hello & let us know how you're getting on.

Independent Schools Inspectorate

So. It was discussed at our weekend. Everyone knows one (or more, probably!). But is it the way forward in our professional development?

Becoming an ISI inspector seems to be, if not a step, then at least a landing on the stairway to headship! It would be of enormous interest if those of you that have been through the process could share your experiences on our weblog.

Does the process enrich your practice as an educator?
Does it alter or clarify your personal vision of school management?
Can it be worthwhile or is it better to spend your time & money on other ways of training for management?

Don't be shy, share!

Blogging and NPQH

I'm a complete blogging virgin, so this is my first posting. Thanks, Neil, for setting this up.
The feel of the thing is very similar to my on line NPQH work, where a huge amount of the course is done on the web. The whole ncsl site is packed with stuff and, as those on NPQH will I'm sure agree, most of it is excellent. (www.ncsl.org.uk). During the course one is expected to post a lot of information on the site and it's really helpful to know that you can post a question or a cry for help and know that it will be answered.
In my previous incarnation as a Head of IT, I used the satips email list a lot. If you haven't been to satips.com I suggest that you take a look. The more that use it, the better will get.
Let's hope that this blog will prove to be just as useful if not more so.

The Crest of a Wave

BBC NEWS | Education | Academics give lessons on blogs

This link reinforces the importance and potential of weblogs in education. Blogs are not the preserve of those who have too much to say. They are a way of getting our students to start talking!

Let us know what you think.

BETT Show 2005

A quick note live from the BETT show at London's Olympia. You see the wonderful thing about weblogging is that you can do it from any web browser anywhere!

The show is, as usual, a cornucopia of ICT solutions for schools for "toys" for every situation from managing dinner money to report writing! Its all far too bewildering an array of material!

Any way to give myself focus I have come to look specifically at Report Writing Software. When these pages finally become general knowledge amonst us I would be very interested to find out what format the rest of us use when writing reports. How many are electronic? How many handwritten?

At Berkhamsted we are slowly moving towards the typed report, hence the interest in software to help us. Has anyone got strong views (or any view, for that matter) about how they feel report writing should be carried out?

Neil

Aspiring Heads 2005

Welcome to the weblog for the 2005 Aspiring Heads Conference. After the conference it became very clear that a lot of us would like to keep in touch and the weblog would be an excellent way to do that.

If you are not familiar with weblogging and its potential then first have a look at this link. Posting to the weblog is just like using MS Word but you are using it in the browser & publishing live on the web!

If you have any other questions then just send me an email.

All the best & happy blogging!

Neil