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Headship, the best job in the world!. Context-Central Technology College
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Headship, the best job in the world! • Context-Central Technology College • All boys, small (approx 400 on roll), huge deficit budget (400K+), 51% SEN, 27% Ethnic minority, 34% EAL, 26% FSM, 5% LAC predominantly unaccompanied asylum seekers from Afghanistan, main catchment wards in bottom 15% most disadvantaged areas nationally • 2006 • Deputy Head • Jan 2006 Central becomes part of the Ninestiles Federation • 20/2/2006 –Became Acting Head
An accidental Headship • March 06-Ofsted arrive ‘Notice to improve’
_______ __ ____ _ ____ _____ __ ________ Suddenly, it didn’t feel quite so exciting….
Learning the difference between reactive and strategic • Saying ‘no’ • Default settings and understanding them • Grasping ‘nettles’ • The Sigmoid curve • The Balanced Scorecard approach
‘No’ to consultants, advisers, new strategies and schemes, initiatives etcetc
Identifying defaults and being clear about whether they help or hinder. A default is what usually happens and is what people/institutions revert to. Think about what happens in your school when; the electronic register system goes down, a broken chair is left in a corridor, a child is crying, Year 11 leave….
Grasping ‘nettles’ and having ‘those’ difficult conversations about underperformance. Establishing a culture of accountability not blame.
The Sigmoid curve! If it ain’t broke yet, it soon will be! Recognising the time for change…..usually sooner than you think!
A clear, succinct strategic plan for improvement understood and shared by all
The school improvement plan!‘Never mind the content, feel the weight of it!’
Less is more • The Balanced Scorecard
May 2007 • Ofsted return • Central is graded as ‘Good’
A very different Headship • You know you’re at Fortismere because; • The parents don’t just read The Guardian, they write for it too! • We go ‘up’ to the South and ‘down’ to the North • Our Alumnae include such national ‘treasures’ as Rod Stewart and Ray Davies • Students requested vending machines that sold ‘Sushi’ rather than sandwiches!
However the key concepts still apply • Saying ‘no’ to demands on the school which are not in line with the improvement plan • Being clear about defaults and tackling the unhelpful ones • Being clear about expectations, support available and holding people to account • Making changes before the curve reaches its peak • Keeping the BSC high in the collective consciousness
Some examples…. • BFL • Attendance • Lanyards • Focus days • Change teams • QTL team • Transition project • DFL • Urban myths! • Cashless catering • Visits to schools • Restructuring middle leadership • Vertical tutoring
And the biggest challenge of Headship? • Leading and managing change