Our chosen career is tiring. It can be filled with pointless tasks (updating a scheme of work?) that can seem to have no relevance to the classroom experience. But I have heard colleagues (and teachers more widely) talk about work/ life balance. I used to think it was a laudable aim. Not any more. ForgetContinue reading "Work/ Life Balance Is An Illusion"
Three Ways To Create Respect In Schools
Respect is foundational for schools. It’s something I’ve heard my colleagues and senior leaders around me talk about freqently. Although…as I think about it…I’ve heard more colleagues mentioning how rude an individual pupil was in their lesson. Or how rude a member of senior management was when they asked for something. Is it respectful toContinue reading "Three Ways To Create Respect In Schools"
How To Think ‘Whole-School’
Schools are unique institutions. As if you didn’t know. They run on teachers’ teamwork, goodwill, collaboration, understanding, commitment, energy…etc. etc. insert cliche It’s possible to work in school with young people facing seriously challenging circumstances (I mean like…abusive homes, poverty, social deprivation…the whole thing) and as a teacher feel utterly fulfilled and inspired. It’s also possibleContinue reading "How To Think ‘Whole-School’"
Why improving weaknesses is a waste of energy
Your approach to developing middle leaders in school is focused on the wrong thing. Just because a particular leadership tactic or classroom management technique worked for you – doesn’t mean it will work for every teacher. No – I’m not saying there aren’t valid techniques and tactics. I’m saying that focusing on improving weaknesses isContinue reading "Why improving weaknesses is a waste of energy"
Before You Take Your Idea To Senior Leadership…You Need These Three Things
Demonstrating leadership in school (and probably in any other organisation) has got little to do with position. Consider that the senior leadership team in your school are desperate for ideas to move the school forward. At least – any decent leadership team would welcome ideas. But not just any old idea. It needs to be a proposal.Continue reading "Before You Take Your Idea To Senior Leadership…You Need These Three Things"
How can a school’s culture change on purpose?
Headteachers and Senior Leadership Teams in schools across the country are full of committed, talented people. They want to make great things happen for their pupils. Even if they are inspiring and visionary, without a receptive culture, the best ideas will fail to take root with no lasting change. Culture overrides strategy – but culture canContinue reading "How can a school’s culture change on purpose?"
How to always be ready for appraisals (in schools)
Teaching has become corporate... …perhaps it’s the creation of academies; maybe private schools feeling they have to separate themselves; possibly the (relentless) scrutiny state schools experience… Whatever it is, Human Resources (HR) is now its own function in schools. I’m not sure it used to be. Along with HR establishing itself, so has the appraisalContinue reading "How to always be ready for appraisals (in schools)"
‘Take an interest, not the register’
Being a form tutor is an underrated role in a school. ‘The tutor is the glue that holds together the academic and the pastoral.’ I made that up this week because it articulates an intuition I always knew. The challenge of being a tutor includes conundrums such as: How do I build a relationship withContinue reading "‘Take an interest, not the register’"
Is being a teacher taking over your life?
Teaching is a profession that can become all-consuming. Which is fine if you’re ok with that. This post is different. As a teacher, perhaps you’ve had experiences where you: …have so much to do (lesson planning, marking, replying to emails, responding to parents) that you just don’t know where to start …feel your stress levels riseContinue reading "Is being a teacher taking over your life?"
Are your lesson objectives about your teaching or their learning?
When I started teaching my attention was all on me and what I was doing. Understandably I was nervous. It would start before I even got in the classroom. From crafting elegant, amazing PowerPoints through to setting intricate timings for activities. As I improved my lesson planning, I came to rely on well-written lesson objectives.Continue reading "Are your lesson objectives about your teaching or their learning?"
James D'Souza 