Reflections on leadership, governance and school operations
Recently, I've found myself reflecting on what success looks like in my role. It's not a new question. In fact, it's one I've returned to throughout much of my career. As a Chief Operating Officer, much of my work happens behind the scenes. Unlike my teaching colleagues, there isn't an obvious classroom, lesson or student …
Continue reading "The Hidden Work Behind Successful Schools"
Someone recently asked me what I think are the most important things to focus on during the first 100 days in post as secondary school SBM. Luckily for me this was only a few months ago so quite fresh in my memory and easy to recall. Although I started my role in September 2019 I …
Continue reading "The top 6 things I did in my first 100 days as a Secondary SBL"
This time last year, in June 2019, I had just interviewed for my dream job. It was that role that ticked all the boxes for me and I wanted it really badly. Of course, when I got the call saying I'd been successful I was over the moon and did a dance of joy (which …
Lockdown being imposed on us back in March 2020 was the start of a new way of working. In my previous blog I talked about how I found that my view of lockdown went through a number of phases as I adjusted to the new challenges and ways of working. I'm in phase 4 now …
Continue reading "A myriad of emotions – time for a change?"
A little something about my lockdown experience and (my perception of) how it’s going.
The last time I posted a blog piece I was celebrating getting through to February half term and being officially half way the through the year in my new role. Little did I know that things were about to take such a turn. I had a really productive half term. I spent some time making …
After starting a new role in September I can stop and reflect on making it half way through my first academic year.
I've just completed exactly six weeks in my new role as Business Director in a large South London secondary school with almost 2000 pupils on roll. The school I was in immediately prior to this was a small primary with 275 on roll. You see the difference here? I started my new role with a …
As we move into October, I'm looking back on the first month of term with a smile on my face as I realise it's been a successful month. September started with me taking up a new role. I made the move from SBM in a smallish primary school (275 on roll) to Business Director in …
There's nothing like being short-staffed to motivate me to learn new things. For the last few months I have been without my Premises Manager and boy have I learnt a lot. I was joined at my most recent premises meeting by our governor with responsibility for Health and Safety. In her report back to …
