https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk2024-12-09 09:09:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/beyond-belief-a-refreshing-dimension-to-the-accountability-debateBeyond Belief is the new book brought to you by the team behind Headrest. It offers a refreshing dimension to the accountability debate with insights from over 30 contributors.2024-06-16 08:00:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/huh-leadership-lobby-why-coaching-1Insight plays a key role in our professional learning and growth. We need to try and find time to think deeply about stuff. Here we explain why, and how the Huh Academy Leadership Course might help.2023-12-08 08:04:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/why-ofsted-are-no-longer-fit-for-purpose-1Ofsted is in major need of reform. The time has come for systemic root and branch change. The solution can be found in the recent publication of the Knight Review, an enquiry into the future of inspection. In this post, we summarise the key recommendations.2023-06-07 08:57:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/be-more-self-the-ultimate-leadership-paradoxThe following research article is from Issue 17 (Spring 2023) of Impact, the Journal of the Chartered College of Teaching. The theme was 'Teacher effectiveness and teacher development', Here, Andrew Morrish suggests that authentic leadership is the ultimate leadership paradox.2023-05-03 09:59:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/the-importance-of-good-school-cultureThe following article is from the popular series 'From the Pen Of...' in which an author talks about their latest book. Here, I explain why I wrote The Authentic Leader and how it might hope schools leaders build a really great culture.2023-02-09 09:07:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/huh-leadership-lobby-why-coachingThe Huh Leadership Lobby is a blended leadership CPD package with Mary Myatt and Andrew Morrish, drawing on the latest research, books and thinking from across the sector. Here, we tell you more about it, the coaching options especially.2023-01-23 16:30:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/why-we-need-to-evolve-at-building-belongingInteresting new research has recently been published on 'belongingness' and 'organisational identification'. It's important to know about it because workplace cultures and practices are evolving as schools adapt to new ways of working. In this post, we take a look.2022-11-17 17:30:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/forget-strategy-focus-on-thingsSometimes at work, we don't spend enough time thinking deeply about the really important things, such as what we believe in and the things that matter most right now. We should though, for it is here that purposeful change beings.2022-09-22 14:59:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/the-3-habits-of-an-authentic-leaderAndrew Morrish shares an exclusive extract from his new book, The Authentic Leader: A four-part to lead your school to success. Published by Bloomsbury on 13th October 2022.2022-06-28 09:36:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/the-pressure-equation-making-it-work-for-youIn this post, Andrew Morrish shares a brief extract from his new book, The Authentic Leader, on the Power of Pressure.2022-05-09 12:13:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/time-to-actAn open letter to Education Secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, urging him to act. His legacy lies not so much in his ability to fund schools, but in convincing his government to address the spiraling cost-of-living crisis. He must act now.2022-03-04 10:24:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/new-book-the-authentic-leaderLater this year my new book from Bloomsbury is published. It's called The Authentic Leader and will help you take back control of your agenda so that your core purpose drives all that you do.2022-02-11 12:22:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/the-emotionally-intelligent-teacherIn this post, Andrew Morrish reviews The Emotionally Intelligent Leader, the new book by Niomi Clyde-Roberts. It's a must-read for all new teachers and aspiring leaders.2021-10-31 14:40:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/why-ofsted-are-no-longer-fit-for-purposeThe current Ofsted inspection framework is no longer fit-for-purpose and should be legally challenged. Schools should not be judged. In this post, we explain why.2021-10-06 15:54:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/appraisal-5-ways-to-make-it-more-meaningfulAppraisal is not all about measuring everything that you do. It's more nuanced than that. It's about professional growth and development. Here are five ways how.2021-07-16 08:49:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/focus-on-the-important-stuffAs headteachers, we must learn to focus only on the important stuff. In this post, we suggest that nothing is more important than trust. The public also agree and as a profession we should be proud of all that we have achieved.2021-04-23 14:11:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/through-different-doors-go-gently-and-kindlyIn September 2021 we launch Different Doors, our Trauma-Informed Leadership Programme. Led by consultant headteacher Siobhan Collingwood, Different Doors puts mental health and wellbeing at the heart of all that you do. In this post Siobhan makes the case for why the old ways no longer open new doors and that schools need to be ready to be better.2021-02-12 11:38:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/five-things-all-the-best-leaders-are-doingOne of the privileges of working closely with headteachers this term has been to see close up how determined they are when it comes to doing the right things. Here are five.2021-02-02 19:30:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/how-four-students-made-a-stand-sitting-downSixty-one years ago, this week, four young men walked into a store in the United States and changed the course of history. They had decided to stand up for what was right, by sitting down. It was a defining moment in the struggle for social justice and civil rights.2020-12-16 17:01:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/a-new-hopeTrust, motivation, and hope are all key ingredients of a successful culture if schools are going to continue to rise to the challenges of Covid. In this, our final post of 2020, I explain why.2020-12-03 15:22:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/drop-the-anchorSometimes its good to stand still. Especially at the moment with all the chaos that is going on. In this post, we encourage school leaders to have the confidence to drop the anchor in order to take stock.2020-09-04 14:12:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/how-to-grow-your-school-s-culturePart-tribute to Sir Ken Robinson, and part-reflective, in this post we consider the answer to the question 'How do you grow a school's culture?'2020-07-01 16:52:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/emerging-from-the-crisis-4-challenges-for-school-leadersDespite the emerging impact of coronavirus, CEOs have continued to model to the world how to lead in a crisis. As schools re-open, there are a number of challenges CEOs need to face. This post suggests four.2020-06-17 10:22:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/why-schools-need-to-become-the-champions-for-changeWith child poverty at record highs, if schools really are serious about transforming the life chances of young people then they need to unlock social capital. In this blog, we unpack the different types of ‘capital’ and the challenges schools face.2020-06-08 10:51:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/ubuntu-i-am-because-we-areUbuntu means 'humanity' in Xhosa, something the world so desperately needs following the tragic death of George Floyd. Here we meet, Makana, a real-life Xhosa leader who inspired many others to stand up against apartheid. His legend lives on in the fight against racism.2020-05-31 10:00:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/crossing-the-unknown-seaThere is little doubt that we are living and leading in extraordinary times. As the title of this post suggests, it may feel as if we are crossing the unknown sea. As schools re-open following the lockdown, this post encourages brave leaders to stick to their beliefs and do the right thing.2020-05-09 12:42:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/the-story-behind-makana-the-legendThe real-life story of Makana (pronounced McCarner) spans several hundred years. Its impact on world history and the freedom of a nation is immeasurable. Meaning ‘gift’ in Swahili, Makana’s legacy to the world is one that must never be forgotten.2019-03-22 20:47:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/vision-values-and-culture-the-golden-threadTaken from a session at the 2019 ASCL National conference at the ICC in Birmingham, in this post I attempt to identify the golden thread that runs throughout ‘connected leadership’, the theme of the conference.2019-02-27 20:56:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/ofsted-and-the-arts-glass-half-full-or-emptyEarlier this month I was invited to attend a consultation session with Sean Harford, Ofsted’s Director of Education, on behalf of Arts Council England. In this post I explain why – for now – I’m prepared to give Ofsted the benefit of the doubt.2019-01-20 23:32:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/pin-the-tail-on-the-donkeyIt has been a long time coming, and finally this week we got to see what the deal was. It will be discussed, debated and consulted on in the coming months before they finally deliver the will of the people later this year.2018-12-20 21:16:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/it-all-comes-down-to-trustAs teachers up and down the country are bracing themselves for the inevitable bout of ‘flu that will take hold the minute they wake up on Saturday morning, let’s celebrate the fact that 2018 has been another cracking year.2018-12-06 21:20:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/chasing-the-wrong-aceThis year, the annual SSAT national conference has a timely and uplifting theme: Pure imagination. Taking place over two days at the ICC in Birmingham, I was delighted to be invited to kick off the conference with a nine-minute talk. This is what I said:2018-11-11 11:00:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/sgt-no-5022-a-true-war-horse-storyAs birthdays go, it was probably no different to the previous few. It began at sunrise with a mug of muddy coffee or beef tea, perhaps even a biscuit. The day would be spent in the company of friends, many of whom he’d gotten to know exceptionally well. And then of course, there were the war horses, all of whom were under his guard as a soldier serving in the Army Veterinary Corps. (74th Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery, ‘B’ Battery, to be precise.)2018-10-26 21:27:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/a-girl-like-daisyToday is a sad day. One of our children will get told this afternoon by a social worker that she’s being moved away to a new foster carer.2018-09-10 21:30:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/why-it-s-time-to-grasp-the-nettleFollowing the publication of the recent Public Accounts Committee findings, Amanda Spielman finds she suddenly has an awful lot to do. And it might just sting.2018-07-10 21:34:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/what-gareth-southgate-can-teach-us-about-leadingIf the World Cup is not your thing, then look away now. But if you have a passing interest in leadership and how the manager of England can teach us a thing or two about the art, then read on.2018-06-27 15:38:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/tribes-chimps-and-troopsBeing a leader can sometimes be a lonely job. When you think about it though, it really ought not to be. Nobody leads in isolation, on their own or in a team of one. We all operate within the world of leadership teams, governing bodies, sub-committees and the like.2018-05-19 15:48:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/being-a-new-head-is-as-easy-as-abcMuch has been written about how crucial the first 100 days are for a leader in a new organisation. The temptation is to assume that if you haven’t made your mark by then, chances are you’ve blown it.2018-04-12 15:54:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/inside-the-infinite-loopI am writing this in an Apple conference room in Cupertino, California as I await a transfer to San Jose airport. The past four days have been exhilarating to say the least. I’d even be so bold as to say it’s been the best PLD experience I’ve ever had.2018-03-22 15:59:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/go-tell-it-on-the-mountainIt can’t have escaped your notice that earlier this week it was World Storytelling Day. As a leader, the only story you need to be telling is the one about you – who you are, what you stand for and why your school is the best party in town.2018-02-11 16:03:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/hands-up-for-ofstedThere will come a time when we’ll all look back and ask ourselves, how on earth did we allow it to go on for so long? Ofsted have been around now for over a quarter of a century and still the debate rages on about their role.2018-01-12 16:31:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/read-talk-writeI’ve come to the conclusion that Sir Francis Bacon may well have been on to something here. In the late sixteenth century he inadvertently defined what the three key qualities of a really good leader are.2017-12-03 11:41:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/bloggers-unite-and-take-overAs critical as I am of the inspection process in England, I am entirely at ease with the fact that inspection is here to stay. Indeed, I’d be concerned if it were ever abolished. An independent inspectorate is essential if we are to continue to have faith in our education system.2017-11-07 11:46:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/please-ofsted-stick-to-your-briefTwo particular tweets caught my eye last week. One was from Ofsted and the other a leading academic. The Ofsted one was in relation to them wanting to do some good by conducting research. The other was based on research about how Ofsted do more harm than good. I had to read on.2017-10-16 11:51:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/heads-up-a-word-to-the-wiseI finally set foot in the impressive National College for School Leadership building for the first time last week. Despite opening its doors in 2002 I never got to go there. I was a headteacher in the capital at the time and Nottingham seemed far too provincial. The NCSL was eventually closed down in 2013 when it was taken back by the DfE.2017-09-10 11:56:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/pot-and-kettle-a-letter-to-ofstedThis post appeared in the TES here. Dear Chief Inspector,2017-07-20 22:10:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/family-firstDuring the past two decades as a headteacher I’ve seen well over a thousand year six pupils pass through. In my present school, where I’ve been the head for eleven years, the current cohort weren’t even born when I first arrived at the school. It was especially poignant therefore to see them on their way at their leavers’ ceremony earlier this week.2017-06-24 22:15:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/why-i-fear-for-the-curriculumOne of the things that we’ve done really well across our trust has been the curriculum. And now I fear for it because Ofsted want to get their hands on it. With their relentless pursuit over the years of teaching, outcomes, standards and compliance, the curriculum has been left alone by and large.2017-05-13 22:20:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/itt-by-numbersUntil not that long ago I didn’t really have a clue how to run an ITT partnership. So I did what I usually do when stuck and turned to others, namely leaders from within the trust. We locked ourselves in a room for days on end, determined that we wouldn’t come out until we cracked it. We did and we created Central England Teacher Training.2017-04-13 22:25:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/hoopsWe’ve had the inspectors in. The new term was barely three hours old and we got the call. So in they came – days two and three – and they were all over us like a rash.2017-03-17 22:31:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/an-education-worth-havingThe chances are you may not have heard of the Whole Education Network. It’s been going strong for several years now and grew out of the RSA in 2010. If you haven’t come across them yet, then you really should have, so read on2017-03-02 22:35:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/on-marginal-losses-and-mobile-phonesEarlier this week at work I had to go a day without email. It’s not until you experience an ‘internet outage moment’ that you realise how reliant you’ve become on technology.2017-02-08 22:40:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/the-ultimate-oxymoronThere is no such thing as rapid improvement. The two words simply don’t belong together. Rapid alterations, yes. I can live with that. Rapid change, possibly. But rapid improvement? Absolutely not.2017-01-12 11:32:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/a-rallying-cry-for-the-artsOne of the more pleasurable elements of my job is my role as a strategic board member (and chair) of a regional Arts Council Bridge Organisation. Based at the mac (formerly the Midlands Arts Centre) in Birmingham, Arts Connect is responsible for the delivery of the arts and culture offer across the region.2016-12-10 15:48:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/finding-elmerIt’s been well over a year since I hung up my Ofsted badge. I still miss being an inspector though because it was something I think I was good at, that I enjoyed doing and that to a certain extent was something we all needed.2016-11-10 15:51:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/schools-must-speak-for-themselves-part-2In my previous post I shared with you my concerns around the tensions that exist between writing a self-evaluation summary (SES) for Ofsted and writing one for yourself that focuses on school improvement.2016-10-18 15:56:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/schools-must-speak-up-for-themselves-part-1School self-evaluation is a strange beast. There’s no requirement for schools to present it in a particular format and approaches vary up and down the country. How you go about the process is a matter for you and your governors to decide. So long as you know your school, and how it needs to improve, all will be good.2016-09-17 16:01:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/on-rigour-and-vigourAs we settle down to a new term and get to that point when we finally remember how the job’s meant to be done, it all comes down to two things: Rigour and Vigour.2016-07-08 16:07:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/two-hootsIt can’t have escaped your notice that I have written a book. I have flaunted and foisted it shamelessly on Twitter to all and sundry who happened to stumble across my timeline. I make no apologies for that, for I am sure that you too will do the same if you were in my position. It can’t have escaped your notice that I have written a book. I have flaunted and foisted it shamelessly on Twitter to all and sundry who happened to stumble across my timeline.2016-06-10 16:12:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/the-curse-of-the-new-bookTwo legends at the top of their game left us last week and I can’t help feeling that I am in some very small way to blame. I’ve seldom written about them before but both of them appear in my new book and now they are no longer with us. I am beginning to wonder then if the book in question, The Art of Standing Out, is cursed.2016-05-06 16:19:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/there-needs-to-be-another-wayDuring the past few months I’ve been writing a book. It has been the most cathartic, scary and all-consuming experience of my life. I’ve cherished and savoured every minute of it. When I finally submitted the manuscript, I did so with great reluctance, as if I was cutting loose one of my own children.2016-04-28 16:43:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/introducing-the-insteadablesAt some point during the last few years I’ve become a system leader. I’m not quite sure how this happened or whether I ever made a conscious decision to become one, but apparently I am. I’m not even entirely sure what I do differently now as a system leader that I didn’t do before.2016-04-25 16:26:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/what-we-know-about-antsA draft extract from my new book, The Art of Standing Out, on the challenges headteachers face when leading complex teams:2016-03-11 16:29:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/judging-the-judgesEarlier this week I wrote a piece for the Guardian with the headline ‘A message to the new chief inspector of schools: on your first day, scrap your job’. You can find the digital version here.2016-02-22 16:34:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/the-power-of-loveHave you ever experienced what it feels like when you get several hundred like-minded people together and lock them in a room for the day to see where the magic can take you? And that during that day you get to dream about ‘what if…?’ and get to ask really powerful questions like ‘why can’t our schools be like Disneyland?’2016-01-29 16:39:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/you-are-the-most-creative-person-you-knowBefore you begin reading this post, I want you to pause, close your eyes and think of the one single strategy that you think has the biggest impact on transforming a school. When you’ve done that, read on.2015-12-18 13:43:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/how-i-undermined-ofstedI’ve become a tad obsessed with values lately. This is a good thing, I think, although it does preoccupy my thoughts to the point of probably being unhealthy. I even found myself driving round the block on the way to work last week so that I could listen to the end of Radio Four’s ‘Thought for the Day’. Not good and I had to have a quiet word with myself.2015-12-01 17:26:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/blog-1-v-ofsted-0Despite the title of this post, it doesn’t feel like a victory. But in the end, it all came down to this: Either I continue to inspect and work for Ofsted, or I blog. It seems I can’t do both.2015-11-04 13:48:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/it-s-called-teachingI don’t blame ministers for wanting to test children more. I’d probably do the same thing if I was Education Secretary. It’s an easy one to introduce as it’s essentially a bureaucratic exercise. I think I’d do the same if I was Health Secretary.2015-10-16 13:51:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/virtue-is-bold-and-goodness-never-fearfulWhen I first had a flick through the latest inspection handbook a particular word caught my eye. It was the word ‘thrive’ and it pleased me considerably to see its inclusion. It appears in the teaching, learning and assessment sections as an outstanding grade descriptor:2015-09-14 13:55:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/doing-good-as-we-goAs I sit on the train on my way to a meeting in London I spot an article in the Metro that claims that ‘Women are the real task masters’. Apparently, according to a well-known skincare company, us men can only manage 19 tasks a day compared with 26 for a woman.2015-07-13 09:57:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/now-that-s-what-i-call-quite-goodA bit of a lazy post this one, so please forgive me. Feel free to walk away now. However, in the highly likely event that you have not read a single post of mine throughout the year, you may wish to read on.2015-06-26 10:01:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/al-murray-and-iLast week I had the pleasure of speaking at the Sunday Times Festival of Education at Wellington College. Tinie Tempah was there. So was Al Murray, Piers Morgan and a host of other A-list speakers. When I say they were ‘there’, I wouldn’t want you to get the impression that they were actually there in person sitting at the back of my session. That would be daft.2015-06-05 10:07:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/the-importance-of-having-a-good-door-monitorSchool improvement is complex. We all know that. Turning a school round is not easy and it takes time. An awful lot of time. We are only as good as our previous twelve months – a slight dip in attainment, perhaps a difficult cohort or a stubborn long-term staffing issue and, bam – on a bad day we could end up in a category. It can feel like it could happen overnight.2015-05-19 11:38:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/the-most-bonkers-thing-you-ve-heard-in-a-whileLast Thursday morning I had the pleasure of being a part of Digital Shoreditch in London. The title of my #ds15 talk was ‘Why changing the world is child’s play’. I was telling the story of the creation of our community-based social enterprise Ballot Street. In particular, I was bemoaning the national testing system and th2015-04-29 16:33:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/cutting-out-the-middlemanI probably shouldn’t be writing about this as I’m sworn to secrecy. It’s been a strange few days, all rather furtive and under the radar. On Monday evening I attended a pleasant SSAT Reform Dinner in London held under the Chatham House Rules. I must admit, I had to Google what it meant but now that I know I’m not meant to write about it, I won’t.2015-03-21 16:39:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/in-praise-of-slowNot far from where I live lies the Shropshire town of Ludlow. It’s known for many things – food, medieval architecture, a castle to name but three. But what many people don’t know is that it is the UK’s first Cittaslow town. Cittaslow is a movement that originated in Italy as a rally cry against all things fast-produced. It has since evolved into a cultural trend known as the ‘slow movement’.2015-02-13 16:43:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/how-social-enterprise-can-spice-up-your-schoolIt shouldn’t take you too long to read this post. A little over four minutes should do it. That’s precisely how long I had to make my pitch at a recent RSA Engage speed-networking event. Hosted at the impressive Impact Hub in Birmingham, the eight fellows invited to pitch had four minutes each to get their product across to the audience before rounding it off with three ‘asks’.2015-01-09 08:46:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/cracking-the-code-tackling-social-mobilityFinding the time to read governmental reports is something I’m not good at. So I made a big effort over the break to get to grips with one that I’ve been carrying around with me since its publication last Autumn. It’s called Cracking the code: how schools can improve social mobility.2014-12-17 11:25:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/why-we-are-not-on-track-with-assessment-without-levelsDuring the past 12 months I’ve been fortunate enough to present at a number of conferences up and down the country. One of the pleasures of being part of the conference circuit is that you get to listen to the presentations of the other speakers.2014-10-15 11:32:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/a-formula-for-successLast week I had the pleasure of working with a group of leaders from Schools of Tomorrow. It was the first morning of their inaugural year-long Leadership for Tomorrow development programme. If you’ve never come across the Schools of Tomorrow network then you really should.2014-09-19 11:39:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/do-the-right-thingOne of the first tasks that needs to be done when taking on a special measures school is to recalibrate the compass. They are heading in the wrong direction. It’s not that teachers aren’t working incredibly hard or lack the pedagogical know-how. It’s simply a question of them doing the wrong things.2014-07-21 11:44:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/have-belief-in-your-visionOne thing I’ve learnt during my time as a headteacher is that compromise is king. Back in the day as a new headteacher I naively always saw compromise as a weakness – that staff would see me as being a lame and indecisive leader if I didn’t insist on doing things my way.2014-06-13 11:51:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/the-importance-of-being-noticedBeing a headteacher of an academy only a few miles from the Trojan horse schools in Birmingham means that I have taken more than a passing interest in the recent developments. It has made me re-visit our own Articles of Association to ensure that we do not find ourselves in a similar situation, especially now that we are a multi academy trust.2014-05-09 11:59:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/why-special-measures-is-child-s-playI am currently scratching a seven-year itch. It was in 2007 that my current school came out of special measures and I can’t wait to get stuck in to my next one, seven years later. On 1st July, we sponsor a nearby primary school and so we begin again the journey of transforming a school from special measures to outstanding.2014-03-10 12:03:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/why-less-is-moreI have always liked to think that I have my finger firmly on the pulse of all things educational. However, these past few weeks I have found it rather difficult keeping tabs on the numerous blog posts on Ofsted’s latest proposals to improve the inspection process.2014-01-10 12:08:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/educating-rotaWhen you visit the DfE offices in London you are greeted by a wall of portraits of every Secretary of State for Education since 1945. There are a lot of framed pictures. Since the Second World War there have been 34 different incumbents, equivalent to an average tenure for each new Education Secretary of just under 2 years.2013-12-10 12:12:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/being-secondary-readyJudging by the response at the recent Westminster Briefings in London and Manchester, the concept of ‘Being Secondary Ready’ is a controversial one. Asked by the organisers to speak at the events on the subject, it was clear that Gove’s latest proposal to test and rank 11 year olds was a non-starter.2013-10-14 12:16:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/a-language-for-lifeThose of us who remember the 1970s (and I’m not suggesting that I do) will possibly recall the publication of the influential Bullock Report. Called ‘A Language for Life’, it boldly states that ‘this report deserves to be widely read.’2013-10-01 12:21:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/five-reasons-why-blended-learning-is-a-good-thingTwice this week I’ve taken the train to Manchester. On both occasions it was to present at two very different conferences, one on closing the attainment gap using digital technology and the other on delivering an innovative and creative curriculum.2013-09-23 12:28:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/a-piece-of-cakeThe football season is now in full swing. As I stood on the touchline at the weekend watching my son play I asked the dad next to me how his week was at work. ‘Oh, the usual – same as it always is. Boring.’2013-09-17 12:33:00https://www.makanaleadership.co.uk/blog/a-job-for-the-ta-teamOn Monday morning we began our week with a round of applause. Granted, it was a mild one at that, but the intentions were well founded. It was simply our little way during morning briefing of celebrating National Teaching Assistant Day and thanking our team of teaching assistants.