The Head's Office - Latest Comments

Re: Governors – friend or foe?

jfb57 — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:46:11 -0000

It is really good to be able to get folks from the community into GBs. The recruiting of a head teacher is the most key action a GB takes I think. Many thanks for joining the discussion.

Re: Governors – friend or foe?

Paul Hill — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:32:29 -0000

Agree about harnessing the skills of professionals to work on governing boidies. However, in my experience it is possible to do this using people who are willing to give their time freely to support the local community, and I don't believe that financial incentives should be necessary.

It is one of the GBs key responsibilities to recruit a properly qualified professional to run the school (i.e. a headteacher), and to perfromance manage that person.

Re: Governors – friend or foe?

jfb57 — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 11:52:56 -0000

Hi Bill!
Yes I think you are right that a focused group with specific skills can drive progress. We set up a School Improvement Committee before the federation of 5 govs & that worked really well. Many thanks for sharing your thoughts

Re: Governors – friend or foe?

joga5 — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 10:29:23 -0000

There is a school near to me which has a core group of governors which effectively do most of the work of the governing body which is all ratified by the full GB. The core group is made up of people with a mixture of experience but are mainly from professional backgrounds. This could be one way forward with financial inventives for it, maybe?

Re: Outstanding Assumptions!

jfb57 — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 11:58:51 -0000

Thank you so much for popping in. I do have a Bristol school on 100WC but it is not regular. We will get there in the end!

Re: Outstanding Assumptions!

Angelakwhite — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 11:52:42 -0000

Hi Julia. Only just read this. You are right to reflect on your assumptions and lack in the use of and involvement in tweeting and blogging. It may be a Bristol issue as I don't know of any of my Head colleagues whose schools make use of them. I don't personally but to be honest I don't have the time to engage with it but may well on retirement. You are doing a great job in championing the wider use of IT so keep it up. By the way our year 6 and year 4 have used blogs through the school website for the past 2 years and at the moment are commenting on SATs.

Re: Governors – friend or foe?

jfb57 — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 08:13:10 -0000

I agree that governance should be more professional, even paid especially if the size of GBs is to reduce.
Thanks for stopping by Geoff!

Re: Governors – friend or foe?

Geoff Roberts — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 05:44:47 -0000

I don't think this is anything that can or will be changed 'overnight'. Heads have a personal vested interest in their own jobs and are likely to want to be right and/or unwilling to admit that the GB might have a bigger role to play than they have been used to. Many have been brought up in the era of "Vicar of Dibley" GBs and struggle when they face a GB with professional skills (some more highly developed than HT!) who challenge them.

Significantly better, and compulsory even for serving heads, training in the role of governors and GBs? Compulsory training for governors? Let's make governance professional - and pay for it?
I am basically in favour of more assertive intervention when GB 'fail' - after all it is the pupils who really matter, not the pride (hubris in many case) of GBs, HTs or anyone else.

Re: 100 Word Challenge needs YOUR help!

Jacqui — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:19:58 -0000

Wanted to be sure you know you were plugged over at Innovate My School (
http://www.innovatemyschool.co... It's a site I write for and noticed your 100 Word Challenge on another Expert article. You're all over the place!

Re: Daily Dip – Bradford Moor

Diethild Starkmeth — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:29:13 -0000

Congratulations and keep up the great work!

Re: Daily Dip – Warminster Prep!

jfb57 — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:47:38 -0000

It was my pleasure! Just glad I spotted it. I do hope other schools take up both the Lego & Daily Dip challenges.

Re: Daily Dip – Warminster Prep!

Dedwards — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:29:53 -0000

Dear Mrs Skinner, many thanks for making us "dip of the day". The children loved this activity and I would recommend it to all! Best wishes, David Edwards (Headmaster)

Re: Who Are You?

Davidweldridge — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 02:34:07 -0000

Daily dip is a really useful project. We'd like to be featured at some point, I guess there is a long list.
Blog www.hawesps.posterous.com School (we are just small) Hawes CP School, Wensleydale, England
Thanks for all the time and effort it must take to do this.

Re: Who Are You?

MrWaldram — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:17:15 -0000

Excellent, so how do we get onto the daily dip - just let you know my blog address?
It is http://sixbw.primaryblogger.co... Year 6 class from Derby.
Cheers

Re: Wise After the Event!

Mandarobbo — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:37:09 -0000

A very thoughful and clear message.

Re: Wise After the Event!

suepheasey — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 06:16:19 -0000

I agree with you entirely. Whilst it seems harsh and it isn't nice being the one to pull the plug, it is necessary, otherwise there would be no original work being created. The 100WC is an amazing platform for encouraging these youngsters to develop their writing by using their unique minds. So not only is their writing being developed but their analytical and thinking skills. The uniqueness of their work inspires us, so it is necessary to encourage that 'uniqueness'.

Re: Wise After the Event!

annahalford — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 02:13:13 -0000

Well said :)

Re: Be the Chief Inspector of Schools!

jfb57 — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:30:04 -0000

Thank goodness eh Mark! Phew!

Re: I’m in Print!

jfb57 — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:27:29 -0000

I'm blushing!

Re: I’m in Print!

Angela Burridge — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 08:19:22 -0000

Fantastic news - my increasingly famous friend. So very well deserved Angela Burridge xxxxx

Re: Be the Chief Inspector of Schools!

Phil Allman — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 15:09:53 -0000

I did thanks! Children the most important. Who'd have thought it!

Re: Be the Chief Inspector of Schools!

annahalford — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 15:06:36 -0000

What an uplifting post..THIS is what the teaching profession needs to be told. Sadly can' t see Gove buying it, but it would get my vote.

Re: Be the Chief Inspector of Schools!

Mark Anderson — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 14:31:43 -0000

Superb work Julia - love that children, challenging and education come out nice and big :)

Re: Daily Dip – BWJS

jfb57 — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 14:25:10 -0000

Happy to help spread the news! It looks like a great blog so keep it up!!

Re: Daily Dip – BWJS

Mr Senior — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 14:10:46 -0000

Thanks for including us! We were very excited by what Sketchup could do, so we're really looking forward to the next few weeks as we investigate further. I'm sure we'll post more examples when we've refined our skills a little further!

Jon Senior, Tamarind Class Teacher & ICT Co-Ordinator
Bishop's Waltham Junior School
www.bwjunior.primaryblogger.co...