Broken but not beaten
Reflections on how we support new headteachers navigate in unchartered waters.’ For the second year running I have been invited to lead the Bury Mentor Heads Programme. This is a course I designed with executive leaders in Bury, Greater Manchester to support experienced headteachers who have agreed to mentor new headteachers in the area. Bury […]
Difficult conversations – why they are necessary
In this blog, Aziza explores the link between our own self improvement, human connections and the ability to have ‘difficult conversations’. ‘The manager accepts the status quo; the leader challenges it.’ Warren Bennis Challenging the status quo and having difficult conversations is not easy – at least at the start. The human desire to be […]
5 things we could do to improve school for autistic students
An autstic person’s view on how we could improve schools. I have a client who is autistic and has recently left the school system at 19. He has a long and successful career ahead of him and coaching is helping him to focus on his strengths. He says that he did well in spite […]
Securing strong outcomes for disadvantaged students.
A case for investing in teacher development to help the most disadvantaged students in our schools. In December last year I was approached by Bury Council and two Mat leaders who asked me to design and deliver a 6-part professional development programme for experienced headteachers, who were mentoring newly appointed headteachers. We had our last […]
5 tips for new headteachers
5 tips from experienced headteachers for new headteachers Today was the penultimate session of the mentor headteacher training programme I have delivered for Bury county council. This group of experienced headteachers have been developing their knowledge in relation to supporting headteachers, who have recently joined the profession. Early on in the programme we explored the […]
Building a better legacy
How can headteachers move away from martydom towards freedom? I finished my first coaching session at 7.30am this morning. We started our conversation exploring what it is about my client’s job that means the only time she can fit in coaching is 6.30am. Her response astounded me, ‘I didn’t want to take time away from […]
Break the Bias
An interview with Hildi Mitchell, exploring being a woman, a mother and a female headteacher to celebrate International Women’s Day 2022 Hildi Mitchell has been headteacher of Downs Infant School in Brighton for 5 years. She is an active member of NAHT and is mother to Polly (21) and Elsie (15). To celebrate Break the Bias for […]
Big Team Adventure
Reflections on the arrival of The Big Team Adventure to Suffolk. Yesterday marked the start of something special. I shadowed and supported Peter Hyman, co-Director of Big Education delivering the first session of The Big Team Adventure with two Suffolk schools. Below are my reflections. Who are you? Session one of this programme began by […]
Supporting pupils with ADHD in schools
A reflection on best ways to support young people with ADHD. Even as a parent of a child with ADHD, as a teacher I struggled to find and implement strategies to support my students with the diagnosis. I found many things that ‘worked’, but many more that didn’t. The search continued when I became a […]
What are ‘special interests’?
What are special interests for people with Autism – a personal illustration. Hunter is not Hunter’s real name – he chose it for this blog. It is taken from the Japanese anime series, Hunter X Hunter. The show features the protagonist Gon, on a mission to train himself as a hunter. He reunites with his […]