Successful difficult conversations

Category: Excellence in schools

I’ve heard many an Ofsted inspection story, some heartwarming and just how you would want an inspection to be (regardless of the judgement) because they are developmental and supportive, whilst giving an honest summary of the school. And the horror stories that make you sink!
I’ve met a lot of Outstanding Heads and walked into a lot of Outstanding schools. And I hear a lot of ‘myths’ about what it is to be Outstanding. Here are seven I come across regularly:

I know that hearing the ‘O’ word can sometimes send shivers down your spine and send you into a thought process of ‘What will they think of us’, but here at Heads Up we encourage schools and Headteachers to think in another way. A great restaurant who consistently deliver high quality plates of food from […]

As a headteacher you are the leader of your school and the leader of the next generation; you know too well that your school’s success ultimately rests on your shoulders. Leadership creates culture by design; a lack of leadership allows a culture to form by accident. Great leaders create great cultures. The behaviour of individuals, […]

I know recruitment is hard. Even without teacher shortages it’s hard, because it’s hard to find the right people. And yet the success of your school has a lot to do with the people you recruit. So how does a vision make it easier? Let me share a story of head who found it did. […]

It slightly loathes me to say this but there are some give away clues in schools that let you judge how good they are. It loathes me because these clues are pretty superficial, I’d go so far as to call them daft…but they keep coming up. Here are *** daft but true environmental correlations I […]

Love quick, easy and free ways to improve your school? Here are two key areas that will  improve your environment and what it says about your school – common issues I see in most schools. 1. Tidy up your reception area The entrance of your school says a lot about you, take a step back […]