Over the summer, I reflected on how I would describe the people that work at our school. What characterises them as a staff body? I was reading about staff groups that appeared to be so intensely brilliant. Experts on metacognition, champions of reading strategies, pioneers of direct instruction, authorities on child mental health. Would I… Read More The Virtue of Humility

It seems remarkable that, only six months ago, we were still under the impression that it was perfectly fine to shake hands and hug each other. I remember having friends over at the beginning of March. Though we remarked on this distant virus, I don’t think any of us thought it was coming our way… Read More Masks

The Educational Foundation For Organised and Focused Formation (EFFOFF) has just released a comprehensive study that reaches a staggering conclusion. English primary pupils have progressed MORE at home since March than they would otherwise have done in school. A random sample of two thousand Y6 pupils, from across the country and representing a wide range… Read More New Research Paper from EFFOFF

Throughout this perplexing time in education, ever since that surreal moment in March when we closed (but didn’t close), I’ve been knocking around a kind of theory. It goes something like this. Where schools have invested heavily in community, in relationships with parents, in creating an outward-facing culture, they have generally risen to the challenges… Read More The Purpose of Schools

Lockdown is over, and the English public draws open the curtains. Some of us – we’re now called keyworkers – have been working throughout; we have had the chance to view the society around us from different vantage points. Personally, I’ve had more time to read, listen and ponder. Whilst it has been work, it… Read More Missed Opportunities

My wife had pneumonia at the age of ten and missed three months of school. Her abuelo visited her each day during her recuperation and helped her learn how to draw, taught her equations and read her the latest news. He loved it by all accounts. For her, the illness put a hold on her… Read More Catch up!!

Whilst acknowledging all the criticisms of Dominic Cummings in regard to his recent behaviour, I’d prefer to reflect on his time at the Department for Education from 2011 – 2014 and use it as a trigger for a reflection on leadership. In this period, he and his boss Michael Gove ripped through the department, triggering… Read More Reflections on Leadership (without mentioning Dominic Cummings…well not much anyway)

I want to talk about Foday*. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a pupil like him. Not that I’m doing anything myself for his care- that’s down to several members of staff who are working magic, and I do not exaggerate. Foday requires two adults at all times. We’re used to 1:1 arrangements in… Read More Vulnerable

International comparisons are ‘bedevilled with difficulties’ (Boris Johnson, 30/04/20) Throughout this…wait for it…unprecedented crisis, scientists and politicians are fond of following the facts and deifying the data. Decisions are taken less from a political or ideological point of view, but in an emotionless state of being, coldly analysing the impact on deaths and, for those… Read More Misleaguing Tables

A long time ago, I was friends with a girl who was very clever. Destiny Oxbridge, IQ off the scale, you get my drift. Thing is, she used to get teased by some of us for her lack of common sense and inability to pick up on things that required more lateral thinking. She comes… Read More Ignorance

‘Oi, Williamson, NAOH! I respect your journey from Chief Whip to Education Secretary, but…’ Like Frank Doberman, the grotesquely funny creation of Harry Enfield, there is always a danger in offering pub-discussion solutions to complicated matters, but what the hell, here we go. Here are my thoughts on a post-Covid19 full school opening for primary… Read More Open All Hours

Well, what just happened? And what is about to happen? The whole of the last week or two has been a period of questions, often unanswerable ones, as those of us in educational leadership positions have tried to follow national guidance, local contingency planning, whilst dealing with the concerns of pupils, staff and parents. Much… Read More Covid-19: Compassion and Continuity