Manifest Destiny

This blog is two years old now; two exciting years where we've seen progress and challenge in equal measure. After a few months in my role I wrote a manifesto which some may remember. By and large, we're on track with the ideas it held within, and are staying true to the philosophy behind it. If you've read any of these blogs, you'll know the general idea can be boiled down to a relevant and purposeful education which engages and enthuses all - staff and pupils alike.

The way you have all, regardless of time served at our school, worked tirelessly and willingly towards this gives me great confidence that we can, and will, move towards being an outstanding department. Over the first half of this year, the standards of teaching and learning have been, on average, the highest we have seen. This is real progress. This real progress will be reflected for years to come. The fact that we're focused on the pupils developing skills and knowledge means that they should have the confidence to face whatever challenges our uncertain profession chucks at them in the next few years. Once the current year 11 have gone we can, in a way, settle into getting used to terminal exams, less internal assessment, and the space and challenge that throws up.

This is to our advantage. We need to use it as such. Regardless of the pressures placed on us by those above us, internally and nationally, we just need to do what we do, and do it confidently, and do it well.

Immediately, let's get year 11 through as well as possible - remember it is about each of them achieving the best they can, whether it is a top Literature grade or a pass at Entry Level FS. Let's see what we can get year 10 to achieve, and how funky year 9 can get. What can we achieve with years 7 and 8, knowing that we have time and space to develop them into superb students of English?

What can we achieve, together, as a team? I know what I think...

In the groove...

Don't worry. I'm not going to go all Madonna on you, or start talking like Austin Powers. No.

Instead, I'm going to thank you for your hard work this half term. After the epic, insanely long first term, we seem to have got straight back into the groove, teaching, planning, marking and meeting with typically great attitudes and to a high level. Thanks for this.

What you do makes a real difference, day in, day out. That's the groove that matters. Last week saw a raft of policy and guff announced, this week may see a legal announcement; none of that matters. The skills, knowledge and love for language that we impart matter.

The groove matters. Baby.

Spring term clean.

Potentially, this could be seen as a hypocritical post. If you've seen my desk, you'll know why. However, it's less about physical cleaning than it is about mental or intellectual cleaning. I'm talking about space, not those crude jokes you're all so quick with.

Ahem.

It's about conceptual clarity. Knowing what we all mean when we say outstanding, or challenging, or whatever other word is buzzing around. Is it boxes ticked, inspector happy outstanding, or consistently great, engaged pupils and fantastic relationships happy? I'd argue that the former is irrelevant without the first.

It's about knowing where you're going, with a class or a scheme or a project. It's not just about following through, lesson by lesson. It's about that goal you set, and how you get that target across to the people you're working with to achieve that.

How does cleaning come into this? It's the clarity of thought; it's not quite being single minded, but its not far away. It's being mentally organised enough to think ahead, organised enough to not allow the day to day, week to week, term to term tasks obscure your subtle purposes.

However, if anyone want to help me make my marginal gains with physical organisation, I ain't saying no!