CEO’s Blog: When no one is watching.
I hope this Blog finds all its readers safe and well, as we continue to live and work through these times. There are numerous writers and broadcasters who have made the timely, and expedient, connection between the 75th anniversary of VE Day and the current Covid-19 situation. This may appear contrived in some ways, or…
CEO’s Blog: Learning: a precious resource.
Learning: a precious resource. For the past week or so, I have been reading Michael Palin’s “Pole to Pole”, in which he charts a journey from the North to the South Pole, passing along the line of longitude (30 degrees East) with the greatest land coverage. This takes him from Greenland, through Norway and the…
CEO’s Blog: The great outdoors
Perhaps writing this blog in the aftermath of some of the worst and most damaging storms for decades may be unwise, but it was prompted by several occurrences last week that I wanted to share with you. For those of you that follow some or all JTMAT schools on Twitter, you will be well aware…
CEO’s Blog: “And then one day you find, ten years have got behind you.”
It was almost ten years ago to the day that I began my association with John Taylor, by taking up the headship at John Taylor High School. My most vivid memory of 4th January 2010, which succeeded a somewhat sleepless night, was to be greeted at the snow-covered entrance to the school by a member of our admin staff, who enquired with an outstretched arm and an upturned palm, “So, are we opening today, boss?” Welcome to headship!
CEO’s Blog: Front and centre: “The Sage on the Stage”
Welcome to the 2019/20 academic year to you all. At John Taylor Multi-Academy Trust we particularly welcome Church Gresley Infant and Nursery School to our family, our tenth primary phase partner. As with a new school to the Trust, I also welcome all colleagues, children and families that have become part of the JTMAT community this year. I am excited about what you will bring to us, and what you will share alongside us.
CEO’s Blog: July 2019 Letter to Year 13
So, here goes. I’ve written you a list. I hope it makes sense. If it does, that’s great. If any of it resonates with you – even better. The list is in no order, other than that in which the ideas came to me, which has little bearing on their importance. It’s also by no means exhaustive, as you’ll see, but it is based on some of the challenges I know that some of you will face.
New school announced for Branston Locks
The Department for Education today announced that Branston Locks Primary School (working title) has been approved to open in Burton on Trent. The new school, which is being set up by John Taylor Multi Academy Trust, is planned to open in September 2021. It will be situated in the catchment area of John Taylor Free School.
CEO’s Blog: May 2019 Know thyself
In a previous blog (February 2018), I wrote about John C Maxwell’s “Five Levels of Leadership”, and the privilege I have of working alongside other leaders at differing phases of their professional and personal development. Maxwell compels us to devote time to the coaching, mentoring and supporting of leaders in that their development generates a…
CEO’s Blog: April 2019 Wellbeing – More than a kite mark
Back in the 1990s, when I first assumed formal leadership responsibility in a school and started to correspond regularly with parents, I noticed a problem.
CEO’s Blog: March 2019 Words fail?
I found myself in a situation last week in which, far from the first time, I used the expression “words fail” in describing my response to a shocking piece of news.
CEO’s Blog: February 2019
“We Believe in the Power of Defining Moments…” Several months ago, I read a compelling blog from a counterpart of mine on the Headteacher’s Board, in which he described the influence of his parents on his life and career. As a parent myself, with my eldest son (in Year 13) making some pivotal decisions about…
CEO’s Blog – January 2019
The themes of our development were metacognition and self-regulation, feedback, and collaboration. The Education Endowment Foundation, a representative of which joining us for the day to support our professionals in conducting and accessing research, have collated a huge gamut of studies undertaken to establish what has impact, and at what financial cost.
CEO Blog December 2018
Again attempting to avoid another seasonal favourite – the “Review of the Year” – I’ll merely state that it’s been a hugely positive 2018 from my perspective as our Trust has welcomed great new schools into its family, achieved considerable successes for its communities and seen our amazing children and adults achieve beyond their own high expectations.
The “knight’s move”
As you will appreciate, my time available to read for pleasure is a scarce luxury – but one which I look forward to when a half term break or longer holiday is approaching. This half term, I’ve been reading “Hitch 22: The Memoirs of Christopher Hitchens”. I was first introduced to the ideas and works…
Official Opening, John Taylor Free School
As many readers will be aware, last week saw the official opening of John Taylor Free School by His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester. I have been asked by several of our guests that day to share the contents of my speech from the event, and so I thought I would take the opportunity…
New terms, new children, new schools – and old chairs!
The first week of the new academic year is always an exciting time, as we welcome new children and staff to our schools and look forward to the implementation of the plans and strategies that we have committed to in order to see further improvement to, and within, our schools. 2018/19 has been particularly special,…
John Taylor MAT Successful in Further Free School Application
A new primary free school planned for Lichfield will become part of the John Taylor Multi-Academy Trust (JTMAT), the Department for Education has announced. The school will be built at Fradley Park, and will eventually accommodate 210 pupils plus a nursery at a cost of around £4 million.It is being built in response to increased…
“Getting the best out of everyone.” – JTMAT Governance Conference 2018
As we approach the end of the academic year, I look forward to our annual JTMAT Governance Conference. This annual event is a great opportunity for many of our colleagues from local governing bodies across all our schools to meet, share, and learn together. We have benefitted from the generosity of insightful and expert speakers…
Management Matters
One of the most popular books amongst educationalists at the moment is Andy Buck’s “Leadership Matters”. If you have yet to pick up a copy, I’d highly recommend it. The blend of theoretical models and contextual reference, written by a leader with many years of school experience under his belt, has made this work a…
Full breathing apparatus on? Right Mrs Jones, which tree is Tiddles in?
My latest blog has been prompted by a series of coincidental encounters this week – not involving cats, but information technology in schools. As a Trust, we’re looking at our over-arching strategic plan for the next three years and, as you may anticipate, technological change and the opportunities and challenges it brings to our work…
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