Goodbye 2020
Posted inEduvators

Goodbye 2020

It has certainly been a year like no other, but with the Isle of Man being COVID free in the community; a new structure and leadership in place at the Department of Education; and the end of the long-running trade dispute; a brighter tomorrow is a genuine possibility and 2021 feels much more optimistic.
The fox and scorpion
Posted inLeaders

The fox and scorpion

Sometimes the people you deal with remind me of the tale of the fox and the scorpion. Sometimes one is served a harsh reminder of this tale. I have built my professional approach, ethos and indeed the schools I run on trust and relationships. In fact, I have written several articles and blogs on this theme. But as with all things, exceptions prove the rule.
Visible Leadership
Posted inLeaders

Visible Leadership

Leadership comes in many different guises in the world of education and much has been written about the theoretical models that exist. I have long advocated that one model cannot and does not work when applied in isolation - the best leadership is always a careful mix of different approaches that are blended through the personal intuition of the experienced leader. This philosophy has led me to analyse my own leadership and the styles and approaches I have come to rely on. I liken my approach to that of the pub-landlord and offer “visible leadership” as the model which I believe is truly transformational.
The final curtain…
Posted inEduvators

The final curtain…

And so the curtain is about to fall on the academic year that was 2019-2020. And what a year. Easily the most challenging of my career in a personal sense as well as a professional one.