MANX MAX

Monday, June 19th (Day 91)

• Summary: Continued self-evaluation of three schools using new Isle of Man Quality Assurance Framework with Heads of School. Reviewed budget allocations at Dhoon School.

The week started with an Away Morning with my Heads of School to continue our ongoing self-evaluation of the three schools using the new Isle of Man Quality Assurance Framework. I spent the afternoon in Dhoon School with my administrators from the schools looking at our budget allocations for the current financial year and trying to forecast as best we could. I thought I was due to meet my Chair of Governors at 4pm, but I received a message to see where I had got to around 2.30pm. A diary cock-up on my part, as the meeting was supposed to be at 2pm, but fortunately, we were able to go ahead at 4pm 😬 Mea culpa.

Tuesday, June 20th (Day 92)

• Summary: Caught up on admin and paperwork. Met with the Mayor of Douglas City to explore collaboration between Willaston School and Douglas Council.

I started the day with a catch up on all the admin and paperwork that never seems to stop. I had been invited to the Mayor’s Parlour in the afternoon to meet the Mayor of Douglas City. We discussed the Mayor’s wishes to build on the theme of community and charity and explored some possible collaborations between Willaston School and Douglas Council such as visits to the Chamber.

Wednesday, June 21st (Day 93)

• Summary: Hosted delegation from Hradec Králové region to showcase Willaston School. Explored iQTS program placement. Attended Big Noise Concert.

A delegation of teachers and officials from the Hradec Králové region of the Czech Republic 🇨🇿 visited Willaston School this morning. They were visiting multiple jurisdictions, including the Isle of Man, to investigate different education systems as they sought to improve and develop their own. It was lovely to be able to showcase Willaston School and talk about the many positives of the Isle of Man Education System.

I stayed at Willaston School for the remainder of the day and was joined by an officer from DESC and an applicant for the iQTS programme to explore whether Willaston could offer a year-long placement. Watch this space, as they say. In the evening, I headed up to our local secondary school to watch the Big Noise Concert, which involved the Willaston Year 6 children performing with children from surrounding primaries and students from St. Ninian’s High School. The project is part of the Y6 ➡️ Y7 transition work, and it was a fabulous show! A great way to end the day!

Laxey School has recently been awarded Investing In Children status, and it was lovely to read the news report on this which featured on Gef – local news company.

Thursday, June 22nd (Day 94)

• Summary: Attended staff briefing. Reviewed budget at Willaston School. Checked in with Laxey and Dhoon School.

I arrived at Willaston School and headed into the weekly staff briefing. The rest of the day was spent in Willaston School, including a meeting with the administrator and Head of School to look again at our budget. I caught up with Laxey and Dhoon School through their socials to see what had been going on, and I spoke to their Heads of School on the phone for an update.

Friday, June 23rd (Day 95)

• Summary: Attended Level 3 safeguarding training. Received updates from Willaston School. Deadline for end-of-year reports.

A strange way to end the week because I was not in any of my schools. I was due to update my Level 3 safeguarding training in terms of Core Groups and Child Protection Conferences, so I spent the day at The Lodge, a training facility for courses of this type. I did get several updates from my Head of School at Willaston; the lollypop man needed an ambulance and our community Police Officer stepped in to assist with road crossing duties, the budget had been looked at and we may be in a better position than was first thought, and by all accounts it had been a generally challenging end to the week in school for my colleagues. I also touched base with my Heads of School at Dhoon and Laxey.

Today was the deadline for teachers to have finished their end-of-year reports and to have sent them to me. My mammoth task is to read them all, sign them, and complete attendance and SEN data. That work will start over the weekend, but before that, a beer is required.