But then, once in a lifetime The longed for tidal wave Of justice can rise up And hope and history rhyme Seamus Heaney Every day children, young men and women who live and breathe multiculturalism, who demonstrate in all that they do and say that for them it is the person that matters not the … Continue reading “It’s the curriculum stupid” History says, don’t hope… →

23 May 2017 Jane Elson‏ @Mousegirl2502 May 12 Replying to @WyedeanSchool@WyedeanVP We are so happy we chose Wyedean, it has been a fabulous 5 years. Hopefully grades will be good enough to return for 6th. Thank you all. I always wonder how teachers feel about seeing another group move on. Wyedean School‏ @WyedeanSchool May 12 Replying to … Continue reading Reflections →

“The terminology of ‘a culture of high expectations’ is in itself complex and problematic, but any opportunity to explicitly raise expectations should be seen as a moral imperative”. Julie Smith, Director of Teaching and Learning, WyedeanSchool https://ukedchat.com/2017/04/29/creating-culture It’s always good to have a long weekend with the Bank Holiday we’ve just had, but also it’s … Continue reading “Today is another opportunity to change the trajectory of your students.” Blunt Educator Twitter Post, April 2017 →

“These boys and girls are to be asked to wield the royal sceptre; we must therefore give them the souls of kings and queens. Otherwise it may be said of us that we took the ordinary person from the shadows of history and set them in the fierce light that beats upon thrones and they … Continue reading Does the label we give a school matter? →

“The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of them all” “You have to be at your strongest when you are feeling at your weakest” Quotes taken from the daily signboards at various London Underground stations the day after the Westminster attacks; 22nd March 2017. Last weekend I had the privilege … Continue reading “Bad things do happen in the World but out of those situations always arise stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things” →

I had quite a humbling moment last Thursday at the British Council in London when I got into a long conversation with the Education Minister from Ethiopia, Dr Tilaye Gete Ambaye, just before I was due to speak at the World Education Forum. We were talking general concerns that I faced as a principal of … Continue reading “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it but that it is too low and we reach it” Michaelangelo →

The words of MLK could apply to any number of situations not least a strong resonance to anyone gearing themselves up for the start of the Six Nations at the start of February. Wyedean Warriors have enjoyed some New Year success with the Year 10 Boys football team winning the district football tournament last week. … Continue reading “We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope” Martin Luther King Jr →

It’s not even close to the supposedly worst day of the year, Blue Monday, which takes place on the third Monday of January. Personally I have never had too many issues with the month of January and the first day back after the break students and staff seemed fine with being back in school and … Continue reading “January is like the Monday of the months” “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year” Ralph Waldo Emerson →

I spoke to a group of colleagues a week ago who seemed to sum up my own feelings about this term; so much good has happened over the last few months at Wyedean School that we don’t want the term to end but at the same time staff and students are exhausted and cannot wait … Continue reading “My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?” Bob Hope →

"Following a period of turbulence when the school was in special measures and staff felt very pressurised, the new Headteacher has worked tirelessly to develop a culture of openness, transparency and trust. In particular, leaders have been empowered and are enjoying the freedom to innovate. As a result, the school now has a clear vision … Continue reading School Improvement through peer review and collaboration →