‘Preach, but if possible keep the words out of it.’ (Pope Francis) I am sprinting towards the end of a NPQEL qualification, that’s the one in executive leadership. I say sprinting because I walked the first part and trundled off into the changing rooms for a breather about half-way through. I will need to sprint… Read More Foul Language

The SEND crisis is not just about money. Money is a part of it, but it is also about our concept of what is a good and fulfilling life. It is about equity and value. Currently we see pupils with SEND as problems that need fixing. A deficit model that focuses on what the pupils… Read More SEND: It’s Not Just About the Money

As the country splutters towards a general election, here are my top 5 areas for the urgent attention of the DfE. I apologise to secondary/FE colleagues as I’m sure there are pressing issues in your phases too, but I’m going with those where I feel most at home. If we are to reduce inequalities, we… Read More New Government, New Priorities

My Dad died last month, on Easter Monday. Awash with symbolism, we were at his bedside throughout the Easter weekend, watching with him through the night whilst listening to the services and Masses of the Easter triduum that are so familiar to Catholics all over the world. All who have lost a parent will know… Read More Dad

The Great Post Office scandal is now getting full exposure thanks to the ITV dramatisation, but I remember listening to the BBC Radio series about this a few years ago. I was driving, listening to the podcast with my mouth wide open. ‘Can you believe this?’, I cried out to my wife and kids. ‘This… Read More Capitalism Out Of Control

This time last year, I tried to outline what I felt were the biggest priorities for those charged with leading in education. I plumped for Parenting, Early Years, SEND, Accountability and Attendance. Well, I could probably copy and paste the same for 2024 as these priorities most certainly remain. We could probably add behaviour which… Read More A New Covenant

It’s that time of year again. Appraisal targets have been met and set, improvement plans are underway and reports are beginning to be compiled for Governors/trustees. Government performance tables pop up in tweets, WhatsApp messages and emails. The ISDR will hit school leaders before Christmas. Throughout my career, it has been a time of great… Read More Understanding Complexity

Over the summer break last year, almost everything I read contained a reference to ‘a good life’, in one way or another. I felt energised, and comforted that my beliefs, those that are central to my vocation, were shared by authors across a wide range of literature. It has continued again this year, partly by… Read More The Good Life of Richie and Rishi

Muddle (noun) – an untidy or disorganised state or collection. We really have got ourselves in a muddle. A muddle over so many things, but hugely so when it comes to accountability. Back in 2019, Amanda Spielman could not have been clearer. The era of judging schools through crude measures such as SATs was over.… Read More What A Muddle

This weekend, I attended the funeral of Christopher, whose life ended in a car accident a few weeks ago. He was 20 years old. He was also a past pupil. I should admit to a little bit of poetic licence here, in that, strictly speaking, Christopher started school the term after I left as headteacher.… Read More Past Pupils

OK, I resigned from Ofsted well over a year ago, so the current, prolonged criticism doesn’t surprise me one bit. It is an organisation that has been struggling for years, with a very high turnover of staff. If you want to read my resignation letter from February 2021, it’s at the end of this blog.… Read More Ofsted

We use the word ‘paying’ quite plentifully in the English-speaking world. It can be used in a transactional way e.g. we are paying down on our debt, or paying into our pension schemes.   Or it can be used in a slightly punitive way, even masochistic. We are paying for the sins of the past,… Read More Paying the Price