Two Wise Heads

Breakfast Workshop: Two Wise Heads - the first 100 days of headship

Dr Sai Patel Headteacher, The Hayfield School, Doncaster and Dr Neil Hopkin, Headteacher, Robin Hood Junior and Infant School, Birmingham Facilitated by Lesley King, Strategc Director of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust

Neil talked about how he feels that we are faced with a national moral challenge : ECM vs National Standards. He said that to 'look at what was wrong in our school we used an american business model to help us, which was not ideal but helped us.' He went on to say that it is important to get other perspectives, to get lots of others involved within and outside of your school. Work life balance is also key. There is nothing clever about working from dawn to dusk so find smarter way to work. We used coaching & mentoring - that is a relationship that helps people to take charge of their own development. 'Leadership is a tough job but it's the best job '.

Sai Patel walked into a post where his predecessor was in post 37 years! 'Not stepping into big shoes more like a canoes'. NQT not completing, staff disciplinary ending in dismissal, inappropriate behavior, student suicide, staff death. All in his first 100 days. You need strategies including, empathy, and building relationships. Ethos, don'be bullied, positive language, be old fashioned, holistic view, dark nights of the soul -you will have them, solitude,achievement.