What’s in a name? You can tell a lot about the culture and history of a nation from how it names its streets, towns and public institutions. Remarkable achievements can be commemorated in a name or erased by simply changing a sign. Edubase, the Department of Education’s online database of schools, colleges and education institutions contains …
Continue reading "500 most frequently occurring words in school names"A brief delve into Edubase this week revealed a couple of interesting statistics. School leaders are most likely to be called Sarah or David but you have little chance of accurately guessing their actual job title. This is because there are over 150 different job titles listed in the DfE’s online database. OK, so some …
Continue reading "There are over 150 job titles for school and university leaders (and most of them are probably named Sarah or David!)"
A picture appeared in my Facebook feed this morning that is a timely reminder for us all to be aware of the echo chamber effect. I’ve reproduced it later in this blog. It reminded me that the views and opinions we receive via social media are, adverts aside, ones we have chosen to see. Our contacts …
Continue reading "Beware of the echo chamber"
Election Outcome What a week it’s been. We now have a minority Conservative government which will need alliances and compromises to achieve a working majority. It looks like the Democratic Unionist Party have the whip hand in these negotiations for the time being. Inevitably this will temper some of the policies and plans the Conservatives …
Continue reading "SBM Roundtable and election reflections"
In the last of my animations, one I did not expect to be producing, I outline the main policy aims of the Democratic Unionist Party. As a result of last Thursday’s general election, they now hold the balance of power under ‘supply and confidence’ arrangements and will support Theresa May as she seeks to get …
Continue reading "Who are the DUP?"
With a week to go until the 2017 General Election, it is crucial that we keep up pressure on politicians. We need to drive home the message that there is a funding crisis in education and that they must reverse the funding cuts. Weasel words and false promises of protection won’t pay staff salaries. The …
Continue reading "It’s all about the money"The third and final animated video in my election series details the raft of policies proposed by the Liberal Democrats. Be warned – it’s the longest so far, so it starts with the headlines if you’re short on time. School funding, mental health, the Lib Dem position on grammar schools are all in here should …
Continue reading "Quick tour of the Liberal Democrat education policies"In the second of my series of animated manifestos, I have summarised Labour’s main policies related to schools, teacher pay arrangements and in-school counselling. Take a few minutes out of your day to find out what a Labour government would mean for schools. Click here for yesterday’s animation of the Conservatives’ education policies
Continue reading "Animated summary of the Labour education manifesto"Want to know what the major policy promises are for education in the 2017 General Election? In the first of three animations, I have set out the main policy pledges from the Tories that will impact on schools. Over the next couple of days, the plan is to do the same for the Labour and Lib …
Continue reading "Handy video summary of the Tory education manifesto"
The BGGS Modern Foreign Languages Hub and a chance to be involved in the new National Centre for CLIL in Birmingham Somewhat off my usual topic of school business management, I am promoting my school’s approach to language teaching along with an opportunity for schools to get more involved. Bordesley Green Girls School runs a …
Continue reading "Modern Foreign Languages Hub Meeting"