If you want to know how to run an Outstanding School then read this! This book is a memoir of an outspoken maverick Headteacher who did it his way. He was a Rock ‘n’ Roll Head who fought for his philosophy and lead his school to three consecutive Outstanding Ofsted inspections. He had a passion and a vision that permeated the fabric of the school and transformed it into one of the best schools in the country. He was a rebel who did not kow-tow to Ofsted or the Local Authority, who spent the early years of his teaching fighting for his beliefs in a traditional, hidebound school that was floundering and found himself taking on the entire hierarchy of the school. He believed in valuing all his students, caring for them and putting that above all else. He believed in equality, freedom, and fairness and refused to allow any system into his school that was contrary to those principles. He believed racism, sexism, bullying, violence and xenophobia were evils that should be opposed before all else. In the course of standing up for his beliefs he led the school on a journey that culminated in three ‘Outstanding Ofsted’s’, Attendance rates that were the best in County, an exam success rate that built year upon year to great heights, and a behaviour record that was unsurpassed. Every single area of his responsibilities over the whole thirty six years of his teaching was deemed by inspection to be outstanding, excellent or exemplary. This is the story of how he created that success.
You don’t have to be in education to enjoy this one.
If you fancy a good interesting read that tells you the inside story just as it is then you’ll enjoy this. This is fun and passionate.
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Reblogged this on Opher's World and commented:
One of my readers commented that this was the most important book on education since Summerhill. Quite a statement.