Deep Leadership for Educational Transformation

Deep Leadership for Educational Transformation highlights some of the actions needed if the school system in England is to meet the needs of all students.

The first action is for all stakeholders to agree the purpose of education that is the basis of everyone’s work going forward. It recognises that there are limited resources and stresses the importance of collaboration to ensure that students can get the support that they need. This will require public services to work together and opportunities to co-locate should be seized. It will also involve schools redesigning their pastoral systems. Schools need to be at the heart of their communities and accountable to the community.

This raises the issue of Ofsted – is there a role for Ofsted or should it be abolished? The school system is a mixture of multi-academy trusts and free-standing schools – how might they operate together at local level? Of course, politicians, employers, parents, students, and charities have a role to play in defining the system and working together to improve the school system for disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged students.

To be successful, the system needs innovative, outstanding leaders, who are prepared to fight for the success of their students. The system needs leadership training that encourages risk taking, people development and a deep understanding of how children learn. Schools must collaborate and so do stakeholders for the sake of every young person.