One must be careful as one gets older that you think the accumulated knowledge and experience means you are right about things. Rather, although you should draw on experience and wisdom, you have to recognise that the world has changed. And our world is evermore chaotic and change evermore rapid.

In a number of previous blogs I have asked for simplicity. We make things so complicated. My last 47 years has been in the world of education. Never before have we received so much research about what works and what doesn’t. Never before have we explored what it is to be a great school leader. Debate continues to rage about the importance of a knowledge based curriculum and instructional approaches as opposed to experiential learning and student centred education. Too often this debate takes place in the ether, and away from the reality of the classroom, and the reality of the hour by hour decisions you take to lead a school.

We should be thrilled by the accumulated knowledge and ideas. Never before have we understood how learning takes place. Schools have to be places where learning is discussed, shared and talked about. Still too little of that happens. But a great leader is one who harnesses an enduring will of the whole school community around a set of clear ideas and values and relegates the noise and complexity.

Our education world is a microcosm of what is happening around us. Don’t you long for political leadership which clearly articulates a vision for this country and then makes clear decisions to take us there, whatever. I am sure that Justin Trudeau will have his weaknesses and will and might again make important errors of judgement. But he seems to have embraced the values of Canada and as such harnesses the support of people in the grand quest.

Is this our politics? Although there are people I know who hold true to the values this country has been built upon, and live this in all their work and representation, nationally I despair, from all sides. What are we about? Making Britain GREAT again? Driving forward an ideology that might have been appropriate in the industrialised age? An ideology that reinforces the hierarchical society that has so hampered the universal recognition of talent and potential across the whole of society.

So similarly, a great education leader needs to embrace a clear set of values and look forward to the needs our learners face in the next 50 years. They need to embrace individuality and at the same time recognise learners of equal worth. We cannot afford to have a poorly skilled and educated segment who cannot play fully and positively in a technology rich, global society that increasingly requires flexible employees who are problem solvers, creative and can take charge – have agency. Most leaders know how to do this and intrinsically believe in it, but are constrained by the noise off and 20th century political decisions about standards and systems.

I assure you that my grammar school education equipped me with the knowledge of the past. It is a system that will not prepare all our young people for the future. It’s an example of politics looking back and complicating the picture.

Here is my list of what a great educational leader needs to be. They should:

• be able to build a community based on values of respect tolerance and equality
• have a clear strategy of how to reach clear and challenging goals
• show inestimable belief and trust in their colleagues and learners
• recognise that the learning journey is a bit of a mystery waiting for every learner to unlock their magic moment
• draw on their wider community to create real and authentic learning opportunities
• relegate the political whims and noise remaining true to their values and strategies
• Be able to ‘find the gaps in the hedge’ to maintain culture whilst reaching all external expectations
• live the expectations personally by modelling values and holding learners at the centre of everything

I plan to work on what all these mean in future blogs through the summer, but you should not underestimate the personal impact the system whilst  trying to maintain a liberal-values ethic  has on each individual leader. In your hands you hold the future of your colleagues , your students and to some extent your community. This is a herculean role. We are likely to be short of 19 000 school leaders over the next few years in the UK. Yet increasingly we show callous regard for the position of school leaders, the challenges they face  and the talents they bring. Leaders generally need support and capacity, and above all a critical friend or coach.

Most school leaders to some extent neglect self. They chase the outcomes expected of them and in most cases take some time to reflect on the culture and practices they are building. But often they neglect creating the ‘best me’. I have been there. I know the impact on health and family and to be honest your ability to do the job.

Let’s recognise that and let’s create a climate in our schools that supports leaders  and coaches them to balance their personal resources with the indomitable will to be successful for their schools.  That way they can create the mind space to keep things simple. Have clear goals and inspire those around them.

Simon Sinek always helps me here. He sums up the most important thing we do. Serve others who serve others! It’ simple.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxVQFWdvkUI&t=609s