“Only when the tide goes out do you discover who's been swimming naked.”. Warren Buffett
If COVID-19 is the tide going out on school leadership, Governing Bodies may wish to ask themselves what this moment has revealed. What can they offer to help steer the school through the year ahead?
Schools will be looking back over the recent Covid closures (and restricted on-site provision); coming to terms with what has happened; exploring its impact and considering how best to plan for the uncertainties of the year ahead.
How Innovative Was Your School?
Some schools’ innovative dedication to their pupils has made headlines, including Sir John Sherbrooke Junior School. Headteacher Sally Maddison, held daily online assemblies dressed as a different inflatable animal. Chris Dyson opened his school’s kitchen to becoming a food hub for local disadvantaged families. He stated ‘"The number one priority is getting food in bellies. These kids have the right to food." Caroline Spalding’s school produced printed, differentiated work-packs for over 200 students who did not have access to digital resources.
Some schools have made headlines for far more negative reasons as parents accused them of abandoning their children. Teacher Tapp (a teacher survey app) and interviews Ben conducted with a secondary school students found a fairly mixed picture as schools settled on diverse means and frequency of communication with, and provision for, their pupils. Here one student contrasts her own experience with that of friends (and a sibling) elsewhere.