Working with School Leaders to support your Education Operations

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From my new position, as someone looking into education - boy, there is a lot going on! I don't think I quite realised, when I was buried in the thick of goings-on in my trust, how hard it actually is to see the wood for the trees. There is currently lots of recruitment happening and loads of vacancies. Are these roles all being successfully filled? I keep hearing about interim arrangements being set up while structures are decided upon, or the right candidate appears. It's tough out there.

This is what gave me the idea of introducing a 1st Pillar package of 1st 100 days support. I'm sure I'm not the first to have thought of it but to have a structured induction, training and familiarisation programme in place for a new SBL, as well as someone to talk to - makes good sense to me. As it's a new business idea, I've tried to keep the cost as low as possible but I still think it is money very well spent and reduces the risk for schools and trusts in what is a vital role.

Click on the link to the website for more information and please help me get the word out.

November keeps academies busy with finalising audits, the land and buildings collection tool, and, if you haven't already done it, pulling together last years internal scrutiny reports to send to the DfE with the audit.

Everyone seems to have a different way of dealing with internal scrutiny. I'm really enjoying the process with the trusts I am working with and would love to do more in this area. The thing I've learned since starting to deliver internal scrutiny is that is doesn't have to be dull and process driven. There are lots of topics within a trust's business functions which Trustees would really benefit from having better sight of. I'm determined to develop this offer going forward to make it interesting, beneficial AND compliant for Trustees.

My poor family and friends. I probably bang on about 1st Pillar until they are sick of it! I can't help being enthusiastic and passionate about supporting education. My diary is beginning to fill up, and I have so many ideas buzzing around it's hard to keep my feet on the ground!

I'm very excited to deliver my DfE training course on 'Managing Teams and Communication' for the first time this month. It is a little bit unusual in the way I am going to deliver it but I thought there is no point in delivering training on communication and not encouraging audience participation! I'll let you know how it goes...

At the end of November is the annual ISBL conference in Birmingham. I haven't been able to go for a few years so I am super excited to see everyone and hear about recent developments in Operational Excellence. Who knows, next year 1st Pillar might be an exhibitor - wouldn't that be exciting?

Please, if you feel able to do so, recommend the 1st Pillar newsletter to your colleagues, my family will be so grateful that all my excitement is being channelled elsewhere! 

Since the last newsletter we've had the budget and the American election. There is so much change going on in the world and watching the impact climate change is having, just gets harder. Sometimes part of me just wants to stay in my small corner, but you know that's not my style. Now, more than ever, we need champions to support the environmental agenda in schools, working with school leaders and pupils to show them they CAN make a difference, and give them the tools for success.

Some things, I think, we just can't put off any longer.