Wonderful school managers and rusty Golden Time
Mon, Nov 9th 2009
I’ve learnt a lot this week. I hadn’t realised how wonderful school business managers can be for overworked primary heads. They’ve been promoted and developed by the NCSL and they can save schools lots of money and do all sorts of ‘dross’ work that can free heads up to really be the leaders they need to be. I must be a bit clueless cos I hadn’t realised they’d been growing these last four years. I went to a dynamic primary school last week all geared up for training – absolutely everyone attended including all the admin staff. They not only had a budget for training – but also one to purchase the books to back up the training! In this economic downturn seeing a school that was unfazed by finance – and powerfully focused on outcomes was unusual. When I talked to their business manager – all became clear! I haven’t got time (or the full knowledge!) to explain their roles but Jo kindly said you can get hold of her on jo.watts@ncsl.org.uk She’s the London advocate – or go to www.tdc.gov.uk for the full picture!
I learnt also, or rather I’m becoming more painfully aware, that many schools who, used to be ‘golden and shiny’ in their practice, are becoming rusty and run-down as regards my model and its key recommendations for weekly circle time for young people, weekly golden time based on each child taking responsibility for their choices, short weekly meetings for the Playground Friends… monthly circle meetings for all adults to discuss, support, review and shine up…. the list is endless. As we become more under pressure what people most need is to sit down and engage with each other, openly and genuinely, without agenda or lesson plans, yet these meetings are always the first to be dumped.
I have worked with adults and children in 2 secondary schools this week. They were Year 7’s and many hadn’t had weekly circle-time since their primary school. Even with all the adults observing me work with them, they engaged in the circle session with 100% energy and honesty. Their problems are huge. They’ve all come from different schools, and all have diverse, challenging and vibrant personalities! They are clashing badly. I remember when one of my daughters went into Year 7 – she lived in fear of ‘The Look’. She explained that her tutor group had gone into factions – the swots, the slappers, the townies etc. and tended to huddle into their groups. The more needy pupils were left out altogether. They desperately needed weekly circle time for team building and working on shared values. They never got it.
Now that the new revised PSHEE is demanding ‘proper’ sex and drugs education lessons – I’m hoping that more secondary schools will try and pick up this torch-flame I’m still carrying around to schools. I’ve been carrying it since the early seventies and I need more torch bearers to help please!
When my circle session with the Year 7 finished – all the adults could ask them questions. When asked if they thought circle-time had a place in secondary schools; one said, “Yeah, just ‘cos we’re older doesn’t mean we don’t want to share our feelings, and we need the same games and fun too, ‘cos we’re just young kids inside.”
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