Latest Posts

  • Leadership at the Edge of Complexity

    Introduction        At Orion Education, we have been wrestling with the wicked problems of school improvement for some time. Our mission, to improve outcomes and transform lives is driven by a passion to create social justice.        Leading school improvement… Continue reading

  • The Strategy Challenge

    The Challenge of Strategy in Education Strategy and Growth Education for the 21st century is a medium-sized multi-academy trust of eight schools based in London and the Southeast with over 6000 pupils and 800 staff. The trust has been on a… Continue reading

  • Effective Professional Development at Scale

    Education for the 21st century is a medium-sized multi-academy trust of eight schools based in London and the Southeast with over 6000 pupils and 800 staff. The trust has been on a journey of transformation over the last three years,… Continue reading

  • Subject Leadership

    Introduction For many years we have developed our sense of the fundamental role that middle leaders play within the school. This celebrates the best that we have seen. We draw a number of conclusions following our experience about what makes… Continue reading

    Subject Leadership

  • Searching for Success

    In January 2009 I walked along to the post office and dropped in my application for the job of headteacher in Haringey. I attended a briefing for potential applicants at a local primary and was completely inspired by a presentation… Continue reading

  • The Other Side of the Coin

    1983, September 1st and Abracadabra at number one. My first day at secondary school. My school like so many other schools in rural Lincolnshire was a Secondary Modern. For what its worth, I have a few reflections on the experience.… Continue reading

  • The Eleven Plus

    In 1982 I sat in a cold and dark school hall to take a small test. I was eleven years old. I vaguely remember that I knew that test would determine the next 7 years of my life but I… Continue reading

  • How to build a school-Vision

    September 2013, the first staff briefing of the Year and I stand looking at 125 members of staff eagerly waiting for me to say something inspirational. Anything will do. Students fill the corridors, most walk on the left; new and… Continue reading